Bula!
So I was just reading my last post and I apologize to everyone for being so scatter brained while writing it. I have just had so many new experiences that I dont quite know how to write them all down. Well, this last week I had a few less new experiences. Strangely enough Fiji is feeling more and more like home every day and I am getting more and more used to it. I started classes a week ago. Which was interesting. If you have any problems with things being on time, knowing when things are supposed to be, or people being extremely unorganized dont ever come to Fiji. I have found that if something is not working out the people here are completely fine with it. My classes wernt showing up, the places didnt exist, I had no idea where I was going, and it was all around unorganized. However no one seemed very worried with the fact that not even the professors knew where their classes were supposed to be so I decided that it wasnt a problem. The other thing I found strange about the Uni system here is that many of the professors are not Fijian. I have a British man teaching me Fijian, a british woman teaching me history, another woman who im not sure where she is from teaching me politics, and one professor who is Tongan and Samoan who has lived in Fiji for 30 years teaching me history. It is a little strange but it is also interesting to have so much diversity on campus. The diversity however does not stop with the professors. The students are from all over the pacific to so I get even more view points than I could have ever asked for. The only thing that annoys me in class is im always pointed out as the white girl and asked for the American opinion on things. Like im the authority on America. Oh well I guess I will try to be a good ambassador for America as much as possible. This last week I also went to church on Sunday. It was an interesting experience. Church was normal but after we met a man from Canada and his Fijian wife who invited us out for lunch. We found out he is starting a charity here to build homes for people. It was really a different experience for me because in the states someone would not ask us to dinner (much less buy us dinner) within the first five minutes of meeting us. But here that is totally normal. People are very welcoming and want to know about you and want to share about themselves. But in all Fiji is going very well. The tsunami warning here turned out to be nothing. However there has been a substantial amount of rain the last day or so so that has kinda sucked. Oh well! Could be worse. Thats all for today!
Vinaka
Emily
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
New experiences and new classes!
Bula!
So I have had an eventful couple of days since I last wrote! I cant believe that I have been in Fiji for only a week! It has been so awesome. I start classes today and now as I write I am sitting in the classroom for my first class. It only took me about a half hour to finally find it. Strange thing about classes in Fiji if your classes overlap or are at the same time thats just fine you can just go to part of one or go every other time. It is still a very strange concept for me. We are all living in apartments that are on campus that are really nice. They are air conditioned so that is a major plus when it is 90 everyday. We even have housekeepers who come and clean up for us. I think its a little strange but its nice because they are getting paid a living wage and my bed is made everyday. Speaking of a living wage most people make only $7,000 FJD a year. Thats approximately $3500 USD. So many of the people live in poverty which is really hard for me to see because the place I live is very nice. We have done so many great things since we have been in Fiji. Just yesterday we climbed a mountain. Which we were told was only a 1-2 hour hike but was really 3 hours to the top and 1 1/2 hours down. It was really fun though there were some kids who were playing in the river who took us up the mountain and back down. They were making fun of us a lot because we kept slipping and falling. I have also made my first trips to the market. The fruit and veggie market is my favorite because there is so much good food to look at and it is really cheap. For example a pineapple here(which is quite a bit smaller than a pineapple back home) is only $2 FJD which is about $1 USD. I have also noticed that I am stared at all the time because I am one of the very few white people here. We are especially stared at when we are in big groups. Everything here is so new and strange to me I just want to explore it all! Well I suppose I should get ready for class!
Vinaka!
Emily
So I have had an eventful couple of days since I last wrote! I cant believe that I have been in Fiji for only a week! It has been so awesome. I start classes today and now as I write I am sitting in the classroom for my first class. It only took me about a half hour to finally find it. Strange thing about classes in Fiji if your classes overlap or are at the same time thats just fine you can just go to part of one or go every other time. It is still a very strange concept for me. We are all living in apartments that are on campus that are really nice. They are air conditioned so that is a major plus when it is 90 everyday. We even have housekeepers who come and clean up for us. I think its a little strange but its nice because they are getting paid a living wage and my bed is made everyday. Speaking of a living wage most people make only $7,000 FJD a year. Thats approximately $3500 USD. So many of the people live in poverty which is really hard for me to see because the place I live is very nice. We have done so many great things since we have been in Fiji. Just yesterday we climbed a mountain. Which we were told was only a 1-2 hour hike but was really 3 hours to the top and 1 1/2 hours down. It was really fun though there were some kids who were playing in the river who took us up the mountain and back down. They were making fun of us a lot because we kept slipping and falling. I have also made my first trips to the market. The fruit and veggie market is my favorite because there is so much good food to look at and it is really cheap. For example a pineapple here(which is quite a bit smaller than a pineapple back home) is only $2 FJD which is about $1 USD. I have also noticed that I am stared at all the time because I am one of the very few white people here. We are especially stared at when we are in big groups. Everything here is so new and strange to me I just want to explore it all! Well I suppose I should get ready for class!
Vinaka!
Emily
Saturday, February 13, 2010
new places and new faces
Bula!
