Cuttlefish in the Wet Market and Visitor from Overseas

There's been one hanging out in the styrofoam box for a few days now. We have visited it twice daily since its arrival. Keohi has insisted that we eat it, and has assured me that he, not the fish market proprietor, can kill it. In fact, he said, he wants to be the one who KILLS THE FISH. Not sure where this obsession is coming from, but needless to say, knives remain out of range of vision. A few weeks ago we had a cuttlefish and argued that it was his pet. So it stayed in a plastic container a few hours, though when he tried to pick it up (dead) and walk around with it dripping the water all around, play came to an end.

We also watched a program on the octopus in the waters off New Zealand after which he announced he would be a scientist. Of course, yours truly liked that one. What kid doesn't want to be a marine biologist? (A few moments later, he decided he wanted to work at the fishmarket instead.) I was surprised, but then not, to learn of all of the ocean dredging between NZ and Australia. For some reason, I thought they would have more protection in those areas. There's no fish on the bottom between those two countries, or its been fairly deciamted, because they have killed everything on the ocean floor. It looks great from the surface, but underneath, no fish.

Today Keohi's getting a surprise fish tank for an early birthday present from friends.


Visitor from Overseas

My cousin came to visit! This is the first extended family member to come this way. Most of my West Coast family clan tends to holiday in Europe or Western countries if they leave the US. It was great showing her around; this distance from family is what makes expat life difficult. We trade familiarity, for adventure and difference, and here for many, if not most, financial benefit.