We like to think/hope that we are doing the right thing by our kids by living here on a small island in their formative years. I mean even in our home countries we make decisions- what school? or home school? day care or an endless round of after school activities transported by Mum taxi? What TV programmes should they be allowed to watch? We haven't got play station or xbox- we like to think we have a play ocean instead and we know our children are growing up here self sufficient and looked after by a whole "village". We know they are the type of kids not afraid to jump into the ocean off a boat or climb a tree- which can be rare amongst urban children these days I'm told; but from time to time we notice subtle differences appearing in our children.
Tom has been avidly watching Tracie's blog for pictures of Alex's lego creations- he loves them. He was very taken with Alex's Post Office and decided to build one himself. Well he got part way through and then asked "Mum, is this what a post office looks like?". Actually he hasn't been to one in his recent memory! His post office was excellent (well I thought it was)- sort of a cross between a space ship and the post office from The Grinch. If you look carefully you can see Chewbacca officiating over a pile of packages.
Our friends Shelley and Paul came over in the weekend and their son is also a lego enthusiast. So T and R were delighted to see Alex's lego chess set blogged and I was telling them about the post office. Paul and Shelley pointed out (also living on a resort like us) that the boys may trip up on post offices, but they can build entire hotels! and to demonstrate here's T's restaurant. Check out the cashier at the back, the chef on the right, the table with the lazy suzy in the centre (just like "Daikoku" says T)!
it even has a ...back up generator!! A true Fijian touch. The flip side of this is that they don't "get" Alex's Chicago Skyline . Sorry Tracie but you will have to post a photo of the Chicago skyline now for our poor countrified kids!
We had another reminder of the subtle differences a few weeks ago watching good old Shortland Street (a soap opera out of NZ which is very popular in Fiji). The kids have had to go up to Lautoka Hospital a few times for various reasons- nothing serious- T arrived in Fiji 2 years ago with his foot already in plaster; and we spent a bit of time up there checking on a guest recently who arrived with pneumonia (and was medivaced out to Auckland by her insurance company). Lautoka is, well, a third world country hospital. But we cracked up laughing when we saw the girls discussing Shortland Street. "that hospital is SO amazingly clean!" said Miss 9 yrs. "Yes" said Miss 11yrs knowingly "I think that must be because it is a private hospital!
Since I can't really describe Lautoka Hospital I will post some images from when we first got here instead (look at how little my baby is!). And YES! I have of course photoshopped some effects on them... This was the day the plaster came off...
So incase I am accused of single handedly putting people off Fiji with my recent posts I will post two photos from yesterday. Cyclone? what cyclone? (ok cyclone Gene is currently approaching Fiji tonight. Fingers crossed for minimum damage)...
those legos look great! my son is IN LOVE with legos..they keep his attention for quite a long time!
love those "water" pictures...looks like you can see right through! just beautiful...i would certainly come for a visit, after cyclone season!
Posted by: cynthia | January 29, 2008 at 09:24 AM
Meg, how are your family? Did Cyclone Gene affect Treasure Island very much? We read mainly stuff about Suva because it's easy for journalists to take photos there, but there's not much information about small islands. Take care and best wishes,
Wendy
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