Sparks - Weeks 7 & 8 Field Notes

Note Index | Emily Sparks

Emily Sparks Weeks 7 & 8 Field Notes excerpts - Life Cycle and the Body

WEEK SEVEN -- Taveuni

Taveuni was beautiful, and I think that the extended time away gave me a chance to get a grip on all of my work, since I have a habit of not finishing it when I'm in the village. I really wish that I was up to date on everything, but right now it's more important for me I think that it was the perfect place to get work done -- quiet, relaxing, but with enough distractions.

Of course, I have learned a great deal about Fijians, and Fijian culture (though I'm sure I've only grazed the surface), but I've also thought about this experience. I'm realizing more, and truly believe that our time here should be longer. I am now comfortable with my relationships in the village, I feel that I know people, people know who I am, and that when spending time with family members, there is a part of my heart that really feels at home. I am happy that I have all these feelings, and would not trade them for anything. But I also have realized how important the work is. Spending a week, not really doing much work is impossible, for the short amount of time we have here. Since this is such a unique experience of course I want to make the final product as good as I can, I want to understand the culture as much as possible, so that my papers reflect that. I feel like this time around (doing field work) I realize this more. I really want my information to be thorough and precise, whereas in Barbados, this was important, but not as important. However, since our time here is so short, I feel like it's impossible to get to this point. (I've just started to feel this way now, and it's seventh/eighth week). I can't wait for the time when I can go to a place and stay until I'm ready to come home, or until I know that I've done a complete thorough job at what I set out to accomplish.
Traditional Story about Taveuni

There was one story that my host brother told me on Thursday night (the night we returned). He said that when the Tui dies (the head chief of that large area that the driver pointed out), the sharks come and swim by the sea wall. He said that sharks are the chiefly fish of the sea, and that they will either come to the wall, or swim up on the sand. At first I didn't believe him, but my Tata reassured me that this happens every the person in that particular chiefly position dies. Veresa said that he knew about it from the newspapers, for every time this happens the picture is supposedly on the front page of the papers. He also said, "when this chief dies, the sharks come and pay their respects to the chief and the land. Then, they go back to the sea, and tell all the other fish and animals in the sea, so that for the feast that will follow the funeral, the fish will make them selves plenty." (The fish will let themselves be caught).

Thursday, 10/21/99

Coming back to the village was a wonderful feeling. Everyone was so happy to see me, and demanded that I tell them everything about my trip. I felt like such a part of things -- having to share all my stories with family members and friends -- their questions made me feel like they really wanted to know about it. It made me think of how I will feel when I come back to the village in a few years, I already can't wait. Even though they were interested in my stories, I still did not feel "put on the spot" -- conversation still went on, and I still helped with the dishes, my normal tasks, but after dinner, we all lay down in the eating room (like we often do), and I "told stories." I think that the Fijians have this incredible way of forming events so that they are interesting stories to tell and to hear. I realized that I was reporting what I did in Taveuni, not really crafting it into a story with a beginning, an interesting middle point, and a funny or thought-provoking ending.

Tonight I finished up the interview with Tata, that I started Friday night before leaving for the trip. I think that it might fit better with the economics chapter, because this is what he seemed to focus on. After the interview we sat around and talked until about 11pm, while we were waiting for Tata Lailai to get back with the Taxi. I felt very comfortable talking with him, and I think that he really opened up to me, and felt comfortable with me. He tends to be very formal on tape (even though I've told him that he doesn't have to be, and that only I will listen to it), but when we're not recording he starts telling stories.

...
CONTINUATION OF LIFE CYCLE INTERVIEW WITH TATA

-Economics, Family, Church

When I started at the FSC I was a sector for the cane farmers, and a seeping clerk for the merchants all over Fiji. If a boat came from the Pacific Islands, we'd have to sell the sugar for the people.

The good parts are when I got married, and I got the job at the FSC. ...

I spent more that 33 years in the FSC, first as seeping clerk for ten years, and then as an advisor to the growers, about how to cultivate the cane. Form that time, our sector has been producing more cane, it was increasing while I was working there. Now, we are facing a slight decrease again. The more you contact the farmers, the better, but now I think that maybe they have a different attitude, because there is not as much contact with the FSC, that's why we have this slight decrease. When I started the sector was producing 87,000 tons, that one sector, and we were trying to go beyond that, to almost double that. But as we come around, we are now producing 75,000 tons. There are 4 sectors in Penang mill.

At the FSC I spoke English every day. When we meet our bosses, then we would have to speak in English, especially if the boss is Indian. If it was a Fijian boss then we could speak in Fijian. All the meeting reports, what you've achieved this week, the meeting notes are all in English. You'll mark how many people you've visited, the fertilizer you've delivered, how people have planted, things like that in the report.

In 1997 I retired, because I reached the age of 55. I got my Provident fund, and I bought one taxi, and now I operated the taxi, and plant my cane. I'm producing more than 100 tons this year on ten acres. I may produce more than some people for that amount of acre. A lot depends on the soil. Even on our farm, after about six inches, we have clay, so that is why we are not producing more.

