Interview with Peni Toga [VIDEO]

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

While in Fiji for the past 2 weeks, we had a couple of family get-togethers.

One was at Lautoka where family members travelled by bus from Suva and Levuka – a minimum four hour trip.

My husband’s parents had 8 sons and one daughter. Two have died but the remaining 6 all got together over Easter, except for one brother in USA.

Brother-in-law Ben is the namesake for our eldest son, Ben Johnson.  (Fijian name Peni Toga Tamani)

People living in USA, Australia and other wealthy Western countries will be amazed at what Ben reveals about his lifestyle and job in this brief interview.

And yet he is constantly cheerful and giving of his time and money to his family, especially his seven grandchildren.

We are now in fund raising mode for our next get-together in a year’s time in Levuka, Ovalau, an island between the two main islands of Fiji.

You can see a map of Fiji in my previous post. That is a map of just the main island.

Here is a map of most of the main islands in Fiji. You can see Levuka (in red writing) on the small island of Ovalau.

The overseas family members will be paying for the 90 seater bus and all food for the weekend.

Here is a photo of the five brothers shortly after arriving at FSC Hall for the get-together. Ben is the one in the middle. Sister Josie was in the kitchen preparing food.

One thing we always find difficult initially when we return to Fiji is to sit on the floor. But we console ourselves with the fact that societies that sit on the floor don’t generally suffer from back problems.

Breakfast at Commissioners Drive, Lautoka. L to R brother-in-law Isireli Tawake, sister-in-law Josivini (Joyce) Lutu Tawake, me, husband Frank Tamani Johnson

Breakfast had been prepared by the western Lautoka, Ba and Nadi family members. It was a delicious mix of homemade cakes and pie with a cuppa tea – one thing the British taught the locals how to do well!

Breakfast at the Family Get-together

I have lots more videos and photos from Fiji to share with you in future posts.

Til Tomorrow