Monday, May 25, 2009

Fiji Me!

Hey guys. No pictures this time - just a small update to let you know we are alive and well.

Just arrived in Brisbane, Australia today and headed to Townsville tomorrow (just an overnight stopover). There is so much to tell, I really have no idea where to begin.

Day 1:

Well, we picked our group of 18 students up at Nadi airport about a week ago and we headed across the large island of Fiji to a resort like backpacker accomodation. The first day (after arriving) was largely free so students could get to know one another and to sleep off the jet lag. The next day was a trip to USP - the University of the South Pacific for 5 lectures about Tourism and life in Fiji - socially, economically, environmentally, politically - customs, etc.....this is where the students got to know what is happening on the trip and what to expect. Since this is technically a study abroad group - they have academic responsibilities.

On our way home from USP, we stopped by the Fijian President's house to mess with the guards and the House of Parliment. Technically, the government has been in a coup recently (and they technically have a dictatorship), nothing was really going on but it was interesting to see. USP was in Suva - the largest city in Fiji and its capital. Again, once pictures are downloaded, you will see - it is a developing nation - so it looks more like India (in my head) then what one would traditionally call 'Fiji.' We were all exhausted still from jet lag so we headed back and crashed early.

I will write more later....

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Bula!

Bula from Nadi, Fiji!


Rudy and I have arrived in Fiji a little over a day ago. After a 24 hour journey here (which was uneventful thank god!), we waited for our shuttle from the airport as the sun was rising. We both were and are still a bit jet-lagged, however it has not been nearly as bad as when we have traveled to Europe. I guess because the time difference is so great (17 hours) we have felt it less than a 6 or 7 hour time change.

So after we arrived at our hotel, we cat napped and ate some breakfast. Afterwards we took a taxi to another side of Nadi - where there are more beaches and scenery. On the way to and from though, the scene was more like what I would have pictured in India or Bangladesh - cars zipping through crowds, dogs running randomly, and people of indian and native Fijian decent walking to and from market. Afros are very popular here and men wearing sulus/skirts is common. All in all, very different from anywhere I have ever been!

Here are a few pictures of our hotel, beach, etc. We head off tomorrow to another area of Fiji with the students arriving from Texas A&M. Rudy, myself and a gentlemen named Lee are in charge of keeping them alive while on their trip abroad. Some of the students have never been outside of Texas, so needless to say, we are going to keep an eye on them.
Until next time....


Our hotel and view from our room:


The beach:


Sunday, May 3, 2009

Milo Loves Salsa

Our friends, David and Alley, had a nice get together tonight.  We had fun cooking out, salsa dancing and talking with many folks from RPTS (Rudy's Department) and outside.  Here are a few shots:

What I brought - Greek salad on a skewer


Milo (he is a spanish speaking dog from Costa) trying to keep David and Alley from salsa dancing.  He was quite funny.  He kept on going between them breaking them up.  Can you say 'jealous'?


Milo gets his turn


Milo taking a breather after dancing the night away


Richard and Ashley were having fun looking at the doggy dancing.  (Richard is the IT genius in RPTS and has been very valuable to Rudy with all his computer woes).

Friday, May 1, 2009

Goodwill Gucci

I was so excited I found this set of 12 highball glasses at Goodwill.  I just had to share!  $3.00 + tax for the whole set. They were perfect for our dinner party a few nights ago!

Rudy and I break things almost daily - the drawback to concrete floors.  Victims this week included a butter dish and a votive candle holder.  So Goodwill Gucci it will be until we stop with the butter fingers.