One of the devastating things that has touched our whole family is hurricane Winston that hit Fiji... I just can't tell you how hard and sad it is for us to see the devastation to this beautiful slice of heaven. I think the hardest part for me is remembering all the amazing instant friendships, the welcoming people with the huge smiles, extra large super sized hugs and their generous hospitality to all of us. Most of the villages that we visited in the last part of our cruise have been completely demolished, some not even a tree left standing. The most thankful thing through and through is that there weren't more people hurt in this huge natural disaster!
A few of the places that we were mesmerized with were Makogai, Numea, Vuya Village, Viani Bay, Paradise Resort, Suva Suva, Lautoka, Taveuni Island, just to name a few... Most of them completely gone. All those little faces of Fiji that I posted are now working their way back to some resemblance of a home life and stability. I am just so thankful that we were there and able to meet and participate in all of the villages that we were welcomed into. Vinaka!
One of the most amazing things that happened to me today was I received an email from Brooke, Vuya Village. I couldn't believe it. Brooke was a girl that came and stayed with the Vuya village to help them become a sustainable community and ended up staying for a few years. When we arrived they realized we were from the states and asked if we new Brooke, they continued to show us where she lived in the village and were so proud of her and loved her so much. As we were leaving the village Chris and I new we had to try and find her... but how. As miracles in social media play out, I received an email from Brooke today. She was looking for information about Vuya Village and found our blog online and sent a note. I love how small this world really is and how interconnected we are all around the globe.
Patrick from Shine was still there on his boat, while Anna has taken the kids (Xesca and Archie) and moved to Australia for a short time so the kids could return to school. The kids are loving it there but it is very difficult for Anna to be away from the boat/Patrick and wanting to help out with the relief efforts. Patrick was able to tie his boat up in the mangroves outside of Denerau along with a bunch of other boats. This is always the safest place during a hurricane because of the root system amongst the mangroves. They are always the last thing to do. All of the boat faired well and Patrick actually ended up sleeping through it. We were so relieved to hear that he and others were okay, only to find out that others didn't fair so well.
I am so proud to be a part of this small community and hear all the humanitarian efforts jumping into play. At a time when much of what you hear in the world is bad news and political game playing it is really nice to hear how people can still come together for the better good and do the right thing and help people. I have always said how amazing the sailing community is in general. We all come from any different walks of life, many different countries, speak many different languages but it doesn't matter who is in need... any cruiser will step up and offer assistance to help.
Many of the cruisers have that have been undamaged in the hurricane are participating in delivering supplies, food, water, medical, what not to the remote villages that are desperate. With the hurricane many of the ferry systems that used to deliver goods and supplies have been reduced so they just don't have the means to get items distributed. Thank you Patrick and everyone out there that is able to help. I can't imagine the relief those villagers are going to feel when you are able to help them.
I know there are many funds that people are setting up to help the Fijians... I am so thankful that we can all do our small part to help out.
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Back at the Dock...
Well there hasn't been much to talk about since we have been sitting dock side hanging out at the marina and doing boat projects... blah blah blah... but oh well, such is boat life... it isn't all fun and adventure... we actually do have to do maintenance, up keep, school, laundry, grocery shopping, hair cuts, you know the regular stuff everyone does on a daily basis.... We finally have some of our South Island trip set up... We have organized the first 2 weeks of it. What was going to be a two week trip has now turned into four and a half weeks... it is so nice to have the flexibility to plan and make sure we really enjoy all this wonderful country has to offer. Even with that said it is 4 weeks in the south island and we STILL aren't able to do everything we wanted to do... Dang blast it!
Tristan finally wrote a short story about his experience with bungy jumping. It was a school assignment to write a short story... so the story is a little changed but still super cool to read about it from his perspective....
The Time I Almost Died
“Bock bock bock” is the sound of my sister that is standing behind me not even
waiting for her turn to jump. “Shut up” I say, “It’s not as easy as it looks.” The truth
is that I was scared. Imagine jumping 150 feet down and getting dunked in a lake,
yeah sounds fun doesn’t it. Well actually it is terrifying, as I am barely scooting along
the overhang with the bungie attached to my feet, making me look like a prisoner, all
at the same time, the butterflies in my stomach feel like I stepped on a hornets nest.
“Well if you’re to chicken to jump, then don’t go.” the comebacks little kids come up
with these days are so childish. The circulation is cut off from my feet by the bungie
that has a grip on my feet like a vise.
Although I feel like I am moving in slow motion onto the platform where I jump, I can see my hands shaking a thousand miles an hour. “Ok, but don’t push.” I tell the man working the bungie. Earlier that day I saw him push a terrified teenager face first over the platform, and right then I knew I wanted to jump. Now that reality is staring at me in the face, and I am about to jump, looking over the edge looks like death for sure. I am constantly looking over my shoulder to make sure he doesn’t push me. “I am not going to push you” A faded voice says in the background. Okay, I tell myself. I squat down and with my adrenaline building up pressure like a geyser, I leap off the platform.
I feel just as I imagined I would once I started the descent. I feel amazing and indestructible, like a super hero, as I am free falling through the air. “Wahoooo wahooo!” I scream as I am free falling. But as I am rapidly descending I realize that the water is coming up fast and that I am not slowing down enough. So the little drill sergeant in my head is yelling “Brace for impact!” I am now feeling like this is the end, and that I am about to die.
“Sploosh” is the sound I hear when the upper half of my body is dunked in the water. “Ahhhhh!” I scream as I am flying back up through the air and feeling like there is no gravity around me. “This is amazing!” I yell excitedly, as I am on an up bounce I feel a drift of wind and feel like I am flying with eagles. The scenery of the beautiful lake and sky matches with what I always thought it would be like to fly. As my final bounces of ups and downs are finished, I look back down and see a raft with two people in it ready to take me back. As I get closer, I start to hear distant voices in the back of my head, but all I am actually hearing is all the yelling and the experience of what I just did.
“Grab the pole” they say as they hold it high above their heads. It took about three times but then I finally got a good hold on the pole and they pulled me down into the raft. Once I got onto the boat, they started asking me how it was and telling
me that they are going to take the bungie off. It felt so good to have that vise like
bungie off my feet that when they got it off I reluctantly let out an “Ahhhhhh” of
satisfaction. Once they got me to the dock they told me I had to follow a trail to get
back to the top and to watch out for thorns. I thanked them and start going to the top
when a dog comes sprinting out of the bushes like a wolf and scares me, but luckily it
was one of the friendliest dogs I have ever known. While I am walking up to the top I
am replaying the whole scene in my head, and I keep thinking about how I thought I
was going to die.
Once I get back to the top, only stopping once or twice to get some thorns out of my feet, my family is waiting excitedly for all the details. As I am talking to them one of the employees comes up to me and hands me a CD disc saying that they filmed my jump. I was very happy that I could always have this memory of the time I almost died.
Once I get back to the top, only stopping once or twice to get some thorns out of my feet, my family is waiting excitedly for all the details. As I am talking to them one of the employees comes up to me and hands me a CD disc saying that they filmed my jump. I was very happy that I could always have this memory of the time I almost died.
Alexia is still writing her short story that is now 11 pages long and growing... hmmm... I do have to say that it is really fun to read and if she lets me I would love to put it on her page. In the mean time, when she is done from school I keep asking her for the next chapter of her story. Hee Hee... I really do look forward to reading it. I see some similarities in the characters she is developing. I think I am the mad queen... go figure...!
Thanks, Hugs and extra love to everyone at home....
Heather
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