RABI - A vision from the sea

[Stacey King]

FIJI TIMES ONLINE Sunday, July 05, 2009

Tepora Teaoti
RABI was a green vision that rose from the sea to the sky according to 84 year old Tepora Teaoti (Pictured), probably the oldest person on the island.

According to the elderly widow leaving behind devastated Ocean Island was painful but with little water and vegetation left due to extensive phosphate mining leaving was also the better option.

She spoke while her grandson translated saying that the first thing she noticed about Rabi was the abundance of water and that it was simply green everywhere she looked.

She remembers they left on a big boat, hundreds of men, women and children and were told they were going to build a new home in Fiji.

That was the first time she heard of Fiji and she wondered and was a bit scared about what the future held.

The boat ride over more than a week was rough; she often retched and tried to keep up a brave face for her children.

Her first glimpse of her new home was early one misty morning.

She stared wide eyed at the green forests and it made her very happy to see she didn't have to look hard for water.

She fell in love with the island and was happy that her nine children were growing up in a new place that was rich and fertile.

But some days she remembers Ocean Island and wishes she could see her homeland again before she passes on.