I have now been here in Fiji for almost four weeks, and feel like it has flown by. I have settled into my apartment and feel like I am just beginning to learn how to live here in Suva. Coming to live somewhere different like this means that you have to learn to do simple things like - food shopping. I mostly go to a supermarket called MHCC, as it feels familiar. However I know that most locals go to the markets and save a lot of money. I still find them a bit daunting. I feel like I haven't had enough time on my weekends to really get to know the place well as yet.

The view from my apartment is stunning. I come home every afternoon and feel overawed with the view. As you can see in the photo, I have a view of the bay. Yesterday morning I watched a cruise ship come in while I ate my breakfast. Will add photos of this later.

Work feels like it is just starting to get going. I know, I'm a bit slow. This week we have put together a workshop for next week. We have invited District Office staff, head teachers and various teachers to come in to help us work out what the focus of the Fii Numeracy Strategy should be. I have worked with my three local counterparts to devleop a survey and to orgnaise the day.

My local counterparts are: Sarita, who is in a couple of the photos, Chandrika and Mereoni. They are all very nice people and very tolerant of my shortcomings. I have found it really difficult to know how to orgnaise a workshop here, with things like contacting schools to invite teachers.... some of the schools do not have phones, some have radio phones, and others have phones and fax machines. The mail is slow, so some teachers will not receive their invitations for in time for the workshop. However, I know that one person is travelling by bus for eight hours to be here. We hope that it is worth his effort - nothing like a bit of pressure.

You might have seen the photos of the wedding. It went across two nights, and it was amazing. Very very colourful and interesting. I was amazed at the whole thing. Lots of traditions that were followed, however both nights were quite casual, with people walking around, chatting, eating their way through the nights while the various ceremonies were going on.

I have also made some friends amongst the other FESP advisors (Fiji Education Sector Project). Barb is the literacy advisor and we share an office. Wendy who is in the photos was from the US and she has now gone home. I have also got to know a lady called Helen from Bunbury who is here doing leadership and management traingi for head teachers and princiipals. Barb, Helen and I went to yoga tonight in an effort to try to destress and normalise our lives.

As you can see, I am doing ok. Life is busy and challengning most of the time but it is also interesting.

Bye for now. Hope to hear from you.