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Living her dream on RABI - Inspirational (Adapted from Fiji Times Online)
MERETA Tabuariki created quite a scandal on Rabi Island in Cakaudrove when she showed up to work in overalls.
It was unbecoming for a young woman to be dressed as such, according to the proponents of island tradition.
Some of the outraged saw fit to question her audacity and demanded that she conform to the mold.
Her career choice was even more unacceptable but the 32-year-old Technical Drawing teacher was pursuing a dream and the opposition presented mere challenges.
"I just heard it with one ear and it went out the other," she laughed.
"Those were difficult times especially when I saw the look of surprise and horror on their faces, heard the snide comments and heads bowed in gossip," she said.
"But it was to be expected because I was working in a field mostly occupied by men.
"Some of my elders even told me Rabian women were not allowed to do that because it was a man's job," she said.
"Sometimes the talk got me down but I am thankful I am a strong person and with my family's support I am able to move on with my life."
As a little girl at Tabwewa Village, most of her leisure time was spent creating sand castles on the beach.
"We used to build houses and each time tried to make it bigger," she said.
"But then the waves would come and wash it away and it was something we pretty much did every day.
"One day I was making this really big house and didn't want the waves to wash it away so I built far from the waterline but still, at high tide it was gone.
"So I thought what if one day I could build a big house, make it strong and look nice."
From the ruins of her flattened sand castle, Mereta's dream to be an architect was born.
After Rabi High School she took up a Diploma in Architecture at the Fiji Institute of Technology but financial constraints cut short her journey.
So she switched, on a government bond, to the Fiji College of Advanced Education majoring in Technical Drawing.
It was not the nursing career her mother had in mind and it certainly did not draw any admiration from fellow Rabi islanders.
"When I graduated I taught for a while at Bua College and decided to go back to the island to show the girls at Rabi High School that they could also take up this type of career.
"I remember the first few days when we had work to do outside and I was in my overalls, some women would come up to me and make some negative comments, even the men.
"I tried to understand where they were coming from and at the same time tried to explain to them that it was easier for me to be dressed this way because of the nature of my work.
"I do no t dwell too much on that but I am glad the attitude is changing and some girls have joined my class."
Mereta sees her time as a Technical Drawing teacher as a stepping stone to becoming an architect.
"It will take me some time but it is good.
"I now have funds to finance my education in architecture."
But right now, she belongs to a small percentage of only about five women in the country who work as Technical Drawing teachers.
According to the Ministry of Education, there are about 200 Technical Drawing teachers in the country.
"But the low number of women in the field does not necessarily mean it is a man's job," said Mereta.
"In fact, I rather think that it only reflects the need for more women to take up this career.
"I know some women who want to join a career that is dominated by men but are worried about what other people will say about it.
"I would say to them to get on with it because the surprise and comments will last only for some time.
"In fact, they often mean that you are on the right track," she said.
It was unbecoming for a young woman to be dressed as such, according to the proponents of island tradition.
Some of the outraged saw fit to question her audacity and demanded that she conform to the mold.
Her career choice was even more unacceptable but the 32-year-old Technical Drawing teacher was pursuing a dream and the opposition presented mere challenges.
"I just heard it with one ear and it went out the other," she laughed.
"Those were difficult times especially when I saw the look of surprise and horror on their faces, heard the snide comments and heads bowed in gossip," she said.
"But it was to be expected because I was working in a field mostly occupied by men.
"Some of my elders even told me Rabian women were not allowed to do that because it was a man's job," she said.
"Sometimes the talk got me down but I am thankful I am a strong person and with my family's support I am able to move on with my life."
As a little girl at Tabwewa Village, most of her leisure time was spent creating sand castles on the beach.
"We used to build houses and each time tried to make it bigger," she said.
"But then the waves would come and wash it away and it was something we pretty much did every day.
"One day I was making this really big house and didn't want the waves to wash it away so I built far from the waterline but still, at high tide it was gone.
"So I thought what if one day I could build a big house, make it strong and look nice."
