Dag-Rune ZSunset in Yasawa archipelago. Bula!<br> <br> Here are two words to learn before visiting Fiji.<br> The most important word in Fiji is “Bula” – a universal greeting that can mean anything from “hello” to “good morning” to “nice to see you” or “hooray”, and further on to “cheers”, “okay”, and “Hear! Hear!”.<br> Bula means “Life”, and the most direct translation would be “How’s life?”.<br> <br> Universal importance<br> During the first few days in Fiji, one might feel overwhelmed or intimidated as a “Bula” is shouted from strangers in a shop, yelled from someone at a bench by the bus stop, or you are greeted with it from a taxi driver. But one soon learns to return the greeting with a smile, a nod, a thank you or yes. Or sometimes Bula in return, when your jetlagged brain starts remembering that is OK, too.<br> <br> Bula is used constantly. Even in situations where you may expect less informalities. Like when you are attending a kava-ceremony, and a couple of “Bula” is uttered.<br> <br> A word of thanks<br> The second most important Fijian word is “Vinaka” – thank you. Less common use than Bula, but still a good second.<br> <br> Fijian English is a variant of English and not one of the worst variants. You get by with standard English in Fiji, spoken slowly.<br> However, not all expressions from classical or modern English are well known among the adults and elders. Most young people on the other hand were well-versed in US American pop culture and internet slang. So, it is rarely a challenge to make oneself understood.<br> <br> <a href="https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2016/11/03/bula-fiji-vinaka/" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://drzinasia.wordpress.com/2016/11/03/bula-fiji-vinaka/</a><br> <br> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/2009CE?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#2009CE</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/Fiji?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#Fiji</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/pacific?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#pacific</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/island?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#island</a> <a href="https://pixelfed.social/discover/tags/retreat?src=hash" class="u-url hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" 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