So, it's been a few weeks again..... i swear I will work harder to put a bit more up. But, hopefully the addition of some new pictures will make it up a little bit (the first is from this past weekend in lautoka, the next two are from the beard competition during training[the winner is on the left], and the third is sunrise from the beach next to my train village that I would run on every morning). I just got back from an emergency coordinator training in Nadi (they apparently feel that I am responsible enough to be in charge of other people in an emergency, wait until they figure out that mistake...), which was really great. They flew all those attending out there, and it was really nice to see several of the people I hadn't since we all split up in July. The training was Tues-Thurs, so on friday several of us spend the next day and evening in Lautoka, about an hour north of Nadi. The next day I went up to Malake(an island off the coast of Rakiraki, a city on the northern side of

Viti Levu), where on of the other volunteers is stationed. I spent most of Saturday and Sunday there and had a amazing time. I am a bit envious of her site, as she is on this beautiful island in, this great village, and has the opportunity to spend everyday in the ocean. It makes the days I spend in the dusty city a bit more drab...but alas, I have to remind myself that I have a assignment that works best for me, I'll just have to start making more of an effort to get out on the ocean. Anyway, it was great to get out of the city for awhile, spend some time in a village, and see one of the best friends I have made here.

Speaking of work, when I got back on Monday I was scheduled to begin a 6 day, 37 village tour with the WWF and the committee I am working with. In classic island style, it was postponed at the last minute (leaving several of us waiting at a bus stop for several hours...) due someone being sick. I am a bit bummed, as I was looking forward to the trip, but they tell me it is to be rescheduled for one of the next upcoming weeks. This being the case, I have a bit of a void at work this week (as I was supposed to be gone until next Saturday or so), and am struggling to generate some work to do in the office. So it's been a bit of a boring last few days....

Otherwise, all is well up here in sunny Labasa. The weather is starting to turn (as "winter" here is almost over), and it is beginning to get quite hot and rainy. The five of us that live here have planned an event for the Fiji Day weekend (fiji day is Oct 8th this year) that I am pretty excited about. Just about all of the volunteers here in the north are going to attend (about 16 of us) in teams of two in a two day competition (think the olympics, fiji style, with a few oat sodas thrown in the mix). I should be all kinds of fun, and the first time for many of these people to come up to the city. We have even organized prizes....it'll be great, hopefully i'll have some pictures to share.

Thanks again to everyone that has sent me something recently. Dave in particularly, as i just received a package from him and have yet to get a hold of him to extend my proper thanks. I hope all is well with everyone, if you get a chance shoot me an email and give me an update on what is going on with your lives.... i would hate to come back in a couple years and have no idea what anyone has been doing.

I'll do my best to post back up here soon.....