The Other Side of Paradise

Finally, living my dream to live on a tropical island. After two touristy weeks, I became emerged in the real Fiji. I met people and made friends but mostly, I found out what life was really like for a single woman living abroad. There were good times and bad times and I soon found out what life was really like behind the smiling faces and long lean palms. It was another story and this one is mine.

It has always been my dream to live on a tropical island and after spending years in dull gray county buildings, I decided to take off and live my dream. So now, I sit on the sand leaning against a long lean palm and looking into the clearest bluest water I've ever seen. Two herons, one black, one white, skim over the water looking for fish and near the horizon, more dreams, a freighter going by.

Jacqueline D. Brown is a graduate of the University of Iowa. She has been published in natonal magazines and two anthologies. Her article: "Living and Working in Fiji" has received email from around the world. Ms. Brown has been a Special Education and ESL teacher. Among other jobs, she has been an Assistant Press Secretary to a mayor and hosted a cable show "Straw Hats and Shades" that gave information about moving to tropical places. She currently makes her home in Hollywood, California.