Turning 12 Fijian Style

I am sitting on my deck overlooking the palm tree lined beach and beyond it the lapis blue waters of the South Pacific. The kids are playing on the beach – I can hear them arguing over what kind of crab it is that they have cornered.

The Fijian ladies are busy in the kitchen, cleaning and preparing a lovo feast for Anna’s 12th birthday. Earlier today they spent hours decorating the pillars of our deck with multicolored leaves and flowers from the bushes out front. There is a basket (expertly woven from palm fronds and leaves) hanging from the ceiling of the deck. It holds pink tipped orchids and crimson-colored blossoms. Every table sports a sea shell vase of leaves and hibiscus blossoms. This is crazy stupid beautiful. And all for the birthday of a 12 year old girl.

At 6 pm the villagers will come through the gates of this property in a line – holding a birthday cake and dishes for the feast. They will be singing the traditional Fijian birthday song – so they tell me. Then there will be traditional dancing, musicians, a kava ceremony, and a feast.

How long did it take to plan this you ask? I don’t know. I didn’t do it. I simply mentioned that it was Anna’s birthday on Friday and I would like to have a little party for her. This is turning 12 Fiji-style. I can’t wait!!