Man have I heard that word a lot! I have officially spent my first day in Fiji! It is beautiful! I cant believe that I woke up in paradise and will be for the nest 4 1/2 months! This morning we found a little gecko or some sort of small lizard on our counter it was so cute! But I have already learned a few things about traveling and Fiji. Here are some good and bad things. Asking people in an airport where to go when your plane is late-good. I almost missed my plane from LA to Fiji and the people there helped me find my way very well (even though I had to go all the way across the airport)! Men wearing skirts-good. The men and women in Fiji like to wear sulus so to all of you guys out there it is okay to wear a skirt. Although what I have noticed is that men will wear a formal sulu to work and women will usually wear pants. Its a little strange but oh well! Missing your plane in Fiji-not bad. The group of us who flew togeather from LA all missed our last plane from Nadi so Suva. So instead of waiting for 7 hours in the airport we cached a bus that the airport provided around the island. It was really cool to see the island and it only took 2 1/2 hours so we wernt to late getting to pacific harbor where we are having our culture and adventure program. Roads in Fiji-bad. The roads here are either gravel or very poorly served blacktop. The two main roads on the big island (kings road and queens road) are blacktopped. The use of the roads would be like a four lane highway in the states but the actual condition would be like a back county road that rarely gets repaired. Fried coconut-interesting. Last night we were all hanging out at the resorts resturaunt where most people are at night and our director(Jalyassa) had the cook or someone make us fried coconut. He told us he calls it Fijian popcorn and that is just what it tasted like. It was a little strange because it didnt have the feel of popcorn in your mouth but it had the taste. Trying new things-AWESOME! If you ever go abroad try what the locals have. Dont eat the food that you recognize eat something that sounds strange. For example pineapple pop. It was really good and all the pops and things here are made with real sugar so it is really sweet. Also if you ever find yourself on a tropical island in the South Pacific (AKA Fiji!) the people are amazing and will want to talk and make sure that you are at home. Well, I guess that is all I have today I will write again soon when I have the time! We are going to an island to do some beach stuff today and tomorrow we are going to a village. So we have a busy time ahead of us and I cant wait!
Vinaka!
Emily
Man have I heard that word a lot! I have officially spent my first day in Fiji! It is beautiful! I cant believe that I woke up in paradise and will be for the nest 4 1/2 months! This morning we found a little gecko or some sort of small lizard on our counter it was so cute! But I have already learned a few things about traveling and Fiji. Here are some good and bad things. Asking people in an airport where to go when your plane is late-good. I almost missed my plane from LA to Fiji and the people there helped me find my way very well (even though I had to go all the way across the airport)! Men wearing skirts-good. The men and women in Fiji like to wear sulus so to all of you guys out there it is okay to wear a skirt. Although what I have noticed is that men will wear a formal sulu to work and women will usually wear pants. Its a little strange but oh well! Missing your plane in Fiji-not bad. The group of us who flew togeather from LA all missed our last plane from Nadi so Suva. So instead of waiting for 7 hours in the airport we cached a bus that the airport provided around the island. It was really cool to see the island and it only took 2 1/2 hours so we wernt to late getting to pacific harbor where we are having our culture and adventure program. Roads in Fiji-bad. The roads here are either gravel or very poorly served blacktop. The two main roads on the big island (kings road and queens road) are blacktopped. The use of the roads would be like a four lane highway in the states but the actual condition would be like a back county road that rarely gets repaired. Fried coconut-interesting. Last night we were all hanging out at the resorts resturaunt where most people are at night and our director(Jalyassa) had the cook or someone make us fried coconut. He told us he calls it Fijian popcorn and that is just what it tasted like. It was a little strange because it didnt have the feel of popcorn in your mouth but it had the taste. Trying new things-AWESOME! If you ever go abroad try what the locals have. Dont eat the food that you recognize eat something that sounds strange. For example pineapple pop. It was really good and all the pops and things here are made with real sugar so it is really sweet. Also if you ever find yourself on a tropical island in the South Pacific (AKA Fiji!) the people are amazing and will want to talk and make sure that you are at home. Well, I guess that is all I have today I will write again soon when I have the time! We are going to an island to do some beach stuff today and tomorrow we are going to a village. So we have a busy time ahead of us and I cant wait!
Vinaka!
Emily
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Just a few more days to go!
Bula!
I am right now at home all alone the rest of my family is either at work or at school so I have some time to sit and think. I am leaving for Fiji in just 2 days and it still feels a little unreal I think that it will probably feel that way for a few weeks! But right now Im packing and spending my last few days in the US with my family and some friends. Im not sure what to expect when I get there. I have thoughts about a tropical island and everything being all happy. But I dont think that it will be all perfect. Im sure that I will meet challenges while im there. I dont know what the people will be like but I have read that they are very friendly! I guess right now im just going on what I have read but you know you cant believe everything that you read! So I guess for right now I have to just wait. Not much longer but I have to wait! It will be an adventure nonetheless! I cant wait! I think that many times we get to comfortable in our lives and need to shake it up. Maybe this is my way of shaking up my life. I know I need something different right now and maybe this will be just what the doctor prescribed. Well I guess its goodbye for now! I will try to post from one of the airports along the way!
Vinaka!
Emily
I am right now at home all alone the rest of my family is either at work or at school so I have some time to sit and think. I am leaving for Fiji in just 2 days and it still feels a little unreal I think that it will probably feel that way for a few weeks! But right now Im packing and spending my last few days in the US with my family and some friends. Im not sure what to expect when I get there. I have thoughts about a tropical island and everything being all happy. But I dont think that it will be all perfect. Im sure that I will meet challenges while im there. I dont know what the people will be like but I have read that they are very friendly! I guess right now im just going on what I have read but you know you cant believe everything that you read! So I guess for right now I have to just wait. Not much longer but I have to wait! It will be an adventure nonetheless! I cant wait! I think that many times we get to comfortable in our lives and need to shake it up. Maybe this is my way of shaking up my life. I know I need something different right now and maybe this will be just what the doctor prescribed. Well I guess its goodbye for now! I will try to post from one of the airports along the way!
Vinaka!
Emily
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)