I was one of the advisors for a party of this newspaper when I was in Fiji. Wansolwara --think it means people of the Ocean, is University of South Pacific's award winning student newspaper --Its claim to fame was that it was the only paper from Fiji reporting on its coup in 2001, to the outside world.
I was there when it completed 10 years and proud to say that I organised the whole party, where I invited about 100 people to the party, the key note speaker was a Lead journalist and professor in New Zealand who had worked in Fiji, Prof. David Robbie. So that year, I presided over Journalism Awards and the 10 year anniversary. Took care of both of those, the same year I wrote Media Studies program and some grants.
Except that I got one paper and three conference papers from that grant, none of the other activities that cost me 6-8 months of my career are counted. But I must still say that I both gave my best and learnt a lot.
I got sick this year with dengue/meningitis, the mild one. But it took three months out of my life and took me about 8 kilos down. The worst part was that there were only three people who checked on me. And only one person. Two via email and phone texts. My colleague Pat and Friend Katie from Canada. But it was Kirti, the Indian-Fijian girl who was my neighbour who made me food and left me tea every morning before she left for work. That situation made me think a lot. Going to the bathroom during those days felt like I was going for a world tour on foot. It was that taxing.
I have carried the newspaper with me, and dear memories with me for all these years.
Finally, I had to get rid of extra copies. All the nostalgia aside, I just need to continue to declutter and not add any more materials to my living space.
Still some of these images are dear. There are students who I knew very well. At least in my heart there was a special place for them. In some cases we drifted apart, in some cases communication was blocked. Some of those where a true heart connection was made, still communicate, remember my birthday, send emails and promise to connect in the future. 'Det räcker'--it counts as they say in Swedish. It is enough, or more than enough!
Here are some issues and some important people. The issues were a result of months of work with the students. And the special people graced my life for the time in Fiji. Memories, are a strange thing. We can choose to hold on to which parts we want.
These are front pages of the newspaper from when I was helping with the newspaper, so they are dear to me. I had several copies of each. Now as I am decluttering, I am removing some old ones, keeping only some pages, to reduce the load for my next move.
There are also sovienieurs that my students brought me and I have them all over my house. Even when those who gave me the gifts are not in communication or our paths do not cross. The picture above. The miniature of the shield is from Botswana. I bought that myself, when I was leaving the country. The little fan below with Fiji-fabric print--called 'tapa' --(this is not real, its faux- but) usually made of coconut--came from Rosa. One of my first students. Filled with life and with a larger than life smile. It ran from ear to ear. She, at least then, used to be fond of taking her own pictures. They were not called selfies yet. Selfie is a 2013 word. That is when it entered into the dictionary.
This was present to me by two students, who were undergrads and I encouraged them to send their paper to a conference in Vanauatu. They got the paper accepted and the funding to travel. Quite unusual for undergrads to present papers at conferences. The girls were especially dear to me, especially one of them, who was more dear than others. Today, its been years since communication. Sadness and grief of relationships that diid not last or walk with you for a longer period often forms a callous on your being. The challenge is to keep your heart open and continue to love the world, the best way we can.
So the is my decorative, memory wall. Let us take it clockwise, form the Salu-Salu--the necklace like organmaent at the bottom. Made of coconut bark it is traditionally used to welcome or honour people. Similar to Mala--in Indian setting. I have kept this one. I had another one, that I gave away when a cleaner at the university asked for it. Apparently they cost much. And can last years, or even decades when dry. Completely recyclable they can be freshened up by using fresh flowers. That is how I got it, and it smelled heavenly. Here is how it looked when it was fresh (click here to see). Can you imagine how heavenly it smelled?
On the left, is a fan that a student from Tonga got me. To the right is a mask from Vanuatu, an Indo-Fijian and a Tongan student got it for me. The fan on the right with a shell in the centre is also from Tongo, absolutely love how regal it looks. The two things in the centre....miniature of a shield and spears are from Botswana, bought it when I was leaving, but had forgotten about it, since it was in India. I brought it with me this time. The fan below it is from a dear Fijian student.
It was fun working on these. I got into trouble for working on two sections on democracy in the last year. I wondered why they had asked me to pay a huge amount towards the end or they would not let me leave the country. A student then said, you cannot write and hail democracy and people let you be. Today, I think all countries are not ready for democracy. Democracy in the long run leads to dumbocracy, with dumbed down media and 'everything goes' attitude. But, then no country should be under forced rule with little freedom either. No people should be moulded into one way of thinking. And that goes for regimes and militaries but also for religions that demand blind belief and loyalty.
My love for Fiji will never die, nor will the green and bright memories of the country ever become dull or fade. I gave it my best, with love and affection, by cooking, by making gifts, by celebrating birthdays. That only a few are connected, is also a blessing. Those few 'see' me. And in many ways, 'know me'. Ion this day of social media, we cannot really keep in touch with many, so it also keeps life simple. Doesn't mean I don't think of them. After all I carry their gifts to me, with me.
As life moves, I must bow to the good moments and the love shared. I have received a fair share of love and affection from this planet, and I must acknowledge it. I just also learn to let go. For things weigh us down. So, I do have some of these pages saved, I have gotten rid of many copies of Wansolwara.
Goodbye Wansolwara, Be Well, Stay Well. Thanks for letting me contribute a bit of myself to your glory!!
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