The video I have been waiting for!

25 years on...

8th March, 2012 - A very special day.

Is it because it is Holi (A festival of colours) - Could be!
Is it because it is International Woman's Day - Yes partly!!
Most importantly, it is our 25th marriage anniversary!!!

Had been thinking about this day (25th anniversary), lots of plans made but all postponed as I am in no condition to travel at the moment - cast is out (removed on 28th feb) but my forearm needs the support of a wrist-splint still! Such is life!!

TEDx Talk

TED talks are a family favourite since late 90s. We have enjoyed watching it as well as shared it with students and friends from time to time. Atul used to download TED videos (sometimes leaving his computer to download overnight as he would struggle with the limited bandwidth and speed of internet those days) for his students while we were teaching in PNG University of Technology. One of the early talks I remember Atul downloaded for our students was that of wind turbine and the kid in Malawi - such success stories motivate students even more so in the developing countries. The idea behind these talks is what makes it unique! Little did we realize back then that we would have a personal interest in the TEDx series (which originated from TED in order to provide an opportunity to more people to share their idea!) some day in near future! And that was today when our daughter spoke about her master's thesis work at the Inaugural TEDxUCI. We are pleased that she has a good idea (software, energy and sustainability) and she cares for the environment - not that we are surprised. But making your passion your work proves you mean it! Good going young lady. The TEDxUCI had an excellent range of speakers, look forward to the YouTube video upload of these talks!

Another aspect of this talk for us was being able to watch it live while sitting in Fiji - and that is why I feel strongly about the potential of technology in both formal and non-formal Education.

VAKA: The Birth of a Seer

Hand is still in the cast but that should not stop me!
Last night (22nd Feb), saw one of the magical performances "VAKA The Birth of a Seer" organised by the "Oceania Centre For Arts, Culture and Pacific Studies" in USP held at the state-of-art multi-purpose theatre of the "Japan-Pacific ICT centre". Such a production is only possible when you have a team of talented and diverse group of people - It was an absolute pleasure to have watched this amazing musical - the ambiance of the evening was infectious.
http://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=970
Following night (23rd Feb), we attended the fundraising event to support the victims in Fiji, NZ and Japan. A young Japanese exchange student shared her narrow escape from the disastrous earthquake and tsunami - it left me wondering...and then we take life for granted!
http://www.usp.ac.fj/news/story.php?id=968
The third consecutive day (24th Feb) We were all set to attend the Rotary International 107th birthday (23rd Feb) celebration - a joint event by the four Rotary clubs in Suva at the JJs on the Park but my "hand in the cast" started complaining and had to give it a miss :(
Yet another dimension added to my life! Thank You!!

It will all be OKAY

On 22nd Jan, I had a fall, slipped four stairs, balanced the fall by taking all my body weight with my left hand - result = a broken ulna near the wrist. Run to Suva Private Hospital, the orthopedic surgeon carried out the procedure (x-ray, manipulation followed by cast) and I am now a proud owner of a cast! As I got back home, it then sunk in that I was going to be a one-handed woman for at least five weeks!

So is the cast going to stop me from going about doing my normal routine - I suppose not! With Atul's help, home front is under control and on the work front - technology has enabled all tasks to go smooth (becoming an expert in typing with one hand!!!). The only restriction is on my movements and this has affected my participation in community activities requiring physical exersion. Thanks to technology again, I could do other activities that required computer and internet. Its a matter of few weeks and it will all be ok, very soon!

Soroptimist International of the South West Pacific

Social networking site facebook has paved its way through the Soroptimist International of the South West Pacific. While the SISWP facebook page is still in its infancy stage and its actual potential is yet to be tapped, the Welcome page is quite impressive with photos of our (SISWP) project 'Birthing In Pacific' based in Papua New Guinea. Here is a screenshot of the welcome section for Soroptimist South West Pacific facebook page.