What's for deenah?

I just finished writing a unit (course) - Inclusive Classroom Management in Early Childhood Education. It's a class I've always dreamed about writing and it was really fun!  Woot woot!  So what happened next was this. On my way to the potty I ran into Paul and our encounter was a continuation of an interesting pattern for the two of us.  His name is Paul.  Did I mention that?  I actually know his name because the first time we met he told me his name about 10 times.  I was honestly grateful about the first 5 times, but I became a bit concerned as we moved well past 5 and into 10 times territory.  And every time I have seen him since, he tells me his name - again.  Which could mean he's a little on the crazy side.  Or, and I prefer to think about him this way, he has looked deeply into the recesses of my brain and discovered that the neuropathways in charge of remembering names for more than 2 seconds no longer exist. Either way I will leave here remembering his name. Paul.

There has been a new development in my relationship with the Chinese man.  It has become clear that he studies my behavior.  And now he is comfortable enough to comment. He is also concerned about my health and safety. Just the other day he must have had enough of watching me heat my Ramen in the microwave because he blurted out after it dinged that I should wait for 20 seconds before opening the door because of the radiation.  Okay, thanks for the concern. That made for a fun next few minutes because I can only know how to push the 1 minute button and had to count to 20 a lot of times because he was still in the kitchen doing dishes.  On another occasion he warned that the contents of the Ramen seasoning packets are toxic and terrible for you. When he eats his Ramen he doesn't put in the packet, instead he makes some other concoction.  But he can't bring himself to throw the packets away, so there is a stack of 20 in the fridge door.  We all know he's right about the Ramen seasoning... but the microwave?  Any experts in the audience please advise. By the way, that's what people here say all the time if they want your advice. "Please advise".  I like this and intend on continuing its use when I'm home. Back to our topic: A couple of days ago while I was eating tuna on toast for dinner he said "Your breakfast and dinner look the same." Excuse me!  There is an enormous difference between the two!  I have toast for breakfast with plum jam on a paper plate and cereal in a tiny little bowl I bought for $1 my second day here.  I see very few similarities between this and my tuna dinner which includes toast on a paper plate-minus the butter and jam- and TUNA in the tiny little bowl I bought for $1 on my second day here.  Plus, who is he to critique?  He only eats Ramen noodles minus the seasoning for nearly every meal.  But my favorite conversation happened the other night. I was listening to Simon and Garfunkel in my room and came out for some water.  He was in the kitchen and told me that he liked that I listen to American folk music.  It was apparently very important in his life when he was a young man growing up in China. He used to play the guitar and he loved to sing Peter, Paul, and Mary, and Jim Croce, and Don McLean. What?! Now that there was something we could talk about! We bonded about how tragic it was to loose Jim Croce at such a young age, how music just isn't the same any more (because of the melody, he informed me), yada yada yada.  Good times.  The next time he's around the house when I'm there I'm playing "Operator".

As you might expect, I have faced some challenges trying to communicate with everyone here.  But none are as funny as what Sangeeta and I frequently go through.  While our different accents speaking English are definitely a challenge, the main issue for us is that we have completely different communication styles in the first place. Sangeeta's the type of person (I have learned through lots of observation) that is very concise in her language and assumes that whoever is listening understands the first time. I am the exact opposite!  I re-explain every point I've ever made multiple times and check for understanding at least twice in the process.  And that's while speaking English back at home (as you have all undoubtedly experienced if we've ever talked).  And I do that even more when I'm traveling. Add to this difference the fact that while Sangeeta speaks great English, it's her second language, and that means she doesn't have access to an enormous vocabulary for use in times of need, which is frequently with me.  So, often the best she's got is to repeat the same thing a lot of times, and louder.  Here's a good example. The other day our conversation went like this:
Sangeeta: "You have deenah?"
Nikki: (Blank stare)
Sangeeta: "You have deenah?" (louder)
Nikki: (Nervous/confused expression)
Sangeeta: (Practically shouting) "Deenah! Deenah!"
Nikki: (Starting to panic. Racking her brain... Is she talking about some kind of disease? Just answer you fool! Go with no.) "No."
Sangeeta: "You did not eat?"
Nikki: (Lightbulb - I think she just said the word eat) "Oh, dinner? Yes, I had dinner!" (phew!)
Sangeeta: (looking confused) "Good."

But we're both getting better as time goes on. Luckily we have Dropati, because she is also an explainer and she is constantly checking to see if I have any idea what's going on.

