Stuck in Fiji because of the coronavirus Izhevsk Andrey Smirnov seems to be the only person on the planet who is happy with the fact that the pandemic turned his life. He made friends with the locals, got a job as a cook for the house on the ocean pays 310 rubles per day.
“Today is my anniversary. Two months ago I was stuck in Fiji. The island became a part of my life. In an atmosphere of General crisis and collapse I built here is perfect. The situation with the virus in Fiji safely. A month and a half here identified a total of 18 people infected, of which 14 healthy. No one death.”
these are the lines written by 48-year-old Izhevsk Andrey Smirnov.
the Man – one of the stranded tourists, who because of the coronavirus do not have time to return to Russia.
In Russia, Andrei oversaw izhevskcinema club and festival shorts. Many have pouchastvoval – but all the trips were planned economically, preparing for them in advance.
From the diary of Andrei Smirnov: “Our resort (a resort place – MK) is empty. Local people come here just for the weekend. Foreigners have long carried a rescue flight.
Of the tourists there were three, and even some of the locals, those who live in the resort permanently. Today the entire staff is sent home. Was quite like a day of self-government in the camp. Themselves made dinner, gathered around the table, lit candles”.
– are You in Fiji for more than two months. What has changed since then?
– most of the stranded tourists “dismantled” their country. Left six people. Four foreigners got bored sitting here, they changed the location, moved not the next resort. Of the tourists here were very stubborn, I and one Japanese.
That’s two of us and sit from the beginning of the epidemic. Recently we were joined by three local. I don’t know what keeps the Japanese do not like poor people, and the government gave him a thousand dollars, he could move to a more luxurious place. Now in Fiji great discounts on accommodation. Places that previously could afford only millionaires are now quite sane money.
How much?
a Private house with kitchen on an oceanfront luxury place costs about 10 thousand rubles for a week. Month rent – to 32 thousand rubles. Cheaper than to rent an apartment in Moscow. But to live there now can only “stuck” tourists or locals. Planes do not fly. Airline carry out domestic flights. Allowed to cross by boat from one island to another. Once you open the flight to the island for all countries, prices soar.
why are You sitting in one place?
– I Have a not so stable situation to travel around different resorts. Don’t know how soon to return to Russia, so I try to save. Ehadn realized that in three weeks will fly, I allowed myself to travel around the island.
Another reason for not leaving their homes – the feeling of gratitude experienced by the owners of the resort. I live here almost for free. For a house with a huge bed give 350 rubles per day. Feed me, near by the ocean, palm trees, Internet. If I move, it will not be able to go back on the same terms. Fijians gave me a discount, knowing what a difficult situation I was in. So I’ll just stay here. No good deed goes unpunished.
– Really, it is better the bird in the hand…
– I Have not even a bird, and two in the hands. When I got here two months ago, didn’t think so well it’s all good. I’m originally paid for the house the full amount, was in despair that will not last long. With time everything has changed.
“Cool, what stuck”
From the diary of Andrei Smirnov: “In those days when we have no tourists, we who live here constantly, cook for themselves. Together around a big table. Today was just such a day. I made classic pancakes, cooked Russian borscht, and it made Uzbek samsa. In Fiji there are no sour cream, so the soup I added fresh coconut milk.”
– What are you doing on the island?
– Working in the kitchen try your hand as a cook. It is a great experience. Probably won’t succeed in Russia, just try yourself as a restaurant cook. Here I’m almost prepared daily for guests.
do Not regret, what have left?
– two months ago, regretted not departed. Now I think it’s cool that I’m stuck.
Money left?
with the Money I was supported by members of social networks. Recently “woke up” the Russian government, I began to receive assistance from the state – 2400 roubles a day. Apparently, the money will transfer, as long as here are not sent to the export flight. Maybe a miracle will happen in June, if not later. After all, Russia had attempted to take away the tourists, but Fiji has suddenly banned the landing of the aircraft.
