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French Polynesia

The man who found happiness at the sea

My name is Rosto. I am from Bora Bora. I was born here. When I was a child, I didn't like to go to school; instead of that, my father and I used to go swimming with the sharks. At the beginning, I was afraid of them, but later, they have become my family.  

After I finished my schooling, I began to work in hotels. I have worked in various positions, like bartender, bellboy and receptionist. Afterwards, I started to work at the boat tours. Now, I have my own boat, and I organize swimming tours with sharks and stingrays for tourists. We give quality service to our guests. In our tour, we organize a special dinner for them at a private island which represents our local cuisine. The most admired dish of mine is raw tuna salad; they love it.

I have four children from four different women, but I am so much in love with my current wife. She is a very successful florist. She is everyone's top choice for wedding, birthday, and engagement party organizations. Both of us are so much in love with our jobs that I've never needed to take a vacation. Only once, I went to Hawaii, but I didn't like being there.

My biggest satisfaction in this job is the smiles that I see on my customers' faces. Just one time, an unfortunate accident happened that I couldn't forget - during a regular boat trip, while we were feeding the sharks with our guests, one of them was bitten by a shark on his special area. I was devastated when I saw him suffering like that. After that accident, I've increased my warnings not only for men, but also for women. I am warning women to be extra careful with their chest area, especially while having their periods.

Except for that unpleasant incident, I am living the most colorful and enjoyable era of my life with the tourists at the sea, and I invite everyone to see the amazing beauties of Bora Bora.

Rosto
Bora Bora, 16 October 2018

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We are not different from you

I was born in Bora Bora in 1986. I use the name "Fara". I have openly been transsexual since my childhood years. This situation has never been a problem for my family, friends or the society that I live in. I have never felt different.

I work as a dancer in the tourism sector. I perform at the hotels. I have a good life. I am very happy here, and I don't want to live anywhere else.

In Bora, everybody accepts and shows respect to transsexuals. I wish the same for all around the world. I want to be the voice of all the transsexuals who live in French Polynesia.

We are not different from you.

Andrea Vanessa
Bora Bora, French Polynesia, 17 October 2018

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My biggest wish from life is the happiness of my family

I was born in 1996 in Bora Bora. I have a big family. My childhood and school life were very happy. I stayed with my family until I began to work. Now I am living with a girlfriend of mine in this apartment. I love Bora very much, and I don't want to be anywhere else. I work in the tourism sector. I am a member of a dance group which performs local dances at the hotels. Music and dance are my biggest passions.

My biggest wish from life is the happiness of my family.

I am still very young, and I believe life should be lived from day to day. That's the way I do it and will keep on doing it.

Raita Timiona
Bora Bora island, French Polynesia, 17 October 2018

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I took my children to school by plane 

I was born in Paris in 1927. I studied fine arts. I was enlisted as a paratrooper in the army. I went to Africa, and I lived there for forty years. I worked as the bodyguard of a minister. I lived an adventurous life, both as a soldier and civilian. My biggest passion was hunting, especially in the sea. I used to dive down to 39 meters. I hunted elephants. 

I came to French Polynesia on duty, and I liked being here very much and decided to settle down. I got married and I had two children, but then my wife left me because she didn't want to live here. In 1975, I bought this place in which I have been living since. In those days, I made my living as a painter and sculptor. I've met and married a wonderful woman who designs jewellery. Since my kids were living with us and there was no school in Morea, (with my wife's insistence) I bought a plane, and for ten years, I used it to carry my children to school in Papete. 

I am a lucky man - I have achieved everything that I wanted in my life. One of my paintings was awarded in an art competition in France and exhibited at Louvre.

My only regret is hunting. I killed elephants, and elephants are very smart and wonderful animals. I am very sorry for killing them.
In Africa, I was free and powerful; I did whatever I wanted to whenever I wanted. In French Polynesia, I don't have such power and freedom, but all in all, it is a very beautiful country, and I have been very happy to live here.

Allen Kerebel
Moorea Island, French Polynesia, 21 October 2018

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