December 20

As we drive around Suva to do our errands we are amazed at the clean up that has already happened.  Broken tree limbs, blown-off house parts, loose garbage, etc are already sitting out on the curbs waiting for the garbage trucks to come.  Have I talked about garbage trucks here?  Well if I have, skip this part.
Our garbage can (plastic) is about 24" tall.  It is just bigger than the garbage can I have underneath my sink at home, only it is round.  The garbage truck comes three times a week; Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

We set, or Monica sets the garbage can out in front of our locked gate and the garbage truck come with a driver and two men who are hanging onto the back of the truck.  When the truck stops the closest man gets off, grabs our garbage can, takes off the lid, dumps it, puts the lid back on, sets it back down and the truck moves on.  No automated garbage trucks here.  I love being out when they come past as the men always wave and greet us with "Bula, Bula"  Every Fijian is friendly.

All of our YSAs fared well in the storm.  No one lost roofs.  No one got flooded.  Most have their power back.  Those who live out Nausori way are still out of power as a huge transformer out there went down.  Could be weeks before they get their power back.

Some of the YSAs came early to Scott's lesson to help clean up the yard around the institute.  Because Facilities Management forgets that we are here, they do not always get to us in a timely fashion.  So we asked the YSAs to come help clean up.  It took us about an hour to sweep the leaves up, pick up the palm tree fronds, etc.  It was a fun thing.  We took the kids who helped to McDonalds for a chocolate sundae--not a hot fudge sundae.  They do not have hot fudge here, just hot chocolate which they put on the ice cream.  uh huh.

Had asked the YSAs that sang on Sunday to come tonight to repractice for the program on Sunday.  Had only 15 show up and 5 of them did not sing with us last Sunday.  I just can not work this way.  Now my gut will be in a knot until Sunday.  Relax, La Nae.   Relax