From the work-related category:
- The Bua Yaubula Management and Support Team (BYMST), a newly formed provincial environmental management network, had a series of planning workshops to help build their capacity to support sustainable resource management in Bua. They also submitted a grant proposal in hopes to be able to implement their mission. The district representative is a man from our village.
- The village women took full reins of their vegetable gardening project we started, and also built a chicken coop with support of the Ministry of Agriculture. They are now selling eggs and hope to expand their business.
- As a result of attending district-wide natural resource management planning workshops, members of the village took the initiative to form a village Yaubula, or environment, Committee. We working to build their capacity and confidence to successfully continue projects when I leave. They have been raising awareness about environmental issues in our village meetings and working with our traditional leaders to set up some local protected areas.
- We continued to plant mangroves and restock the nursery.
- We stocked a few giant clams and sea cucumbers in our tabu fishing area. We submitted requests to receive some breeding stock from the Department of Fisheries.
- We continued to try and get the support of Department of Forestry to train village members in setting up tree nurseries, especially focusing on sandalwood as an income generating species. (No luck yet!)
- A request for Good Leadership and Governance Training for traditional leaders and committee members was submitted to the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and it looks like it might come through soon!
- We were able to report and stop some illegal sand extraction happening at the local beach. The sand was being used for the new Labasa-Nabouwalu highway.
- The team at Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) allowed me to team up with them for my Master's research. We will be doing social network analysis (SNA) as a way to better understand and hopefully improve collaboration and communication around natural resource management in our province.
- Department of Fisheries came and set up two oyster spat collection lines in our Tabu Area. These lines will be left for one year to collect and grow baby oysters to sell to pearl farmers.
- We submitted a request for an extension of the electricity grid to our village and they came to survey. We have not yet received the quotation for the 5% we will have to contribute.
- Water Authority Fiji helped build a new dam and water storage tank for the village's drinking water. It's experiencing a few glitches, but we're hoping to work them out soon.
- I extended my service for a 3rd year.
- I started giving my report at village meetings in Fijian. (Preparing it ahead of time, of course!)
- Two of my very best girlfriends visited and we had such a lovely time!
- I survived being assaulted on a run in Suva!
- I ran my second half marathon and improved my time!
- I learned how to stove-top bake, make jam, and "brew" hooch.
- I spent a month in the US and realized I miss my friends and family, but am so happy here in Fiji.
- And the best thing of all: Solo and I decided to get married!
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