/ˈkΛltſə/ n. 1 the arts, customs, and habits that characterise a particular racial, religious, social or national group and which depend upon the human capacity for learning and transmitting knowledge to succeeding generations. 2 the beliefs, values, behaviour and material objects that constitute a people’s way of life.
G’day everyone … or should I say, ni sa bula! The past week has been really good, and I have been able to settle in to work reasonably well. I feel as though I have much more of a sense of my place here and where I fit in. Getting to know the staff and the kids better has also helped to make me feel more comfortable.
I have also gradually been finding more and more out about the Fijian culture, which is fascinating. One of the best conversations I had was with Claudette, the head teacher at the school where I’m working. She gave me a whole heap of insight into Fijian traditions, including funerals, weddings, engagements, and the like. She talked a lot about the concept of tabu (pronounced /ˈta:mbu:/), which (from my Western way of understanding) is a restriction on eating something, or going somewhere, or doing something for a certain period of time. For instance, during some festivals or seasons, the ratu (chief) of a particular area can declare fishing tabu, and so you may have to go around to another part of the shore to catch your dinner. When different family groups get together, eating certain foods is tabu.
The interesting thing is the belief that breaking or disobeying the tabu can have dire consequences. Claudette told me about instances of people going fishing in a tabu area and being attacked by sharks, or choking while eating tabu food at a gathering. This is all very well, but it really interests me that these views prevail in a predominantly Christian country, and certainly at my work, which is a Christian school. How do you reconcile these beliefs in superstition and spirits with a belief in one God who has power over everything (including any other kind of spirits) and is the saviour of the world? It certainly is intriguing.
Anyway. I hadn’t meant to get so “preachy”! Here are some other, lighter, aspects of the Fijian culture or way-of-life which I wanted to share:
G’day everyone … or should I say, ni sa bula! The past week has been really good, and I have been able to settle in to work reasonably well. I feel as though I have much more of a sense of my place here and where I fit in. Getting to know the staff and the kids better has also helped to make me feel more comfortable.
I have also gradually been finding more and more out about the Fijian culture, which is fascinating. One of the best conversations I had was with Claudette, the head teacher at the school where I’m working. She gave me a whole heap of insight into Fijian traditions, including funerals, weddings, engagements, and the like. She talked a lot about the concept of tabu (pronounced /ˈta:mbu:/), which (from my Western way of understanding) is a restriction on eating something, or going somewhere, or doing something for a certain period of time. For instance, during some festivals or seasons, the ratu (chief) of a particular area can declare fishing tabu, and so you may have to go around to another part of the shore to catch your dinner. When different family groups get together, eating certain foods is tabu.
The interesting thing is the belief that breaking or disobeying the tabu can have dire consequences. Claudette told me about instances of people going fishing in a tabu area and being attacked by sharks, or choking while eating tabu food at a gathering. This is all very well, but it really interests me that these views prevail in a predominantly Christian country, and certainly at my work, which is a Christian school. How do you reconcile these beliefs in superstition and spirits with a belief in one God who has power over everything (including any other kind of spirits) and is the saviour of the world? It certainly is intriguing.
Anyway. I hadn’t meant to get so “preachy”! Here are some other, lighter, aspects of the Fijian culture or way-of-life which I wanted to share:
- At the traffic lights, red means “stop,” green means “go,” and orange means “floor it, because you might still make it through in time”.
- In the shops, the sales staff are very attentive. That is, they follow you around, about twenty centimetres behind you, until you decide to buy something. Then they’ll carry it to the cash registers for you.
- People here actually greet each other in the street. This is really nice, and I’ve decided to milk it for all it’s worth; I’ve been making sure I say good morning to everyone!
This week I went to see a movie at the Alliance Française (yes, that’s right, there is a French cultural centre here in Suva! You can take French lessons, but also study Hindi and Fijian). It was called U-Carmen eKhayelitsha, and is a modern South African adaptation of Bizet’s opera, Carmen. It is sung entirely in Xhosa. If you are a fan of the original opera, I would recommend you to have a look if you get the chance.
That’ll do for now. I’m doing well, and am happy. Hope the same applies to you.
Andy
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