– What’s the story?
the Plane was supposed to pick up the Russians from Bali, Fiji and Thailand. Previously the country had reached an agreement. But on a day when our Board needs to fly us to Bali, the Fijians refused to take flight. There were rumors that Fiji Airways has decided to earn money for us. Rather, they offered themselves to throw us into a third country where we could pick up, asked to pay for the Charter. Russia did not sponsor Fijians. Those offended and closed the sky. Now, like the foreign Ministry is considering this scheme. But so far no export flights with Fiji in the list.
If that trip didn’t happen, you would have already been in Izhevsk.
– Rather��it, I would not fly that plane. First, for the flight we had to pay money I did not exist. Secondly, the plane has arrived to Surgut where I would put the two weeks in the Observatory. Then the train would reach Izhevsk, and got right back into quarantine. I consulted with friends, and all with one voice cried: “Stay in Fiji.” But to return now to Russia. I do movie work, of course, stood, closed projects, salaries in the near future in the homeland is not expected.
– in Addition to you in Fiji are still people from Russia – the Deputy from “United Russia”, retired. They how do you feel?
– Trapped here Russians – 26 people. From the very beginning they settled in city hotels near the airport, and live there. Receive financial aid from the state. The guests came to me.
From the diary of Andrei Smirnov: “Today, at low tide walked on the beach, when from the shore I heard: “Andrew, you have the Russian ask.” You see, rushing towards the throng of ladies. Bah, it’s my colleagues at Paradise living near the airport waiting for the plane.
these two months I imagined them as dull and desperate tourists, with pain in her eyes and longing in the heart. The media flashed their unfortunate photos and pleas for a rescue plane. Ladies were funny, alive, with fire in the eyes of a Siberian. Mentally chatted, immediately drew a bottle of wine, I organized the food – drink for Victory Day, tasted local fish and pea soup. Persuaded them to abandon their inner city slums and move to the coast”.
– did Not persuade them to stay?
They looked, I bought, they all liked it, but still went into the city. Unlike me, every day they hope to fly out of here. All their gaiety – a psychological defense, not to go crazy.
Even for me the lack of free elections is valid destabilizers. This is probably one of the strongest stress factors, which is not I suspect in real life. Interestingly, after their visit to the local long nodded in my direction, saying, this is the Russian, which come delegations of women, and on the same day leaving. One stuck to a foreigner such delegations are not frequented. Since then, I became a local legend, which here will be remembered for a long time.
“In Izhevsk remained mum, she’s scared”
don’t You miss Russia?
– Miss. I like Russian forest mushroom smell, I feel at home in the warm months, I bike. But Russia is from me not going anywhere. And such an experience I will never happen again. Again, I just realized how fortunate I was stuck in Fiji.
– do you Have family remained in Izhevsk?
– my situation is complicated in this regard. In Izhevsk remained mum. The first of March my father died. I was then in New Zealand, did not have time for the funeral. I thought back quickly. Coronavirus is not allowed.
You call mom?
– We talk on the phone daily. She lives alone, she’s scared. I consulted with her to stay with me in Fiji or look for possible options to get out. She said there is no reason to return in the midst of the epidemic. “Better wait it out, I’ll be fine”, – her words. My mother has a mother. Psychologically it’s hard, of course, that it far.
– As there is in Izhevsk?
– Normally, the “draconian” rules is not, in any case, I have not heard that on the street someone enough and was fined. Another thing is that Udmurtia is the second place in mortality, don’t know why. Honestly, I don’t want to go and to understand this topic.
From the diary of Andrei Smirnov: “Despite the absence of the epidemic in Fiji, there strict quarantine policy. The country has a curfew from 22 PM to 5 am, the national airline “Fiji Airways” has extended the suspension of flights until July. Rare charters for the return of nationals from abroad, accompanied by unprecedented measures. For example, Fijians who came from New Zealand, a country where the epidemic is almost over, put in the Observatory for four weeks, to isolate themselves at home is prohibited.”
Fiji quarantine restrictions remained?
