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The communication style varies among indigenous Fijians – some are too shy to say what they are thinking, others try to translate what they are thinking for you to understand, and still others are very direct. This is similar among Indo-Fijians. Indian males tend to be more direct and express their opinions more than any other group.
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Fijian villagers generally refer to foreigners as tourists, regardless of how long they have been in the country. They also generally think of foreigners as benefactors, which may be a legacy from colonial times when the British governed. It is also inherent in the indigenous culture to think of family members as their benefactors. For example, a village family who has relatives in the capital city of Suva would expect the
Suva family to house and feed them when they visit the city, regardless of the number of family members or the amount of time spent in the city.
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Fijian villagers with Westerners: During conversation, you get the idea that they understand what you are talking about. They are very kind in acknowledging and saying yes often. But they may miss much of what you are trying to convey.
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Fijians with each other, whether in villages, towns, or cities, tend to joke around in general conversation, often over very minor topics.
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Among Indo-Fijians, or between Indo-Fijians and foreigners, the men do most of the talking. The women tend to be reserved and allow the men to talk. You may get the erroneous impression that the female does not understand what you are saying (in English). Often, she understands a lot.
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After saying “Bula,” the most typical question, rather than “how are you?” is “where are you going?” This is considered polite and appropriate.
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