Friday, December 01, 2006

Coup Interruptus

I gave a term's notice for resigning from one school. I wrote leave without pay letters for the other two schools I am teaching at and have now spend a couple of weeks responding to concerned enquiries.
'What's happening in Fiji?' ( as if I am a mind reader)
"Are you still going?'
'Yes'
Its been really tiring, frustrating and difficult. I have had problems ringing Fiji to find things out from Chita. I have decided not to read the paper daily,because as the Women's group of Fiji states 'Its still just a War of Words!'
Commodore Bainimarama makes his demands and then flies to New Zealand for his grand daughter's Christening. Yesterday he threatened a coup at midday and instead postponed it to Monday and went to a Police rugby match....
On the Coral Coast where Chita is, daily life is unfolding pretty much the way it always has. Over the weekend,on the one and only coastal road - The Queen's road- army reserves were called to barracks in Suva. Chita was concerned to be seeing military uniforms and the word is out that Franky is determined to oust the current government, get rid of the Australian High Commissioner and get the country back on track. The actions of a potential dictator I would have thought rather than the actions of a military leader who respects democratic rights.
I laughed when I read that only 1000 armreserves turned up in Suva, out of a potential 3000. Maybe there was a family reunion, a grog party or the lack of inclination to even get dressed and go to Suva.
I have gone through fear, anxiety and frustration over the last two weeks, but I am still positive. Fiji has been booming in the last two years, I have seen resorts popping up everywhere. I think the coup will give Chita and me time to get the bar open, build the brick oven, and get business happening. If we can make money in a coup we will be booming when it is all over. I also think that tourism has been happening in a way, where decisions are not well thought out and have taken advantage of the landowners, so slowing things down will be good for the country. However, the job losses will affect the Fijians straight away, and the effect of loss of income will have serious impact over the next six months.
I am busy cleaning up my life. I got rid of stuff I had in storage in Perth for eight years!!! I went over for a weekend, caught up with friends, looked through all my stuff and discovered that the only things worth keeping were my diaries. Snapshots of my travelling life. I have cleaned out my wardrobe, am still cleaning up the paperwork, cleaning out my office. Paper is an integral part of my life and I seem to like to keep it ALL, just in case. I blame my mother who kept gainfully occupied as a baby, tearing up newspaper and as an adult I just love to have lots of it around.
Chita keeps texting.
Hello Amanda, how r u?
We have coup in Fiji!
I have reassured him that Plan A, is I am coming on January 9th, and Plan
B is I will come when the all clear has sounded.
One teacher has already asked me if I wanted my language teaching job back. I have made my mind up. I know what I want. I am going to a warmer climate, l will be working on a business which I know will work, with the help and support of my beloved.
In Italian we say'chi dorme non prende il pesce'. If you sleep you won't catch the fish!