Well, it's back to work on my next unit. It's called "The Science of Play".  What a cool topic but complicated to do it well.  Cross your fingers.  Here's my very favorite Fiji kid pic as a reward for anyone who just made it through all of those ramblings.

The whole class was taking turns climbing the tree (notice no pit of 12 inch thick fall zone below).  After I took his pic I had to stay there and take one of each kid in the class posing on the tree.  

Preschool #Fijistyle

Lots of love! 

Pineapple Fijistyle

I believe I've mentioned how much I love pineapple.  One thing I haven't said is that my intense feelings about pineapple are as much about presentation as taste. Some sellers have these pre-cut pineapple popsicles for $1fjd (U.S. 50 cents) and they are the coolest thing ever! Dropati promised to teach me how to cut pineapple Fijistyle and today as a break from the relentless hours of sitting on our butts writing, we had our lesson.  I present for your viewing pleasure, 

"How to Cut a Pineapple Fijistyle"

Step 1 - Buy a beautiful ripe pineapple from a road-side stand.

 Step 2 - Trim the top, but DON'T cut it off. 

Step 3 - Cut off the skin.  But leave the eyes.

Step 4 - Follow the diagonal pattern of the eyes and cut them out.

Step 5 - Start feeling very artistic and proud of yourself, because A.It looks lovely. & B.You are saving so much more of the pineapple!

 Step 6 - Keep it whole, cut it in half (that's what I buy for $1fjd), or even in quarters as you see below.

Step 7 -  Create a lovely display. (I don't mean to brag, but I did this part.)

Step 8 - Sprinkle salt on it. Or dip it in salt water. (I know. But it really is delicious!)

Step 9 - Eat your pineappsicle like this! 

The end.

Let's get back to food, shall we?

Okay, you have had like a week without a post about food so you knew this was coming.  First, some observations about morning tea.  Because of morning tea people here don't look at me like I'm a 3-year-old when I dunk my cookies in milk - or even juice for that matter. Back home I've seen the sideways glances.  I've heard the whispers behind my back. I've felt the kind of loneliness that maybe only an occasional Oreo fan would understand.  But here, dunking of all things dunkable in your tea or whatever else is in the cup in front of you is not only accepted, it's celebrated! These are my people! Second observation about morning tea.  If you are traveling to a school to do observations of students, which I have been doing a lot of over the last week, part of the thing is that the student has to prepare you tea and 3-5 different accompanying snacks.  AND, if you are a person who doesn't drink tea and they have to send someone sprinting to the corner market just to buy you juice (because for some reason you cannot have water during morning tea) then it is really important that you eat the snacks and drink the juice - several helpings of each. So today after three school visits before 11:00am I thought I might explode.  Final morning tea observation. My inability to skip breakfast at 7:00, all the while knowing what's coming at 9:00, makes me a hobbit.

Two pics of morning tea.  Notice that the "juice" is actually soda (which I hate more than anything).  But I've been drinking the stuff. These poor students have to pay out of pocket and I always feel guilty.

The biggest food news of the week, though, is that Ufemia had me over for a traditional Fijian dinner of fish and Miti and Dalo, all cooked in the ground.  The men do the cooking of all of this stuff.  It's like how men back home have the need to be in charge of all outdoor grilling activities.  I had eaten a LOT of Indo-Fijian food as you can see above, but no real iTauke Fiji-food until then.  It was unbelievable!  Miti is this heavenly coconut-based sauce you pour over your fish, and chicken, and pork (they made all three just so I would know what they each taste like), and you dip your Dalo in it.  It was hands down the most delicious thing I've had in Fiji, and possibly ever.  The Indian spices I have learned to love, but this stuff spoke to my Wyoming love of roast and potatoes with this phenomenal taste of citrus and coconut!  Can you imagine if I still had my sense of smell?!  I probably would have died of happiness on the spot.

Mr. Camaitaoga showing me how they cook everything in the ground

 I told Ufemia how much I love fish when I first got here, which was a very good decision.  This is fresh fish caught that day!  Dalo is the potato looking stuff with an amazing texture that is more like  a super-thick bread-like substance than potato, and the Miti is the lovely sauce you see at the bottom.

I am so so happy! 

Ufemia is actually leaving for the U.S. on Thursday so this was my farewell dinner.  I asked her teenage son how often they eat this and he said only on special occasions or weddings.  So he was really happy I came for dinner!  All of her sons and grandsons were there too.  Here's a pic of her adorable grandson, who runs the show, holding a gift I gave them. Ufemia is CRAZY about the steamboat logo.  Smart lady!