Life lesson #1 from Fiji to me
When I started this blog website, I never imagined I would reach 100 readers. Two days ago, 12,000+ readers ticked over on the stat counter. To say I am overwhelmed is an understatement.
It feels kind of strange that my personal feelings have been read by so many people, and yes I know how ridiculous that sounds given I write a blog (the very purpose of which is for people to find on the internet and read).
Anyway, I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to read.
I also need to thank Fiji - Vinaka Viti! For without the experiences I’ve encountered living in Suva, and without the people I’ve met from Fiji, I would have no stories to tell.
WHY ME AND FIJI?
I decided to write this blog for two reasons:
1) I love Fiji and her people. Simple.
We have been an expat family working and living in Fiji. My intention was to share my experiences of life in Fiji, in an effort to help expats who hadn’t experienced it understand that if they wanted to move to Fiji, embracing the rich culture of the Fijian people would be the very best way to enjoy life in Fiji; and
2) I love writing - it's my happy place. I especially enjoy it when I'm feeling the ‘subject’.
Fiji is an easy topic for me because the amount of love I have for the people of Fiji is unlimited. In fact, I get emotional when I think about it. Given I’m an Australian, ‘friends’ have questioned this about me, and I won’t lie – I have struggled with it often asking myself why I have these feelings deep in my heart for Fiji.
It would be much easier if I was born in Fiji, or one of my parents or grandparents were Fijian, perhaps if my Husband was Fijian – but alas none of these are the case. I am a genuine ring-in to Fiji. And perhaps in moments of self-indulgence, writing about it on this website has been my way to relive each experience again.
LIFE LESSONS FROM FIJI
I’m 39 years old currently, and shudder realising I only have limited months left before turning the Big 4-0. Growing up, I always thought that once you turned 30, you were old, wise and knew everything you needed to know about life.
When I reached 30, I realised that was not accurate. Maybe when I reached 35? Again, I didn’t wake up any wiser.
I have made a lot of mistakes in my life, sometimes I wish there was a giant eraser that I could rub out those things I’ve said or done which were not great, and start afresh. I had thought growing older would mean less mistakes..
At 39 years old, I still haven’t reached that old and wise pinnacle, but what I can say with certainty is that discovering and loving Fiji has not been one of those mistakes.
Why? Well, I believe that I’ve learnt big life lessons from Fiji, and it’s people. The type of lessons that I have been able to pass on to my children already. Faith is one that I’ve already written about, so today I wanted to write about the others. However, I can’t seem to write briefly no matter how hard I try, so to avoid the longest posting in history, today’s instalment is the first lesson Fiji taught me. Lessons two and three to follow soon.
All Signs Lead to Fiji - all the little things about Fiji we find in Australia (Click Here)
It's All In The Eyes (A Guide To Saying Yes and No in Fiji) - a light-hearted post about communication in Fiji (Click Here)
Can our Australian hearts lie in another country? - do we have a right to call Fiji our home (Click Here)