You cannot take the village out of her
YOU can take Melania Ivamarama out of the village of Saqani, but you can never take the village out of her. The Cakaudrove native found herself in the city of Suva ever since she got married to a police officer.
They live in the police barracks in Nasese with their daughther.
While staying in Suva, she found she would often hear the sea call out to her.
Respoding to the call, you will find the 32-year-old at the sea wall in Nasese fishing without a care in the world just like she did back in her village in Vanua Levu.
"Back in my village in Saqani, we are close to the sea. This is nothing new that I'm doing at the sea wall. It's my way of life and I love it.
"I grew up in the village and also spent my school days there. I came to Suva because I got married. "Compared to my village, there's not much fish in Suva.
But we make do with what we have," she said.
Her journey back into the sea started last year when she found herself restless at home after doing her chores.
"I started in July last year. I was at home doing nothing after my chores. I decided a great way to pass time while at home was to go fishing as I did back in my village.
"I fish a lot here at the sea wall. I'm always here when the tide is high. Fishing at the sea wall is my place of peace. When I'm having a lot on my mind, fishing is a great way to de-stress.
"The bait I use to catch fish is either oil fish or sewasewa.
I go right to the fish market in the city to purchase my bait.
Her fishing hobby has progressed to providing for her family. It was something that she didn't expect but was thrilled she could do. "After my chores, I leave home to come and fish at the sea wall while waiting for 2:30pm to pick my daughter who is in year four at Draiba Fijian School.
"After picking her up, we would go straight home with the fish I've caught. "We've stopped buying from the fish market because what I catch is enough for us.
"Eating the fish that I would catch at home is a good break from the meat dishes we would often eat.
"I don't spend much on fishing so it's a great way for me to bring food to the table." There are good and bad days for Mrs Ivamarama, but it doesn't stop her from doing what she loves.
"There are days where I would catch only a few fish while other days my bucket would be full of fish. Other days, I wouldn't catch any at all. Despite that, I still go fishing."
Mrs Ivamarama has taught herself not to rely on her husband despite being a stay-athome mum.
"My husband is a police officer and he gets paid every fortnight. The week he gets paid, I still go to the sea wall to catch fish. I don't rely on his pay."
She urges all women not to be ashamed of the work they do to put food on the table. She believes that any work done to provide for the family should be appreciated.
"I love fishing because it's just our way of life. My mother taught me how to fish and it's what I've done all my life.
I see the good it can do for families especially if you're living in Suva.
"Fishing is something you're not to be ashamed of if you live in urban areas. People will pass by but you need not be ashamed. "You can feed your family with it.
God gave us the sea to use. So we use it, was her message to other house wives on International Women’s Day."