A recap of the weekend……….rain, rain and more rain – heavy downpours both days which is badly needed here on Rarotonga. Linda and Elaine flew off to Aitutaki for the day on Saturday while most of us made our way into town and the Saturday market. The Vaka singles, both men and women, braved forth throughout the day in stormy seas on Saturday. We all rendezvoused in the Vaka Lounge Saturday night for dinner and we celebrated again yours truly’s Birthday with red wine and more delicious birthday cake for dessert. And I thank you all for my BD card with your lovely notes, which will be a treasured memory celebration – this BD on the other side of the world on such a beautiful island – even if it did rain all day!
Sunday the Churchgoers split and some went East and some West to worship with our newfound friends who live here. In the afternoon between rainstorms most of us just had a lazy afternoon and dinner in the Vaka lounge.
Monday a.m. it actually wasn’t raining – the seas were calmer and at 7:30 a.m. the first Vaka racers passed the KiiKii heading to Matavera. This race was the women’s over 35 in the 6 person canoes. It was exciting to watch them paddle strongly in unison with the patrol boats all around.
Connie read the journal for Friday and Denise had the thought for the day. Susan has been very excited about the progress at the Takitumu School library project. They are well underway in tackling this mammoth project of cataloguing a whole container load of books for the children and almost half of our team has worked on this project.
For me, today was the calm before the high activity days ahead at Te Uki Ou School, where I’ve been painting the outside walls of the school and being a sports activities teacher with the children – to sitting in front of the computer at the Red Cross. Today doing some detailed analysis for Vikki, the head of the chapter on the Cook Islands in Rarotonga. I enjoyed walking around the grounds and seeing the pigs, 8 piglets, goats and their young, roosters, chickens, dogs and a cat all within a stone’s throw of the building I’m working in. A totally unique setting for the Red Cross.
Back at the KiiKii and a dip in the pool after work with Susan, Teresa, Denise and Sarah, an outside library volunteer who is helping with the big Takitumu project, and more discussion amongst these enthusiastic women on the plans to helpfully complete this project before Vaka 95 ends.
Another Vaka race went by late in the afternoon with at least a dozen boats – all men this time in their 6 man canoes. It’s exciting to be here for this once a year international race.
At 5:30 p.m. Taiana picked us all up, we stopped by the library to get Robin who was just finishing her day, and went to The Gallery, almost half way around the island to a wonderful display of local artists who had been given paddles to uniquely design in conjunction with the Vaka races. We made it inside just before another cloudburst to enjoy fellowship with others from the Island and to see the fabulous creativeness the paddle designers used in completing their paddles and to enjoy “gratis” wine and beer. We all met new and interesting people there. And thanks to Teresa for suggesting it.
Last stop was at the Lime Café where we piled out of the van to a table for 10 to enjoy calamari, nachos, salad and pizzas with a little more wine by some and singing Bali Hai once again. Back in the van we continued to sing all the way home to the KiiKii. If this keeps up, maybe we’ll be able to go on tour some day as “The Singing Global Volunteers”……just kidding.
Another wonderful day!!!

Judy

Thought for the Day:
Channel your inner succulent adventurous woman.