Tuesday 2 December 2014

A big BULA from our first ever Fiji volunteers!



COUNTRY: Fiji
PROGRAM: UniBreak
PROJECT: Teaching
WRITTEN BY: Vicky Ticha

Bula!

A day in Nadi, Fiji for us Antipodeans means waking up to the sound of chirping birds and rustling leaves around 7:30am, when the brightness of the sun is just beginning to peak through our window. The houses are tucked away and remote, the winding streets are quiet. Even though the main road and airport aren’t far away, the air is still and peaceful. After we wake up and get ready for school, our host mother Iri prepares an array of fruits for our breakfast; this usually includes delicious papaya, juicy mangoes, bananas, sweet pineapples and thirst-quenching watermelon. To get to the Nadi district school we catch a bus from the main road- a short inexpensive ride and buses are very frequent too. People here are extremely hospitable and we are usually welcomed with a friendly “Bula!”



When we first arrived at school we were introduced to the headmaster and shown around the classrooms. The children were busy preparing for their graduation ceremony, so instead of being plunged into planning lessons, we were welcomed by cheerful singing and games. Walking around the school we met other volunteers who were helping to set up the school library and also another volunteer from Germany who gave us some useful advice. We came across a bonfire in the back of one of the school buildings and were told that this is a tradition for the kids who are about to graduate.

Since summer school doesn’t officially start until next Monday, we weren’t expected to begin teaching until next week. This gave us a chance to really look around, be tourists and appreciate the cultural experiences Nadi has to offer. First we visited a Hindi temple and had a look around the fresh food markets. We also visited St Minas Children’s home where we introduced ourselves and organised time to volunteer at the orphanage during our stay. All of us are particularly excited and can’t wait to spend our afternoons with the lovely children. All of us were interested in seeing the beach, so we headed to smuggler’s cove to swim and cool off by the poolside.



Later Shabreen, our in-country partner, picked us up and welcomed us into her beautiful home. The amazingly funny and cheeky Shabreen organised a traditional Kava ceremony, were we all sat in a circle and learned about the cultural tradition. After nodding our acceptance, we got to taste the muddy looking water. All the girls drank 'low-tide' cups, while James, who quickly made friends with the locals, drank at least four 'full-tide' cups, which given the taste seemed more like a flood. Sitting on Sharbeen’s porch, we watched the sunset. It finally hit me that I was here, in Fiji, with a whole month of adventures and experiences ahead that I’d get to share with all these amazing people. It was impossible not to feel especially blessed and lucky.

Around 10pm we arrived home, feeling as if three days instead of one had just passed. Although Fiji operates on 'Fiji time' and everyone is relaxed and chilled out it feels like it goes really fast because we are able to fit so much into the one day. While we sit on the porch and drink tea, Jodi practices her Fijian words with Iri. She is slowly learning how to stream whole sentences together and I am very impressed. Before going to sleep, Jodi and I get distracted by our energetic and playful host brothers Laurence, William and Michael, who refuse to leave us alone. We have grown so fond of these boys in such a short period of time and look forward to waking to their yelling and playfulness every morning.

Every day in Nadi, Fiji is an experience. We all learn more of the language, culture and attractions. We are all quite fond of Denarau Island; it really is a slice of paradise. Although it's very touristy, we have retreated here every day since we found it. It is a fantastic place to relax and unwind, and is only a short bus ride away from our school. We will be making great use of the resort's swimming facilities during our three-hour break once summer school and orphanage work begins.

Tonight our entire team go to sleep feeling blessed and lucky, both to be here and to feel so welcomed by so many people.

VINAKA MOCE! :)

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