From the ruins of her flattened sand castle, Mereta's dream to be an architect was born.
After Rabi High School she took up a Diploma in Architecture at the Fiji Institute of Technology but financial constraints cut short her journey.
So she switched, on a government bond, to the Fiji College of Advanced Education majoring in Technical Drawing.
It was not the nursing career her mother had in mind and it certainly did not draw any admiration from fellow Rabi islanders.
"When I graduated I taught for a while at Bua College and decided to go back to the island to show the girls at Rabi High School that they could also take up this type of career.
"I remember the first few days when we had work to do outside and I was in my overalls, some women would come up to me and make some negative comments, even the men.
"I tried to understand where they were coming from and at the same time tried to explain to them that it was easier for me to be dressed this way because of the nature of my work.
"I do no t dwell too much on that but I am glad the attitude is changing and some girls have joined my class."
Mereta sees her time as a Technical Drawing teacher as a stepping stone to becoming an architect.
"It will take me some time but it is good.
"I now have funds to finance my education in architecture."
But right now, she belongs to a small percentage of only about five women in the country who work as Technical Drawing teachers.
According to the Ministry of Education, there are about 200 Technical Drawing teachers in the country.
"But the low number of women in the field does not necessarily mean it is a man's job," said Mereta.
"In fact, I rather think that it only reflects the need for more women to take up this career.
"I know some women who want to join a career that is dominated by men but are worried about what other people will say about it.
"I would say to them to get on with it because the surprise and comments will last only for some time.
"In fact, they often mean that you are on the right track," she said.
Comment
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Comment by Gina on October 24, 2009 at 1:44pm
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how can i call u...mmmm sis,aunty,dauve..hihihihi ankee e raraba naba anne,,wel e tekeraoi naba am bong ikanne..see u there next year......okay den take care n tofa...make sure send some student too to the home economics okay....otherwise kini will end up with no students...ahahahaha....
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Comment by Nei Akka on June 12, 2009 at 3:31pm
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Nei Metaa..te bae koa kaman tomboy ngke ko uarereke ao koa ti bakanibaba naba ni kan architect! E bora teaba nam kewe n tamana. Ao ngke tariu, am bau te bau..ao korabwa bwa ko kaungaira bwa ti na discover ara inner strengths to do things beyond our imagination. Ao iai au bubuti, ko nora am dream castle are ko kakateia n te bike?? Wanna build it for me pls?..shh..anne ngke the very first house you build shall be mine, e uara anne...
Te kamauri ao te inga ae bati nakoim ma am utu!
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Comment by Itinteang on June 10, 2009 at 4:11pm
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Mereta
Just do what you feel is right for you. If you need to wear overalls because of the nature of your work, than do so. Do not let negative comments prevent you from fulfilling your dreams. All the best.
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Comment by Naitiniwa Teitiaki Tokinteiti on June 10, 2009 at 6:17am
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Mereta,
I am proud of you. You have just proven to your gender of the veracity a female could equalise that of a man. Go for it..........wear your overalls until a time will come where you will be sitting in a shade to admire your achitecture. Even here at Xmas Island we have girls who cut toddy.....isn't that a grand gesture for you ladies!!!!! Teitiaki (my old man) says " whether I do a girl's work or a man's job ... I have pride in whatever I do". Wishing you the best in your endeavours.
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Comment by Roba on June 5, 2009 at 9:01am
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Mereta,
Live your dreams cause I know dreams comes true.I dreamt that I wanted to travel and my dreams were fulfilled,I've been to Kiribati,Marshall Is,Hawaii,Japan, South Korea, California,Ohio but Rabi is still my home,my birthplace and nothing like Home.......I understand that some women do mens job much way better than some men, so I challenge you..go forward and accomplished your talents and your dreams.My only suggestions,wear your overall at school and when in the villages,maybe show respect to the Elders and residents by wearing at least something decent!! But imagine some gals during my time there in Buakonikai wore shorts at volleyball games?
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