BULA Fiji!

Did you know that greeting is an act of communication in which human beings (as well as other members of the animal kingdom including us pigs) intentionally make their presence known to each other? *oink* *oink* It is a way to show attention to, and to suggest a type of relationship or social status between individuals or groups of people coming in contact with each other. While greeting customs are highly culture- and situation-specific and may change within a culture depending on social status and relationship, they exist in all known human cultures. Greetings can be expressed both audibly and physically, and often involve a combination of the two. This topic excludes military and ceremonial salutes but includes rituals other than gestures. We, Pigs, greet with our snouts. *oink* But, in my case, sometimes I smothered in kisses and hugs by people (maybe it is because I am very cute). *oink*

Greetings are often, but not always, used just prior to a conversation.

In my visit to Fiji, when I arrived at the airport at Nadi, I was greeted  by one of my close friends, Melissa, with a wonderful,”BULA!” This means hello in Fijian. I really love Fiji. I will be writing a short commentary on the beautiful island of Fiji.

Fiji (sometimes called the Fiji Islands), [1] is a Melanesian country in the South Pacific Ocean. It lies about two-thirds of the way from Hawaii to New Zealand and consists of an archipelago that includes 332 islands, a handful of which make up most of the land area, and approximately 110 of which are inhabited.

Fiji straddles the 180 degree longitude line (which crosses land on a remote tip of Vanua Levu and again near the center of Taveuni), so the international date line jogs east, placing Fiji all in one time zone and, “ahead” of most of the rest of the world. Please follow the rest of the stories about Fiji. *oink* *oink* VINAKA! (means Thank You in Fijian).