Tribewanted: Vorovoro

Coming in live from Vorovoro… reaching out to all the people revolving around the sun, in all different walks of life, welcome to Hammock Society FM. And today’s special guest has led Tribewanted in 2008 but now leaves Vorovoro in a flood of tears to pursue a career in medicine. He has become quite famous in Fiji due to his national broadcast on Fiji One talking about the project… welcome Giles Dawney.

Bula sia. Hello everybody.

You claim to be quite posh don’t you?…

If the right 13 people die I become Marquis of Waterford. And I’m forth cousin of Princess Diana. My dad’s side is connected. Perhaps that’s why I’m bald cos of all the inbreeding.

In that case I’ll be expecting some very articulate answers from you. Are you comfortable?

I could get used to it.

The lies you spout. You much prefer participating in legs, bums and tums exercise classes – that’s what got you banned from the Hammock Society back in March – Go Hammocks! Why waste time exercising in paradise?

Paradise is of the mind as much as the body and if you synch the two together you have the perfect mix.

Chill out don’t workout!

Why not chill out and workout? For me the two go together. I love mountaineering, that’s why I especially like running the four peaks

Don’t mug yourself.

I especially like it when I beat Ben Keene; we’ve known each other for five years and have always been competitive. The island record is 27mins 14 secs, that’s my record. Tale and Mateo reckon they’ve run it in 22 minutes but I don’t think that’s possible.

Walking it can be dangerous but running at full speed is almost suicidal…

There are a few trees that have saved me plummeting over the edge. Every now and again it get’s a bit hairy (scary). My shoes don’t work anymore so I’ve got no grip. But the worst part is the sea snakes, you’re coming down off peak three and you’re running… and you’re tired… you don’t really know where your feet are going and you’re having to slalom through all these curled up black and white reptiles. Facing death makes you feel alive.

Lunatic. Any other near death experiences you’ve encountered here?

Back in February, I was with a tribe guy called Mike and we were climbing up on the headland, it’s a really nice view for the sunset, near where Tui Mali’s grandfather’s grave is. I’ve climbed up there loads of times and just as I told Mike to be careful of his hand grip, a piece of rock came away in my hand and I fell about 15ft, smashed off a few rocks… Mike caught me just before I fell over the edge of the cliff. I was OK, I think he was more shook up than me, he saw it.

You’ve got good guardian angels Giles, probably cos your mum was a nun before she got married.

Yeah, she’s awesome. She looks after me in ways I can’t even imagine. I loved having her here in Vorovoro.

My favorite memory of her was every morning she would go for a swim and sing ‘Amazing Grace’ at full volume.

She took her hearing aid out and thought she was having a quiet moment to herself. She didn’t realise there was an entire audience watching her. I think the nearby village of Naqawage even managed to hear her. You know how it is… trying to describe this place to people… and so when someone special comes and shares it with you it’s amazing. Amazing.

Tribe members often say this is the best job in the world but it’s not all roses, what have you found hard during your time here?

It can get lonely. So many people come and go and it’s hard to keep a strong emotional connection with them all. You want everyone to have a good time but sometimes it gets hard, you put a lot of energy into people and then they go, new people turn up and you gotta start again – that’s what I found the hardest. This island can be the happiest place in the world and the loneliest place in the world all in one day.

I appreciate that.

There was a time when I wanted to resign, back in January. It was sevusevu with Tui Mali and we were about to perform the bread fruit meke – Drau Ni Uto.

Oh no, flashbacks, flashbacks, I was involved in this…

I wanted to impress Tui Mali at the beginning of my leadership, show him I was capable. The tribe started well but it all fell apart half way through. We were left standing like lemons and I forgot what to do next. The singing stopped like a crashed record, it was like someone had pulled the plug out of the socket. Everyone just looked at us. But Tui Mali closed his eyes and shook his head; he couldn’t even look us in the eye. I think that scarred us both for life.

I’m sh#t scared of that meke. I think I need counseling, maybe a healing hug from Va.

I came very close to resigning that day.

We all balls-up the meke at one time or another, I recently messed up in front of 1,000 students at the All Saints Secondary School Passing Out Parade. It was the ‘Vuki Malua’, the bum shuffle one, it means turn slow. But I turned hyper speed and some fellow tribe members copied me and we were all out of time with the music. That was a good one, I went quite red that day. Moving on from humiliation, let’s chat about some of your highlights, the good stuff…

Professionally, I love the seeing tribe members come here and enjoy the place, that’s my thrill. Hearing them talk around the campfire about what they’ve done that day knowing that we’ve helped with the platform enabling them to do that – that makes me very happy. Personally, I’ve loved the journey of Fijian culture, I’m gonna miss this country a lot. Speaking a little bit of the language, understanding a little bit of their culture.

My favorite part of their language is their word for aeroplane…

Flying boat – waqavuka! Brilliant! Heaven and earth are the same word: vuravura. It’s a fascinating language, all their words are in tune with what’s going on. There’s no sense of precision or linearity. These guys are very connected with each other and the world around them. They show the world that it’s not all a sterile, concrete jungle that many of us grow up in.