This year it's taken us almost one month to harvest because of the rain. Even some days when we go there, no one else shows up to harvest. Usually it takes us two weeks. The lorries can't go up the hill to get the cane out, and it's taken us more than one month.

Tata works out the payment for the cutters. The cutters get different payments depending on if they just cut, or if they cut and load the lorry. He said that this year it has been difficult because they are supposed to be paid every three weeks, but because of the rain, the check isn't very big every three weeks.

FAMILY / RELIGION

As a father, it is very important to raise a family, and to take care of them. As a father, I think that the most important part is to educate the children up to the highest standard that I can. And also for them to know God, to tell them this. But in some cases, while they get older, some do not follow what we have said, what we taught them to do. From when we started the family, it was more than 30 years ago.

Looking after the family is a big job, especially a family like this -- we have to find the food, the clothing, schooling, their education. It really adds up, with so many children. The education, is the most important, and then the can go and find their own job. But now, presently, it's very hard to get a job in Fiji. All my children have been educated up to form six [here, he doesn't mention Merilita, who was educated to form 4), even from form six, when they go out to search for a job it's very hard. Because now, it's not what you know, but who you know. Now after form 6, you can go to form 7, the foundation in the university.

RESPECT IN VILLAGE

Also, as an older member of the village, I think that it is important to teach the younger people some of the Fijian ways. Before, when I was growing up, it was very different, and now things are becoming more relaxed. You'll see, people wear hats sometimes around the village, even though it is not allowed, some girls wear shorts, this is all new. It is important to teach the younger people respect -- they should respect the elders of their community, as well as the church. This is our Fijian way, and that is why it is good to live in the village, because in the city the children do not always learn these things. My children, the ones that are living away in the cities do know these things however, because they were raised in the village. When they come back to the village, they know what they should do. We know that they'll follow what we've taught them, and they are already grown up.

We teach the children first about the bible -- that is the most important. You much first teach them to know God. They should respect and follow what the Bible teaches us. When they accustomed themselves to the principles of this bible, then they will not change their way when they grow up.

Us elders have to set the example for the village. I am the chairman for the village council -- you saw at the village meeting? This is very important to us to show them what they should do in the future. What we have been telling them now is what we are doing now will lead them to their future, it will help them with their decision making in the future. When we old people die, then they will know what to do, we know that they have taken from us and learned what the way is, what they are supposed to do in life.

DIFFERENCES IN GENERATION

When I was a kid, nobody was allowed to yell in the village, and everyone was supposed to yell in the village. No yelling, no yelling. And you couldn't wear a hat in the village. Now, we are making bi-laws for the village, for nobody to wear the hat in the village, but they don't listen, they wear the hat. Most of the young people, they don't listen to the tradition -- people yell, people wear hats. But before, if that happened, the chief would give them the stick. Today, if a chief did that, the person would go to the police station and report it, and that chief might go to jail! Most things have changed. Some are from good to bad, some from bad to good. Now there is compulsory education, and everyone must go to school, starting at age 6. Kindergarten is ok if you miss it, but starting class one, you should not miss it. But some kids stay home anyway, and that is why when you go around the koro, you see some young children not in school, that is why they can not talk a lot of English. Because once we've left school, that is the only time most speak English.

What I heard from those that live overseas, if you live here, you don't really know your neighbor, you just stay inside all the time. You've got four or five houses right beside each other, and you don't know the person who lives next to you. You stay inside all day -- have your bath inside, eat inside, the women do their washing inside. But here people come and go all the time....

Friday, 10/22/99

Today was a long day -- long and annoying at times, but still fun. We (Lucy and I) boarded the bus in Rakiraki, and I realized that it would be impossible to do an interview on this bus -- it was one of those luxury ones, that was particularly quiet, it was packed, and we were sitting in the middle -- it wasn't the write time to whip out the tape recorder. Actually, most of the time, Lucy and I slept. We changed busses in Lautoka, and then went to the airport in Nadi, where we got a cab to her tavale's place. This place was right in downtown Nadi. From there we walked to the house where Merilita is a housewife, and we picked her up to come with us. From there, we met Vasenai, another sister, and her husband, and we got in his car and started driving. We picked up Vinaina from her work place at the garment factory, and then went to Rosa's work place. (Rosa is a tavale, our age). We could not find her, and decided to leave for Sigatoka, but on our way out of the city, we spotted her amongst the crowded streets, pulled over, and all called her name, and she jumped in the car as well. Once we got to Sigatoka we had to stop in a clothing store because neither Vinaina nor Rosa brought any clothes with them, so they each purchased a pair of underwear and a four dollar Zulu.

I especially enjoyed meeting Vasenai. When I first saw her she was running across the lawn, and greeted me with a warm hug and kiss, and said, "Emily, I'm so happy to finally get to meet you, my new sister." She was fun and not too pushy (i.e. wasn't asking me every five minutes if I was tired, etc.). Va rents a place in Nadi with Vinina, and comes home to her husband's house in Sigatoka for the week, for she works at the airport. Her husband works for the quarantine office, for which the government provides quarters for all the workers. Their house, along with the other government homes were very nice. A spacious sitting room and kitchen, 4 bedrooms, indoor toilet and shower, and high ceilings -- they were all solid cement, not made of galvanized metal. The house seemed even fancier, due to the TV, VCR, and stereo, as well as the couches and dining table.

