Cranking up

So the beige folder appeared in the staff pigeonhole revealing the matters that would be absorbing us during the start of year retreat. No, you can't have a look inside, contain yourself, but it included welcomes to three new staff, looking at residential student lists, the College calendar, teaching timetable and Chapel rota for the year, lists of student tutors and advisors, updates from the Programmes and - be still my beating heart - a copy of the New PTC Constitution approved by the Council last November! If you'd like a copy, it'll cost you a donation of no less than US$500 to 'Project PTCEE' and I'll arrange for priority shipping worldwide in a waterproof jiffy bag via Doris the Dolphin. 

How brilliant that we have on staff now Dr Fetaomi Tupu-Qilhio, a recent PhD graduate from University of Otago, who has kindly agreed to join PTC and will be responsible for Academic Skills and English support. She has some terrific ideas about how to approach all this and encourage Pacific pastor-scholars to write contextually and authentically while keeping the Academy and its conventions satisfied. 

Her own research focus in recent years has gone deep: looking at some very focussed examples of Pacific diaspora and migration, and filling an important gap in the existing literature. 

Tuvaluan Diaspora within Oceania: Ethnic Identity and Belongingness in the Margins

Abstract:

The diaspora within Oceania conceptualises the existence of settler communities of Tuvaluan heritage on Kioa Island in Fiji and in the village of Elise Fou in Samoa and validates existing ties they have with their home of origin. Fiji and Samoa are home to myriad of ethnic groups that have eventuated because of migration. The i-Kiribati on Rabi Island in Fiji and the various communities of i-Solomoni descent in Samoa and also scattered throughout Oceania are such examples. This research however concentrates on Polynesian ethnic enclaves that exist in both rural and urban extremes of these host countries. The diaspora within Oceania acknowledges that communities of Oceanic descent permanently settled within other areas of Oceania live diasporic lives.

In our modern Pacific, a Tuvaluan diaspora within Oceania exists and this thesis allows for the investigation into how Tuvaluans of Kioa Island and the Elise Fou settlement practice, live and experience life. Both communities are ethnically Tuvaluan. The original settlers came from various atolls in the Tuvaluan archipelago and live in minority ethnic groups in Samoa and Fiji. Despite migration that has separated them from their motherland, Tuvalu continues to have huge bearing on their lives as Samoans and Fijians today. Integration into their host communities however has had significant repercussions for their current predicament as peripheral minority groups. Through an examination of the phenomena of ethnicity in diaspora this thesis gauges the significance of ethnicity in the determination of forms of culture in migrant situations such as the diaspora within Oceania. It also looks at the salience of ethnicity as a marker of identity in the Tuvaluan diaspora. Cultural identity today in the diaspora within Oceania is derived from the natal home and is also shaped by the various contexts within which they live and experience life today.

The Diaspora has been written about extensively and Pacific Islanders have become the subjects of many such writings, but little is known of the Pacific diaspora within Oceania. Non-traditional, intra-Pacific migrations of our contemporary times are fertile areas for research. Multi-disciplined research has concentrated mainly on Pacific Islander experiences in the Pacific Rim countries to which we ‘traditionally’ migrate. It is not the intention of this study to homogenise the Pacific diaspora but there is an apparent gap in the Pacific Island diaspora literature to which this research on the diaspora within Oceania contributes to. As migrant people, our ancestors travelled throughout our Oceanic home for centuries and settled on the various islands that are our homes today. To appreciate this formation of communities that has taken shape due to movements of people, one must take into account both indigenous models and conventional approaches such as migration, malaga, va and our sea of islands.

So we're blessed by the best, eh?

Rev Dr Fa'afetai Aiava who graduated from PTC last year will also join the staff, in the Theology and Ethics Dept. Here he is with Luse on graduation day.

And then our College librarian, Nalini Devi Premadish who has borne the title 'in training' for a number of years now, just graduated from Fiji National University with her Bachelors in Library and Information Systems and can drop the 'in training'. (We all called her the College librarian anyway...) She'll continue to do the same faithful work, with weeding of redundant items and digitization of theses high on her agenda, especially if PTC is working towards University status. Which we kind of think we are... 

Nalini brings such a wealth of experience having worked at the George Knight library right here on campus since December 2003. She says of her vocation, 

I am proud to work at Pacific Theological College which not only promotes Christian unity throughout the World but provides a pleasant and warm working environment. 

Couldn't find a graduation photo in the posh robes but here's one from the lunch that library staff had on  graduation day.

So at PTCEE, we'll be introducing the Extension/Distance work to all our new residential students of course and asking the age-old question, 'Are your relatives, friends, neighbours, workmates, rugby buddies, Sunday School teachers, Youth leaders etc signed up for courses that will help them on the lifelong journey of faith seeking understanding? And for the first time in this year's Orientation session, we'll be able to say, click here!

https://www.ptceeonline.com/

as the online developments of Project PTCEE start to make themselves felt thanks to Nitesh and Nisha's great work. Still a way to go but we're live and kicking!

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Moving away from theological school for a moment, how would you like this to be you or your children's regular journey to day school? 

The Narere, Nasinu area isn't far from where we are; maybe 15 mins in a taxi, a bit longer by bus? Here's the story with thanks to Aqela Susu in the Fiji Times and Eliki Nukutabu for the photo.

THERE is good news for people of Vunisaleka and Dibulu settlements in Narere, Nasinu who have had to cross two run-down footbridges to get to the main centres for years risking their lives.

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport has directed the Fiji Roads Authority to upgrade the two bridges, with works expected to begin today.

FRA chief executive officer Jonathan Moore said the two bridges were not FRA's asset and were old pipe-bridges which were converted by locals into footbridges because of the convenience of available access.

"Under the direction of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the FRA has arranged for upgrading of these footbridges by re-decking with new timber and bracing boards.

"This will include a rope guide rail to assist elderly and safety for children," Mr Moore said.

According to the authority, work on the footbridges would take two days to complete.

He confirmed the authority would arrange for a boat to transfer pedestrians during the repair period because both the footbridges would be temporarily closed.

Mr Moore also clarified that since both footbridges were a community initiative, they would remain so.

"If there is a formal (if any) handover process, thereafter, any new ownership would include future plans for ongoing maintenance and future full replacement accordingly."

Two weeks ago, this newspaper highlighted the plight faced by students on their first day of school in having to cross the two footbridges with missing planks, rusted beams and no railings, placing their lives at risk just to get to school daily.

So there's an authentic slice of life from around these parts. Footbridges much required by settlement dwellers so they use initiative, find ways and make ways - literally. What then is the responsibility of the Transport Ministry and Fiji Roads Authority? As so often suggested in this blog, discuss!

Oh yeah, and in rugby news we're on the middle day of the Sydney Sevens. Not that these things matter a great deal over here and the 31-5 victory over Samoa yesterday is barely a talking point...

#2016flashback #indulgence.  Enjoy last click of this post....