Gettin' into the groove...

Today is day #3 of official work - Jimmy is shadowing Jim, the current project director, to learn the ins and outs of the job before Jim leaves us on the 25th. I am shadowing Jenny, who has been filling the Tribe Manager role in the interim time of when Amy left back in Sept. and when I take over. There is a lot to learn in a short amount of time, but it is all well organized and because we spent so much time working with the project this past summer, we are well acquainted with how things run so as things are explained to us, it all makes good sense. The downside is that we are so busy that the kids are on their own quite a bit, and feeling a bit homesick, but they understand that these first few days are going to be the most intense and that after we get our jobs sorted out and all the info under our belts and in our heads, life will feel quite a bit different.

It's very, very hot - a big adjustment from the cool, fall weather of Indy! It's just showered once very briefly - El Nino has delayed the rainy season, according to the Fijians. We started off living in the family bure, where we stayed this past summer, but found that it was very, very hot at night because the design of a bure doesn't allow for any breeze to come through. So we have moved to the vale next store, which is a 12 bed dormitory - the design of this building is much more open, so we get a bit of a breeze at night, as well as more daylight during the day. It's larger also, so we can spread out a bit. When booking numbers pick up, we will have to move out to accommodate tribe members, but for now it is a really nice space to call home.

As I learn the details of my job, I feel more and more confident that I will love it and be good at it - so much of it is really is like managing a household, just on a much larger scale. I am having lots of bouts of homesickness - really missing everyone back home - but that is balanced out with lots of excitement about having such an amazing job and opportunity!!!

Our luggage all arrived safe and sound on Monday - BIIIG sigh of relief. Really missing the camera we lost - still no word that it has been found. Not very optimistic at this point. Ben, our boss, is helping us check into getting it replaced. Fingers crossed and crossed again that that happens soon!

Well time to close now - off to do a Labasa tour with Jen. Hope all is well with you - and please drop a line!! We love to hear what is happening back home!

XOXOXOX!