Yesterday, I went to Ta’ina, who sells locally grown not native vegetables to sailors, and she had vegetables for me.

Small green kind of bell peppers, the same as the “piman” I know from Japan, and eggplants (aubergine). Now I had too many fresh vegetables to eat them all myself before the rot.

I just started preparing the eggplants and a part of the “piman”, called here “poivre”, for frying them and put them in olive oil for preservation, when the 2 teenaged girl who came on board on Sunday came again on their old allround windsurf board and their too long paddle. In a plastic bag, they carried a glass of chocolate spread and cookies to say thank you for me treat on Sunday.

As they knew that I baked bread on Sunday, they asked if they can try the bread. I served tea and coffee, which I had still in their cans, bread, butter and marmalade. They liked my bread so much that I immediately understood I have to bake next morning again.

We tried our best to communicate in a mixture of French, English and the help of my German-French off-line dictionary.

Today, we exchanged names. One is called Anuhea and the other Kaua’i. I explained them “Kaua’i” sounds very much like the Japanese “kawaii” which means “cute, lovely, pretty”.

I learned where they live in the village. Kaua’i’s mother passed away already, and Anuhea said she still has her parents but they don’t love each other. Sad stories for both girls. They asked about my parents, who passed away long time ago.

When they left, they asked if they can go again with their board under MaRe’s tunnel and if they can come back next day again and they will bring along an English-French dictionary. Sure I said yes.

After they left, I could fry my eggplants and “poivre” in oil and preserved them in olive oil. Curious how they will last and taste.