– From restrictions left only a curfew. I don’t understand why. The epidemic is long over, new cases no, Fiji is a healthy territory. But they are afraid that they gonna get infected.
Is good that there are such measures?
– I am not a supporter of tough measures. Fiji live only tourism. I’m not sure that such restrictions will benefit the economy.
– the Fijians complain?
– of Course. The business collapses, the hotels empty.
But protests have not become?
– Rallies – not their story. Everything that happens, local take for granted. However, I can only judge by those who live in the villages. To rebel, they just will not, and will not die of hunger. Go catch fish, eat coconuts and bananas. Urban residents in this regard heavier.
“no One is discussing the topic of coronavirus”
You are bored does not happen?
– I am a versatile person, I do not know boredom with youth. What is boredom if the Internet, I connected with friends, can listen to music, download books, watch movies.
From the diary of Andrei Smirnov: “two months of living here I have not seen a single conflict, not felt any gloomy look, did not hear any evil or angry word. Only laughter, smiles, gentleness, kindness, trust. Mauger�� to be, now, and I? Perhaps, Paradise just that.”
– Conflicts, quarrels in a resort really happened?
– Imagine no conflict. I associate it with the peculiarities of Fijian mentality. Local are always in a relaxed state. If difficulties arise, they quickly overcome them. More Fijians are not familiar with the concept of “lazy”, they all work, no riding pants, they should not be forced to do something. They’re good guys, always ready to help, perhaps that’s why I pleased to be here.
Novels happen between the guests of the resort?
– we have built wedding stuck a German with a Fijian. Now the couple went to other Islands. Here periodically something happens. For example, every weekend it attracts local tourists during the weekends it is crowded and noisy. Then there are the weekdays and quiet again, be only 4-5 people.
From the diary of Andrei Smirnov: “Brothers in Paradise. Isao is Japanese and speaks almost no English, but his sociability has fascinated and tortured all. At first he went with an electronic translator and molested with strange questions: “Why do you travel”, “do you have a wife.”
Then he began to speak as Ellochka-ogress: a few words and generous gestures. He is an actor advertising, claims that he was 19 years old. Eccentric clown, Amateur obscene gestures and jokes, as well as Dostoyevsky. Fiji feels happy because of the liberation from Japanese formality and etiquette: down with the bows.
once he had a Russian wife, but he threw her out. In recent days, the Japanese began to slowly go crazy. Maybe a couple of days shut in the room with candles and coconuts. Once told the staff about how it was watching me in the room through the crack and about what they saw (something extremely indecent). At first he fascinated me, and after this incident, stopped”
You and Japanese get along?
Not quite. He’s a little weird. Japanese and so slopes for acting. And this is also an actor by training. Some of his antics surprise me. Can’t always understand, whether he plays, whether in fact such. There have been several unpleasant episodes of associated with the interference in my personal space. He was funny. After such situation, I cooled. If earlier we talked almost as brothers, but now I am staying away from him slightly to one side.
– Fijians are probably asking you about Russia?
– Nobody asks. Fijians have no interest in Russia. It is only, we believe that all should be interesting.
Discuss in Fiji coronavirus, as sick people die?
No. No one thumb this subject. All dissolved in the local environment, in the kitchen. I do not feel interest in the subject coronavirus, politicians here live in a completely different dimension.
On TV in the news which show?
– there isn’t one. Why should he? I was startled by the question. At a resort who needs TV, who would watch? I find it strange even if I’ve set my TV. The TV here is the ocean, the sunset. No desire to watch the news. You know, I just realized what it means to live in Paradise.
From the diary of Andrei Smirnov: “Completely new and strange feeling for me, existence without the slightest vision of the future. All life is concentrated here and now. Time seemed to have disappeared, tomorrow ceased to exist. Never in my life have I experienced the feeling that there is no future. All plans are meaningless all predictions ridiculous.”
In 2014, the Gallup Institute conducted a survey among the respondents, 64 countries around the world on the topic of domestic happiness. In front was the people of Fiji. 93% of Fijians believe that they are happy.
