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FIJI ISLANDS DEAR FRIENDS, At first glance I thought my assignment was a very simple one, to talk about AA in Fiji, and I set to work with a will. . . After writing several pages of "good AA stuff" I realized that I had written just the kind of material which is so typical that it could be written by any AA member anywhere, so I scrapped what I had written and asked a Fijian member to write of his before and after AA. The member's name is Williame, a young schoolteacher, who now has nine months' sobriety in AA. A typical Fijian, proud of his race and country, by nature happy and pleasure-loving. His concern for his people can be gleaned from his story, which I submit without correction or alternation. Williame’s StoryI was born on May 28, 1933 in the Fijian village of Cunu, about ninety-four miles from Suva, the capital. I am the sixth in the family, with four brothers and three sisters. Our parents are Methodist and they sacrificed most of their time on the Mission work. They did very well on their parts as parents for sending us to some of the good schools in our colony. Before going any further about my life I would like to mention a few things happening in Fijian villages--especially grog (any alcoholic drink, usually made from fermented fruit or vegetables in the villages) and Kava (drink made from the root of a plant called Yagona), which I think is the basic step to all Fijian alcoholics. In the past Kava drinking could only be undertaken when chiefs were present, and only on certain occasions, such as preparing for wars, welcoming visitors, merrymaking and other social activities. Today Fijians, whether chiefs or not, can enjoy themselves with a bowl of Kava at any time and of their own free will. Kava plays an important part in our Fijian way of life. It is a tradition passed on to us from past generations; and to refuse Kava is great insult. Such is the demand for Kava nowadays that a village can be one for a ghost if there is no Kava in the vicinity. The Tauranga (village chief) and elders love to spend the night sitting around the Kava bowl discussing many odd things which they hope will be of service to the village. This can be a night on the move 'til daylight unless they run short of Kava. Nowadays scientists are doing their best in inventing modern weapons and medicines; but we Fijians, we are also inventing modern kind of drink which leads us to the grave. In 1954 my friend was killed when he drank Aviation Spirit, and at the beginning of this year three more boys were killed in the same way. Also a way of the young men is to inhale the fumes of benzine by holding over the mouth and nose a piece of rag soaked in the spirit. Every day people invent more and more kinds of cheap drink. We Fijians are always going for happiness and the easiest way of finding it is through liquor. To return to my story--May 28, 1950 I will never forget. That was the day I turned to be seventeen, and the very day I first touched liquor. A friend of mine brought a bottle of rum and a few bottles of beer just to mark my birthday. I thought that was really happiness of the best kind; but I didn't realize that it was my first step to poverty and evil. From that day onward my desire of drinking was increasing; so most of the weekend I used to go with some of my friends to the people who were selling homemade liquor, and there we used to drink and I never stop until either no money left or flat out. Some of the nights I could not stop myself, after the last Lali (hollow wooden drum, beaten to mark the hours, or to assemble the villagers) I would sneak out to search for some drinks. I knew that I was doing wrong and harm to my body; but I couldn't, avoid it. Time went on and my drinking habit was getting worse and worse, for some of the nights I slept on the bus-stand or in the open parks, creeping to school at dawn. As soon as I reached my bed I took Fijian medicine and flower juice to cover the smell. Most of the time I attended classes only in the mornings, for by afternoon I was sick at my stomach and must go to bed. My class teacher often asked me why I am getting weak and weak in my work. After two wasteful years I was pushed out. My father was a man of strong determination and he begged the headmaster to give me another chance. I was given a job in the school workshop to help in hostel repair. In that position I was proud as I earned some money for my drinks, for a few months. I owed quite a lot of money to some of my friends. I tried some unhealthy ways of getting money--it didn't matter to me how or where I get the money, all that mattered was liquor. There were some who tried to release me from drink, but I turned away from them. Soon I began to hate everyone who try to preach to me. I remember what my father say to me when he find me taking liquor, "Williame, I will be very pleased if something happened to you through drunkenness, I also wish you were never born." I could not care what they think. One day the headmaster gave me advice to change my ways, and he promised to me that if I leave alcohol alone then he will send me to the Teachers Training College. I managed for that to stay dry for fourteen months and was admitted to the college. My first year at college was successful, but on the second year I started from Kava and end up with liquor and worst of all I started to drink methylated spirit, because it is easy to get and costs less money. Many nights after check we start with Kava and end up with liquor of the best kind, if we have a good "strike" or if not we finish with meths. Not long and they take me to hospital and before I leave the A.M.O. (Assistant Medical Officer--Fijian or Indian) gave me a very good warning to leave the liquor alone, if not I will die very quickly. When I asked him how this was to be, he said, "Strengthening your will-power and then you will be all-right." I left college with bad remarks because of my many faults. The first day as a schoolmaster was a bad one because the headmaster gave me a long talk about my behavior. Eight months' work was badly done because of lack of preparation, and because I wanted only money. Soon I should be no longer teacher, my family and village no longer want me. I want to stop but the devil walks behind me. It is finished, I think. Just at this time the first notice of AA is in the newspapers, and this is my last chance. I went to see the AA man and he is European, but when he talks it is in my head, he knows me well and I know him, it is only one voice talking. I learn of many things in our talks and at the meetings, and I am not made to drink anymore, I am born again. - - - - It is our hope that Williame will soon start a Fijian group here in Suva. One of us will chair the meetings for him until they are well established. There is a very grave problem here amongst all races. I think we are getting through to the European community, but the poor Fijian, in most instances expects a bottle of linament or something to rub on when it hurts. The business of the ceremonials is also difficult--in the villages the Taurangas rule with a rod of iron, and if, as is often the case, he himself is a drinking man, he will do little to discourage drink. However there are many who can see the dangers and with the help of the Paramount Chief, the church, the medical profession, and of course our own members, we must get the seed planted. Ralph Go to...
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