Mocemoce Na Vanua: the land abiding


Caitlin Scholl studied in Fiji at the University of the South Pacific with the School for International Training in 2005. During her 15-week semester, she spent four weeks conducting social research on culture and the environment; the outcome of which is this delightfully moving story about the vanua.

Mocemoce, na Vanua: The land abiding is a wonderful story about relationships-cultural and environmental relationships that signify the integral role the vanua plays in the life of Fiji.

The vanua—not only in its physical manifestation (as land and sea) but also with reference to its interconnectedness with human society as a source of spiritual inspiration and meaning.

The main thrust of the storyline is a young foreign woman’s search for the meaning of life. In this search, the author cleverly weaves a story about our continued search for understanding in the various relationships that we engage in daily.

The story ultimately captures ‘a day in the life’ of its various characters. It cleverly illustrates stereotypes associated with the interconnectedness of humanity through various relationships that are maintained and sustained in different ways.

Through the characters, she is also able to intuitively highlight issues about Fiji as a developing ‘traditional’ society in the throes of transition.

The conflicting interpersonal and inter-human relationships that she depicts through her personification of a woman and her daughter-in-law, father and his daughter, husband and his wife, mother and her son, employees and management, locals and tourists, foreigners and the environment are crucial—and yet crucial in the sense they are not an exaggeration.

That she poignantly addresses the dichotomies of tradition and modernity, environmental conservation and human economy and, of course, the ever forceful concept of globalisation through her story makes this book a must read.

As a young woman who came on this study abroad semester to learn about Fiji as a multicultural society amidst social change, Caitlin has definitely mastered the ability to ‘read between the lines’.

She shows an appreciation for the fact that everything is not always as it seems and that, although Fiji banks on its image as a friendly, exotic paradise in which the bula spirit is alive, change is evident and new relationships are continually being negotiated.

I recommend this book very highly for the very fact that it is an extremely enjoyable, easy read and yet also very thought provoking.

—BY TAOMI TAPU-QILIHO
USP Academic Director
School for International Training
Fiji

By Caitlin Scholl Published by IPS Publications, University of the South Pacific, Suva 100 pp. $18.95