Settling for the 5th time since '08

Its been almost one month since moving into my new apartment. This has been the fifth time moving since 2009 began, and let me tell you, I'm getting fairly good at making my homes comfortable. The comfort might just be an internal thing, and maybe I am just more flexible now, but regardless, its been a wild ride. If I move home again in about one month, that will be my sixth move this year. Once I am all done with school and have a stable job, I will rejoice in my stability.

Having a small apartment on the beach has its benefits (its by far my favorite place to call "home" this year). Just yesterday, I was talking to a friend back in Minnesota. Instead of hanging out inside, I grabbed my beach towel and took my one-minute walk to the ocean. Having to apologize for the sound of the Pacific ocean, I realized that I am one of the luckiest people in the world. I go for a walk just about every morning on the sand, just as I start my day. Let me tell you- that is the perfect way to wake up. My running buddy and I jog a few times each week. What a strange feeling to run without shoes! Lastly, it is perfect on a calm night to turn off my loud fan and fall asleep to the sound of the ocean brushing the sand. If its windy, at least the palm trees put me to sleep. As the Hawaiian Christmas tune "Melekaliki Maka" goes, "that's the island greeting that we sing to you, in the land where palm trees sway." The lyrics are true!

A recent adventure to add to my highlights from Hawaii was a trip to Maunawili Falls. This waterfall hiking trail is about 15 minutes by car from my apartment. I went with a classmate and a friend, and had an excellent afternoon. This year could be tagged as the year of waterfalls- I've seen more than most people do in their lives! No complaints. Below are some photos. What you don't see is the mud! We all fell at least once.

The Waterfalls. One is on the left and the more obvious is to the right. We climbed the waterfall then went on another hike to an intense set of rock water slides!

A baby water fall.

The rocks and plants were amazing!

BAND CONCERTS!

So, while in Hawaii, I've been fortunate enough to join the Honolulu Community Concert Band. If I were to compare and contrast my Fiji and Hawaii experiences (which is hard to do), I would say that Hawaii is a better fit because I have band here.

Here are some photos from the past month of concerts (courtesy of my pals Drew and Dean)

ABOVE: These photos are from a few weeks back at the Mililani Town Centre Concert.

ABOVE: A photo from the concert this afternoon. Those are my fellow bones!! The concert today was held at the McKinley High School Auditorium in downtown Honolulu. The director said that Elvis performed on this stage back in the 50's. I haven't found proof of this yet.

Just Another Day in Paradise

Big news this week: I've moved! What!? You say?! You've lived there for 2 months and you've already moved! It really doesn't make sense, but hey, this year already doesn't make any logical sense. Let's just add to the list, alright?

Here is a map with an "A" where Kailua is situated, so you can see what's up.

Moving was much easier than I every thought. A few friends offered to help move stuff around, which eased my burdens tremendously. Its quite difficult being in a new place where one doesn't know many other people. Who do you call if you need help moving? Luckily, I was able to take care of most of this in just a day, really all by myself. Though, I have accumulated much more than I ever dreamed that I would. Mostly just "stuff" like tape, paper, notebooks, textbooks, dishes, etc. You know, things a person needs to eat, clean, sleep, and read.

The little studio is nice. I'd call it a hybrid between a studio and a one bedroom, since there is a separate bedroom, but it is without a door. Actually, I really like having my own little space. It feels like the tree fort that every little boy wants. Here are some photos:

*The kitchenette after I have moved in












*The sitting/tv area where I chill, sometimes work, and will eventually study

*Half of the bathroom- this bathroom is much too classy for a little studio, but I won't complain. I'm pretty sure that the tiles are made from coral (which is probably really bad, but it is nice!)

The pathway from my house to the beach- it takes me 60 seconds exactly.

My house- I'm in the garage. Notice the sand on the road.

This is the beach by my house. I've spent some time walking here a few of my mornings here.

This is just one of the mansions along the beach- not mine.

Business Time

Moving to Hawaii from the beginning involved a strange decision-making process. Every practical inch of me said "don't go! it will cost too much money!" After weeks, months, and possibly even a year of ignoring these feelings, I still went ahead with the move. Why? It was a gut feeling. What a crazy dream I would be fulfilling by moving to such a different land than Minnesota. Even right before departure this summer, I decided by using all of my practical techniques to not move. Family convinced me to do otherwise, so once again, you get my drift. Aloha.

Part of the problem was the crazy amount of debt that would undoubtedly stack.  Graduate school in state is rather expensive, never mind out of state graduate school, in possibly the most expensive place in the USA. Add it up people. I'm in over my head. Have I gotten on the plane to move home? No. I'm sitting in a nice little coffee shop, waiting to get the oil changed on the Buick.

You are probably thinking "why doesn't he just transfer to a different school that would cost less money?" You sure have a lot of thoughts today! This program is VERY unique. I am learning how to teach in the schools. Applying practice to theory just about every day. Doesn't that make sense? In fact, only 2 of my courses are taken at the University in order to earn my masters degree. I love school, and I think that school at least is fond of me.

So, where does this leave me? Well, am in the process of speaking with my professors about what I should be doing, some ideas to think about, and also what is best for the long run. In the end, I plan to teach in Minnesota. This is important, because this means that I probably want to be doing my student teaching in Minnesota so I can develop some relationships with teachers and schools. It may also mean that I will transfer schools (either in December or in May). I should emphasize the I MAY transfer part of my statement. Still calculating to see what will be the most advantageous for cost in the long run. If I start a program all over next fall, I am giving up a year of working, meaning sacrificing a year of wages. Then what's the point? Especially if I am really happy in Hawaii.