You’re leaving Vorovoro to pursue a career in medicine back in the UK. Are you going to find the transition difficult?

It’s hard to say. I’m quite looking forward to it. I’m well out of my depth. I haven’t studied science since I was fifteen. I don’t know why they let me in. It was an idea I had on a bus this time last year wondering what to do with my life… I want to be useful, help people, challenge myself, develop… thought being a doctor ticked all the boxes. Done some research. Applied. Had an interview, came here and forgot about it until they sent me an email offering me a place.

Science is very matter of fact. But many things happen in Vorovoro that seem to have a paranormal feeling. Anything like that happen to you?

It’s Easter and a mother hen walks into the kitchen with here three chicks. But the craziest one was a visitor from FIRCA (tax office). Her mother was from Mali and according to Fijian custom she should of visited her home first and offer sevusevu but cos of time restraints she didn’t do so. The weather was nice and blue when she arrived, the sea was flat. But then it went a little gray. After business she left without properly respecting the correct ways of the culture. We got on the boat to leave and from going totally flat the sea went berserk. The girl started screaming, really frightened and started crying saying the sea was angry with her. Once she left the boat the sea calmed down again. You hear people tell these stories and you think they’re making it up but it’s happening here.

Tui Mali often talks about the ancestors living here amongst us even though we can’t see them. What do you think about this?

It’s all about connection. We are the product of everything that has gone before us so things don’t just disappear, their energy must stay here some how in some form. The more we connect with the past the more we can understand where we are right now. The way Fijians interpret stuff has relevance. Where we’re from, we don’t feel part of the world, where as here they are very connected and every action has a consequence. That’s been one of the best experiences for me. I didn’t think I’ld learn much from coming here. Perhaps I was a bit naive, a bit arragont, it’s been amazing, mind blowing.

I bet you’re going to miss Team Fiji loads. If they were a part of the human body, any part, what would they be? Let’s start with Tui Mali…

He’s the brains I guess, but not in the clinical way. All the wisdom comes through him, leadership comes from the top. He’s a great example of how to be leader. He’s calm, considered, wise, he’s got humor.

Our Community Manager – Tevita?...

Adrenaline. The passion, he makes the blood pump.

Marau?...

There’s a bravery that man shows when he goes out spearfishing. I’ve been out with him and for the time I’ve put in I have caught very little. It’s exhausting. It’s dangerous. I’ve got a lot of respect for him. He’s the heart.

Liavi A.K.A. Crimestopper?...

He’s the emotion. He’s the love of the project. I’ve never met a man who can be so warm and friendly to so many people in such a genuine way… he’s pure love.

Sava – Captain Culture?...

What other body parts are there… uhmmm… he’s a clever man, very smart man, a big asset to this place, the fact he can articulate his culture to us, he’s the mouthpiece of this culture. He’s the tongue.

Sosi?...

He’s got a desire to learn, he’s hungry to learn, he digests everything. He’s the belly.

Tale?...

He’s the arse. Tale’s great. He brings so much humor and connects with the tribe really well. He doesn’t take himself too seriously. These guys aren’t even from the same village, they’re from different parts of Fiji yet they form a dynamic like they’ve known each other all their life. Socially we’ve got loads to learn from these people.

Pupu?...

He’s brawn and brain together. Killer handshake. The man is an inspiration; he knows so much yet is so humble. I would love to spend a day in his head, the way he sees the world, nothing is hard for him and everything can be used. He can be the hands but he is so much more.

Poasa?...
His laugh is unique, an amazing laugh… he can be the voice-box.

Our head chefs, Va and Francis?...

Both give good hugs, very cheeky and happy, love gossip… love a good yarn. They can be the ears. Va is the left ear and Francis is the right. Not much escapes those two.

Raijeli?...

Face of Fiji that girl, no matter how bad your day you can’t help but feel good about life when you’re around her.

Kesa?...

She’s the smile, always laughing and happy. Nothing seems to upset these people.

Our trusted boat captains Api and Jone?...

This project is nothing without them. Keeping everyone safe and often doing it automatically. They’re the lungs. In a years time, once I’ve studied medicine, I’ll revisit these descriptions and come up with some fancy answers.

Although you’re leaving Vorovoro you’ll still going to be involved right?...

I’ll be helping Ben running the on-line shop so if you want a t-shirt drop me a line.

I guess you’ll be presenting your tatao (leaving gift) today to Tui Mali and Team Fiji, how are you feeling about your departure… the Isa Lei (leaving song) is nigh?

It’s like I’m on death row! No repreave. All the paperwork has come through and they’ve stamped it! I feel numb. Surreal.

Any last words?...

It’s been a privilege. I feel like one of the luckiest men in the world to have been involved. Fiji has a lot to offer, it shows what humans are capable of in a very positive way. Don’t worry about how much it costs to come here… come.

I can see your eyes filling up with tears, there’ll be no crying on the hammocks so we’ll leave it there. Giles Dawney, you wannabe majesty… I salute you. Thank you for training me up to continue your good work. The medical world is gaining a great mind. You’re still banned from the Hammock Society! God speed.