Fiji is....ok. Who knew I'd feel ok when I got back in the village? Who knew that I would have fun? That life wouldn't seem so miserable after a super month of love and laughter with my family and friends.
I was flabbergasted at how easily I slipped right back into the lifestyle, the language, the food (minor hiccups there, but mostly ok), the skirts, the heat and humidity (which I have grown to prefer over the dry air of winters), the being alone thing. My perspective is different now. I am here to help. If there is no help wanted, I will just roam around this rock, taking my vacations days, enjoying my last bit of time with these wonderful people.
After a year and a half of work continuously falling through because of a slight tactical error or misjudgement, it was getting increasingly difficult for me to maintain a positive attitude. I no longer saw the distinction between the people and the work. The work would fail and therefore the people doing it were bad. I was heavy-hearted. Now I feel light-hearted. I gained perspective while I was home.
People are not work. At least Fijians should not be considered work. They should be my respite from a long day of environmental health inspections. I should be able to come home and laugh with people I care about. I realized that I have many people like that in America, but also in Fiji. Now that I had a chance to get some distance, I feel more relaxed in the village. Like I can just have fun instead of it being a punishment I must endure.
I come home in a few months and I don't want to remember my last months here as painful and tiresome. I'm doing my best to maintain my positivity and continue work with a sense of purpose and pride. When I come home for good, I can be happy with my experience, not only because of the work, but also because of the people.
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