Fiji

Bula,

and greetings from Fiji.  Sorry for the late posting of this blog entry but due to Cyclone Evan that passed through Fiji the week before we got here the wireless is still down in many parts of this island nation. 

It is amazing at how quickly the army has gotten much of the tourist part of the country back up and running after the storm. Removing downed trees from the road and power lines, getting water and electricity back up and running and clearing many of the grand hotels of debris.

Our hotel had one bure that was completely destroyed but otherwise was none the worse for wear after a week.

Many of the schools here, which are some of the biggest buildings in many villages, have had their roofs destroyed as well as structural damage to classrooms and plumbing.  It is a testament to the people here how quickly they have gotten around to repairing the damage in order to have everything up and running by the start of semester in January.  I can’t help but think what would happen if 75% of schools in Calgary were damaged.  What would happen?

In an interesting coincidence, we were on the flight from LA to Fiji with Delia and her family.  She happens to be the goddaughter of a mum whose daughters I teach back in Calgary.  Small world!

Well after a 5 day stop here, off to Sydney where the temperatures have been in the mid to high 30s.