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June 6th 2007

Published: June 6th 2007

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The Fiji Times

leaving boone

looking back to the Blue Ridge Mountains, where we came from

Hey everyone, Joe here. It's actually the 25th of June, Lenny's birthday. She is teaching an art class in a village called Momi. So I'm going to start this off. I'll do my best on details, I've been here for two and a half weeks now and so much has already happened.

After a ten hour flight across the pacific, we finally made it to the wee little island of Fiji. It was about five in the morning so the sun had not yet rose. I had already met a lot of the staff that I would be working with on the plane and was even more excited about the summer since they were such great people.

We were picked up at the airport by the company bus. The ride to the house was completely surreal, it was the first time I laid eyes on Fiji's beautiful countryside. We were greeted at the house by the Fijian staff. There are about fifteen total. The best thing about this place is the people, hands down. They laugh and sing like it's going out of style.

We're living in a two story house with a pool. It used

fun on the plane

here we are, first plane of the day, three more to go

to be owned by an Indian who sold it to Even, our boss, about four years ago. Since then he's done a lot of work to make it a functional commune where everyone who works there lives and eats and helps each other out.

The first day was weird adjusting to the time change, it felt like it lasted forever. This was okay because all we did was lay by the pool and get to know each other. Good first day in Fiji.

PS some of these pictures should go with road to Nasivicoso, try to figure it out (Nasivicoso is in the highlands)

Additional photos below

Photos: 49, Displayed: 23

bloody mary's

we are starting a tradition for plane rides

grand canyon

this is a first for the both of us, the grand canyon is breath taking, no other way to describe it

layover in LA

venice beach is really nice, we sat by a fire with fellow staff members and drank beer and wine while we waited for our flight to Fiji, so far so good

dinner with cole

had to see soul cole before we left, great California sunset dinner on the pier, pre-flight

our plane

this is the biggest plane i've ever seen, it's two stories!

bus ride to our house

first glimpses of Fiji's beauty

first fiji beer

Fiji bitter, this is the popular beer in Fiji, Joe's first taste, so good when it hits your lips

slap the goon

will everyone please look at this shirt, another version of "slap the sack"

first kava ceremony

here we first try kava, the sacred drink derived from the kava root. everyone drinks it and it is a way to show your respect to a tribe you are visiting, "Sevu Sevu" is the phrase. that's Gustavo on the left, our beloved Brazilian staff member.