blackrockbulletin: Adventures in Paradise 33

Adventures in Paradise 33

Kia Orana, everyone! Our excellent adventure continues with a mostly tongue-in-cheek look at life here on our little rock. We thought that you might enjoy an islander’s view of daily events that make living here a unique and smile-provoking experience. The question that accompanies each of our vignettes is, “When was the last time?” We respectfully submit for your edification, the following samples of life in and on Rarotonga.

When was the last time someone asked you how many times you have been around an island?

This question is posed to us almost everyday by locals and by our American visitors as well. We always begin our answer by saying, “You mean today?”

This island is twenty-one miles around, which seems very small by American standards. While it is not at all unusual for us to drive around the island once or twice in a day, the locals find it amazing that we could or would go so far. For the most part, we find that we now know more people here than do many of our friends, as the residents here tend to stay in their own little villages or areas. At home, we could take a long drive when we needed to get away from it all. A long drive here simply puts you back where you started. On Rarotonga, really getting away requires a plane ticket!

When was the last time a chicken came to church?

The correct island answer here would be last Sunday. We should be forthcoming in qualifying our answer by saying that in truth, our feathered friend did miss the sermon. In the chicken’s defense, although she really does not need defending, the doors were open and the sign outside did say visitors were welcome!

When was the last time someone came to your door asking if you had seen their pig?

This happened just last week, as a neighbor seemed to have lost his dinner, er pet pig. A frantic man came running through our yard looking for the elusive porker. We never did see the little guy, but we did hear some squealing on occasion. We suspect that while excited to hear that the family was having a feast that evening, “Babe” may have gone missing when faced with the prospect of becoming the main course!

Speaking of pigs and main courses: When was the last time you threw a pot-luck party and one guest showed up early with a frozen front quarter?

Again, this happened a week ago when we were setting up tents and chairs for our Kai Kai. Our friend, Jake, said that he and his wife couldn’t attend, but wanted to drop off their dinner contribution. We were surprised when that contribution turned out to be a front quarter of pork (including the leg) which was frozen solid! Thanks to the internet, I was able to take a crash course on island cooking. I learned that one trick is to cook the pork very slowly. You must also work to produce a crackled skin, which is a delicacy here. The pork and I were a hit, but I am a bit troubled by disposition of the scraps. One woman came by and scraped all the bones and fat into a bag to take home to feed her pigs. Do you detect a certain irony here?

When was the last time you needed help to lift one bunch of bananas?

Last week, when Ward’s daughter and son-in-law were visiting, we took them around to meet some of our friends. Many here are insulted if we do not introduce our visitors to them, so we try to find as many people home as possible. President Cummings was his usual jovial and joking self when he met Darvil and Teresa. He suggested that they had no need to return to America, as life was perfect on this island and he tried to persuade them to stay. As is his custom, he would not allow us to leave without presenting us with a “little something”. This something has on occasion been a freshly picked pineapple. Other times, we have driven off his mountain with a basketful of papaya or mangos. Once, we were even gifted with a hand-dyed paraeu. This time, Darvil was asked if he liked bananas and when Darvil answered in the affirmative, President Cummings told our unsuspecting son-in-law to follow him. The result was a bunch of bananas that Darvil could not carry. Ward jumped in to help and it took two grown men to hoist eighty kilos of bananas into our van. Oh yes, a kilo is 2.2 pounds. I will let you do the math! Our he-men worked to hang the bananas in our garage. Tip to the banana hangers who may read this blog: The banana bunches are always hung upside-down (as they grow) and they ripen a few bananas at a time from the bottom up. You simply pick the ripe ones and wait for the next ones to ripen as well. Our resident cook has also learned to peel and freeze bananas so that she can bake loaves of banana bread at a moments notice.

When was the last time you held a luau in your backyard? AND, when was the last time that the evening’s entertainment included a fire dancer?

Last week, as previously mentioned, we held a kai kai on the mission home grounds. We were saying good-bye to a group of BYU-H students who had been visiting our island for three weeks. These students had come as part of an exchange program between the school and the Cook Islands government. We wanted to send them off in grand fashion, so we invited everyone to the party. Many volunteered to perform, including Elder “Little Grass Shack” and it was a lot of fun. The weather was not totally cooperative, so we were dealing with a little, well ok, a lot of rain and some wind. At one point, our Samoan student lit his fire stick and began to perform. The combination of his being out of practice and the inclement weather produced some unforgettable moments. The highlight of the evening came when he tossed his burning torch high into the sky and it did not return. In the dark, our dancer had not seen the tree behind him and the burning stick became lodged in it’s branches. The emcee simply asked where the rain was when you really needed it! So, the fire dance became a game of target practice as many of the young people began tossing coconuts upwards into the night in hopes of dislodging that stick. The stick finally returned to earth and the show went on. Our guests left that evening wet, but smiling. I was smiling too, because I already knew that I would be sharing that experience on my next blog.

When was the last time that a tour guide changed his script because of something you said?

A guide on the island had been telling guests that his ancestors came from Asia, but some of their favorite foods, including the sweet potato (kumura) came from South America. How interesting! Later, Ward spoke with him and presented him with a BofM. Ward had highlighted the passages about Hagoth and also included comments from Presients Joseph F. Smith and Spencer W. Kimball concerning Hagoth’s leaving the Americas. We believe that the Pacific Islanders are decedents of that people. The next time we heard that particular guide, we smiled when he told his guests that his people and the kumura came from South America.

When was the last time that six people in one week asked to be taught?

We are excited to relate that this happened to us just last week. What more is there to say here?

When was the last time that someone greeted you with a kiss on the cheek?

This happens to us every time we meet someone and it’s a sweet, intimate experience.We have learned to lean in for the kiss and to kiss back as well. If you are Rarotongan, you kiss on the right cheek only. If you are Tahitian, you kiss on both cheeks, but always start on the right cheek so that there is no kissing confusion. This fosters instant closeness and is a custom that I intend on exporting to the US. It’s lovely, just lovely!

As always, we are happy and trying to work hard. It is worth reiterating ,that every experience we related occurred just last week. There is always an adventure waiting for us and we find ourselves looking forward to each a new day. We feel very blessed to be here and to share these experiences with the people that we have grown to love. We might mention here, as well, that you all have been part of our past adventures and we look forward to sharing yet more with you upon our return. We love and miss you and enjoy those e-mails that chronicle your adventures as well.

Love, Ward and Susan Elder and Sister Belliston, serving in the Cooks