Water Park

Over the past few weeks I have been battling some illnesses (Mono, Cigutera, the flu) and have started to come around this past week. While sick I made some preparations for when I would feel better (bought a canoe, tied all my fishing set-ups) and have been reading books, books, books aside from working on my vegetable garden. Here is a little pictorial summary of some of the things I have seen and been doing in the village.





This is my little sister Vina trying out my new personal means of transport. The weather has been sunny and hot as we leave the cool season and as a result the kids are in the ocean swimming every chance they get. Since I bought the canoe I have taken it out for the kids to play with and continue to do this as they bombard my house for me to join them in the water, with my canoe daily.

Yesterday I jumped off the canoe and found a few underwater wonders:

Cuttlefish

Giant Clams


The seafood also continues to amaze me. Yesterday being Sunday, the mamas prepare their biggest and best meal of the week. Yesterday between eating dinner and lunch I had fish, clam, crab, octopus, Lobster, Some sort of small opihi like shell, trocha and


Coconut Crab-The largest terrestrial arthropod in the world.



My Peace Corps experience continues to be one of much learning, like when my brother Bratley popped a bubble of chewing gum on his face and spent three days scrubbing his face to try and get the residue off. Something I had never seen before.

Kalotiti Wedding

A few weeks ago, magaliliu village was busy with a wedding that was the culmination of many months preparation. There were two couples being married because a wedding in the village is such a large ordeal it is easier to marry in groups rather than have the village constantly preparing for weddings year round. This wedding included the chiefs first born son marrying a girl from the outer island of Malekula and the chiefs nephew marrying a girl from the neighboring village. The wedding entailed both custom (bride price of pigs, mats, sugarcane) and western aspects (wedding cake, presents, money, church service) and was a a huge week long celebration. Here are some of the photos:

The Married Couples

In The Church

Flower Girls

Grooms Witnesses

Table Display of Custom Foods

Banannas. Part of the Bride Price

Bride Price

Custom, Pandanus Mats (Bride Price)

Sugar Cane