While in Dakuibeqa, I was assigned a work partner, just like every other Peace Corps Volunteer. My work partner's name is Waqa. Waqa, which also means "boat" in Fijian, was Dakuibeqa's Turaga-Ni-Koro (T.K. for short). The T.K. is someone elected to the position and in charge of the projects in the village, similar to that of a mayor. Waqa is around my father's age and already a grandfather. Waqa and Macawa, his wife, took care of me like their own child while I stayed in Dakuibeqa. They live with Kiti, their niece, Paul, their nephew, and Melika, their granddaughter.
I ate most of my meals with them, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They became my family and they allowed me to be a part of theirs. Paul was in sixth grade and very smart. I would help Paul with his math homework every night after dinner. Kiti was about to go to college and Mikela was going to start kindergarten soon. We would always play card games, Uno, and rugby. We also watched movies together.
I chose to interview Paul because we spent so much time together and he became one of my best friends in all of Beqa. He always worked hard but still found time to hangout with me or other friends in the village. Paul had the honor of being chosen to be the head boy student for the sixth grade.