Being with this group of sisters / cousins I again felt that sense of family bond. All the sisters and cousins laughed with each other, made fun of each other, listened to each other, and helped each other throughout the weekend. For example, Vasenai's baby son (4 mo.) was like everyone's son, and they all showered him with attention, and took turns giving him a bottle, and laying down with him while he went to sleep.

We did not eat dinner until quite late, and then Va's mother in law wanted to go to a hall to drink grog -- and said that I'd have to come, because she already told them I'd be coming. So we went -- a waste of time, for the most part. However, what was interesting was that the people gathered in this hall were all from different places, since they all were brought to these quarters because they work for the government. Vinaina mentioned that even though they are all from different places, and have only lived amongst each other for a few years, "that it is like a village because they are all Fijian, and can borrow, and give things to each other."

... [personal interviews deleted]

Returning to the Village

Finally home again. When we walked up the hill it was about 7:30 pm, and everyone called our names as we walked through the village. When we came home the family was having dinner, and we sat down and told the stories of the weekend. Again I was filled with that incredibly warm feeling of the family. It's still something that I can't fully describe -- nurturing, caring, and interested is what comes to mind. I find it amazing that I can feel this from a family that I've lived with for only 7 or 8 weeks, and in a different country, with some different view on the world no less. All this makes me think about the debate of if people all over the world are pretty much the same, or if culture, or the world view that they've grown up in changes them so that they are different from each other, the world over. I've always kind of thought that the first idea is a nice idea, but that it wasn't truly the case -- that the second idea -- that the world view that one grows up in shapes so much who they are, was one that made sense to me. But now I'm not sure again -- if I feel this incredible homey feeling, one that I think of only as a family could give someone, does this mean that cultural demands don't make people different? The fact that I feel such a part of the family, as one with them, makes me think that people are the same, the world over.

Nana also showed me how to weave mats this evening. The one that she is working on right now is absolutely beautiful -- I've never seen a design like this one. She started a new one for me, and showed me how to do it. I enjoy doing it -- and she says that I'll bring it home for my first baby (since it's so small).

Monday 10/25/99

Today was quite a draining day, but productive, which is good. Just one quick note before I start on the interviews. One of my tavale's sons came by this morning, and we were looking out on the village from the porch where the edition is. We saw Ase down below, and waved to her. Then Matthew said, 'Ase is very fat for her age, she moves slow like an old woman, very slow because she is fat" Afterwards, this got me thinking -- is that why it's looked down upon for women in their twenties and thirties to start to gain weight, because they seem like they are getting old? So for old women, it's not important to take care of their figures, in the village, should young women keep slim so that they can perform their daily tasks easily?

... [personal interviews deleted]
ASE -- THESIS

A good person is someone who has good behavior, someone who talks nicely, respectful of others. They should treat other people well, they should be caring. For myself, I can say a good person is someone who cares about me, or looks out for me. Or a person that cares for someone, who loves someone.

An attractive person is a person who looks so beautiful, or handsome, or cute. Cute is how the body build is -- broad, or how the face looks. Someone who is fair, but not only fair. The shape of the face, the color of the hair, the look on their face -- like wide-eyed, and his smile.

...

The ones that get married, they don't care about how they look. But the younger women, I don't know why some of them spend so much time on how they look. Maybe they want to get thin to attract boys.

...

They are looking for someone who is a good person. They used to look for those that were younger, but now a days, some are looking for those that are older because they said that they can take care of them, and that they give plenty of action.

...

The perfect husband, is someone who will care the most about me. What I borrow, he will give it. To other people, he's be very good to them. Treat them just like he's treating me. Looking out for other people, caring for other people. His attitude, he will be very kind, that's attractive in a person. Someone who cares for me.

...

I know that I always talk about the look, but really I want a kind person. But our eyes tell us something different. But it's the person inside. Some they just think of the look, I mean the boys, but once they get to know each other, they think, she might have the right look, but not the right attitude.

The look might be different. Like what I've noticed about people, is that Indians, Fijians, even Europeans, they might have a different look, you know, but I think that their opinions are the same, this is what I'm telling you. Sometimes it depends. But we've heard that Americans have to boast themselves to the world, but not you! But that is what I heard, like they show off themselves off. But Fijians, that are now enjoying a fancy style of living or whatever, they do that too. But as to the poorer people, those in the village, they are just trying to show who they are. [THIS IS INTERESTING, those that have climbed up economically, out of the village, try and show of their belongings, but those in the village, are concerned only with letting others know about who they are, as opposed to what they have.]

I think that Fijians relate to each other well. Like if they don't know each other, and then they meet, then they know each other from then. But as we meet, we'll know each other today, that's what I say that is good about Fijians. No matter what they look like, or where they are from, or the color of their skin.

... [personal interviews deleted]

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