In Fiji, as in all our travels, our goal is to really get to know the local culture rather than just visit as a tourist. Bridge the Gap shares this same vision and it was very welcoming to be able to participate with real people in a real village. We made friends, learned about their traditions and respectfully followed these traditions as guests. There were no natives serving us drinks on platters or other resort/Disney-inspired representations of their culture. We were there and worked along side them to prepare meals, wear their traditional clothing and learn their phrases. We were able to help in a couple construction projects, learn about the medicinal uses of the plants, fish with them and more. We also laughed a lot with them, played games and volleyball and spent many hours on the kava mat.
Kava
Crushing the kava root. Inside the steel cup is the root, and we’re pounding it with a steel pipe (used to be a car axel). You lift it and pound it down onto the root repeatedly. Here’s the kava mat in the Grand Buré. The Tanoa between the guards with the kava being mixed. The chief is just to the left at the head of the mat. Here is the Tanoa and the drinking/mixing bowls/cups. The cloth is used as a strainer to get anything that hasn’t dissolved into the drink as they mix the crushed powder. There is a certain ceremonial way to do all of this too.
As I mentioned before, in Fiji we spend a lot of time on the Kava mat. The time is well used to visit and join in music together. There is a lot of tradition and ritual surrounding Kava.
Sevusevu
Here’s the helpful sign we have to guide newcomers in what to do during a sevusevu ceremony.
Music
We played music with kava most nights on the guitar and uke. They had a spoon and a string they’d wind around the neck of the guitar to act as a capo.
Church
Since there was no church on Vorovoro, Tui Mali usually goes to church in one of the other villages over which he is chief. We rode boats to church. Saying goodbye to new friends after church. Special meals we all ate together, this was our Sunday Dinner and it was amazing!
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School
The school of Lengalevu The students introducing themselves to their visitors.
Projects
Building a shed for storing the wood chips. Taking the building down from the top down.
Lovo
Preparing food for the Lovo Snapping beans Opening the underground oven up after everything has cooked
And More
Mateo (or affectionately called Potato by the kids) the undisputed coconut king We got up early to watch some of the world cup in Tui Mali’s home! Composting toilet Composting Bins
