FIJIAN CHURCH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR

AT THE CHURCHES (I USED TO ATTEND THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SANTA ROSA). THEIR CHURCH SERVICE IS ABOUT ATTENDING GOD BY USING THEIR GIFTS. IT ALSO HAS A TIME WHEN THEY GATHER IN A CIRCLE AND CHANT AND CHANT ABOUT WHAT WAS NEGATIVE IN THEIR DAY AND SOMETIMES CRY TO RELEASE THIS NEGATIVITY. THEIR LANGUAGE SOUNDS SIMILARTO THE HAWAIIN LANGUAGE. I HAVE SUNG IN THEIR CHOIR AND EVEN THOUGH I GOT THE TUNE I DID NOT GET THE MEANING. THESE PEOPLE HAVE A TIGHT NETWORK OF FOLKS WHO STICK TOGETHER FOR FOOD, SHARING CEREMONIES, SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE, JOBS, ETC. THEY LEARN ENGLISH EARLY AND MOSTLY SPEAK WELL VS. WRITE BOOKS, ETC.

THEY HAVE MAJOR CEREMONIES AT CHURCH FOR THE BIRTH OF A BABY, THE LEAVING OF A MEMBER, WHO GOES BACK TO FIJI, ETC. I HELPED COOK AND SERVE AT A BIG LUA THEY HAD AT THE CHURCH. THEY COOK HAWAIIAN FISH, POTATOES, TARA ROOT, LOTS OF STARCH - BAKED BANANAS, A PORK SALAD, LOTS OF FRUITS, LOTS OF FOOD, AND OF COURSE A SWEET CAKE AND PUDDING.

AFTER DINNER THE MEN SIT ON PALM MATS AND CHAT AWAT DRINKING KAVA KAVA JUICE WHICH IS LIKE BEER! IT TASTES HORRIBLE! THEY BEGIN TO SING AT BIG MEALS AND THEIR IS AN ENORMOUS RELIEF OF GAYIETY.

THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE WHO HAVE HIGHER STATUS. THEY LEAD THE RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS, PERHAPS THREE TIMES A WEEK. BOTH MEN AND WOMEN ARE VERY DEVOTED TO THEIR KIDS AND THEY WORK HERE AS CARETAKERS OF THE ELDERLY. THEY STAY WITH THEM 24/7 AND MAKE EXCELLENT MEALS. THEY MAKE SURE THAT THE OLDER FOLKS THEY CARE FOR ARE WELL ATTENDED.