Nakavu

i went to nakavu village, i think it was called, in nadi. it was part of the rural visits i went on, and as the three femlinkers sat with the woman whose husband had been the village chief, i think, in the village hall. other women slowly trickled in until there where about 12 or so of them sitting around in a circle. they had open discussions about who they were, their days and their issues before we started to record.

one woman, the third youngest there, spoke about having a mastectomy. my mother's ears pricked. breast cancer? this women was supporting her family of three children and i think her husband worked too. she had to go to lautoka, the next town, which is actually a city, over for her treatment. she didnt know that she even had breast cancer until after they had the tumour removed. cancer awareness i villages in fiji isnt all that present.

as this women got a bit taery while saying that she couldnt work for a couple of years because of the cancer. she looked quite well the time we saw her. i reflected later that night and tried not to call anyone or cry. this woman, whose mother was sitting in then hall with us, was telling us of her hardships. all the worries i have, samed to pale in comparison.

i felt happy for a short while for my advantages and gifts, but soon sunk into deep regret that i was one of the ones who wasnt there in the sense that i felt sorry for those who had less or who were in a worse rut than myself and just that i knew those so fortunate. but then my heart lfted there in that hall, so see the strength that women had. how she was strong enough to go through all that ans still smile without the slightest sign. it makes me feel better some days. as stupid as that sounds.

anyway. finished this post is, as master yoda would say.