I think that I am happy in Hawaii. This is still to be determined. Having lived in 4+ residences already this year (going on 5 one week from today), I am beginning to understand that happiness takes time. My mind is so misplaced- I don't know what part of the world I am living in, or why I am here. On paper, it is very clear as to why I moved to all of these different places, but if you were to get inside of my head, I really wouldn't know if I was living with the Vavataga family on 56 Pathik Crescent in Suva, Fiji, if I was living at Argyle House in Minneapolis, living with the Wellman family in rural Minnesota, or living with the Golden Girls in the exclusive Portlock Community of Hawaii Kai. WHO KNOWS!?!?! What a year, eh? I guess if I died tomorrow, I couldn't say that I died bored.

So anyway, the decision-making process is in place. If you know me, you know that I will change my mind 80,000 times in the next few weeks, and once I am settled, and feel good about it, I probably won't change my mind. Unless the wind blows me a different way.

Still no job. Interview at a school tomorrow. (fingers crossed)

Postcards are available. Just give me your address! They even come with a Hawaii surfer dude stamp!

49 Days tomorrow... WHOA.

Its been a while since I last shared my thoughts with the world. Getting home tonight from a long day of running around, meeting up with new friends, and probably spending too much money, it seemed to be a perfect moment for public self-reflection. Why? Because I have been here for 49 days. That's 7 weeks. That's almost 2 months. I'm making it.

You may be pondering: "what has Mr. Wellman been doing in Hawaii this whole time while I have been going about my life in Minnesota, New York, Kansas, LA (or wherever you may have been)?" Honestly, I've been splitting much of my time between school, the University, and my home in Hawaii Kai. In fact, driving between these various places takes a long time. My 18 mile commute in the morning takes almost an hour on a busy day. The H1 Freeway spreads across the southern edge of Oahu. It seems that all 900,000 of Oahu's residents travel this little stretch of highway at some point between 6am and 9am or between 2pm and 6pm. I've been learning to enjoy Hawaii Public Radio in my Buick (who I have named Toni). On the bright side, I am starting to recognize people and their cars each morning when I sit in traffic. My favorite happens to be this older woman who drives a jaguar, always wears cat print, and has a stuffed cat in the back window of her car. She is a cougar and makes me laugh each morning.


I have enjoyed living in Hawaii Kai. How could you not? This is the neighborhood filled with Hawaii's rich and sometimes even famous. The who's who of the island. The ocean is minutes away by foot (though I don't really go there often), and it really doesn't rain here because of where the mountains are situated in relation to my house. My house is beautiful. The marble floors and granite counters never really get old. My housemates are though, but I care about them, regardless of their ages. Ah, the Golden Girls of Po'ipu Drive.

As funny as this place is, I will be moving in just about a week. The traffic is just too much for me each morning and afternoon. A younger crowd is probably more my style. Gated homes are nice, but I don't see many people when I go for walks. I want a friendlier town. My new friend Allison lives in this town called Kailua (not to be confused with Kailua-Kona on the big island). She babysits for this lady who has a BEAUTIFUL home right next to the beach. She happened to have a studio for rent when I was enjoying a beer at a bbq in this town, so Allison brought me over. Within a few days, I was signing a year-long lease (though the land lady says she is reasonable if something comes up). The more I look at this town, the more it is for me. Its mid-sized, has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (that I live on!), and a person can bike pretty much anywhere he or she wants to go in town. The idea of living by myself is a little scary. I've hardly had my own room, never mind my own apartment. The great thing about this place is that it is a two room studio with a bathroom. Still not big, but bigger than a "normal" studio. So far, I own a bed, a sofa-chair and an ottoman. That's about it. Craigslist is going to continue to be my good friend.

The Entrance: The studio is a converted garage

MY HOUSE IS GREEN!

My Living Room/ Kitchenette and Peak of the Bathroom

Notice the wood floors: Nice, eh?

This is the beach, a similar view from just steps away from my new home

Actually, a free place to do homework (granted I find a good umbrella)

Outside of home life, I've been pretty busy with school. Graduate school is awesome and actually fun! This is what I've heard it is supposed to feel like. A normal day consists of me going driving to Moanalua High School, checking in with the other students, then running around all day watching different teachers teach. We have Guided Observation Forms (GOFs) we fill out in each class, with questions such as "How does the classroom teacher resolve potential discipline problems" etc. Basic stuff, getting our heads in the right place for successful student teaching next semester. WHOA. That's soon!

Some highlights from school so far are 

 -Hanging out with Ms. Hawaii and discovering we have the same camera

-Singing Karaoke with the 7th grade students

-Going to the pep fest/assembly and freaking out at how awesome the marching band and cheerleaders were

-Judging the song competition at the high school

-Being called Mr. Wellman (this was my dream)

Its been challenging to meet new friends, but I feel like I am finally getting there. There is not really a problem in meeting people, its just meeting people who I find would make a good, meaningful friends. Sometimes that means going to a party where I only know one person, or sometimes staying home and watching a movie by myself on Friday night. The important thing, I have found, is to go places when invited. Even if it is out of the comfort zone. Talk to strangers (unless you are in elementary school). And make an effort to meet new friends. They don't come find me, that's for sure. It is hard to compare this experience in Hawaii to anything I did at home. In Minnesota, almost all of my good friends were in some sort of a group or organization with me. I don't have that here, since I am an adult. This is a good challenge for me, though sometimes lonely.

Keeping busy has been a good way to not think about missing home and friends/family who I left behind. Outside of school I have been involved in the Honolulu Community Concert Band. I already have a concert coming up in just a week! And two concerts the following two weeks as well. Playing the trombone feels FANTASTIC. Its been almost a year since I have really been involved in playing regularly with a band (besides Tempo Rosa, my beloved quintet at the U of M).

Still looking for a job. The gelato place didn't work out (and I think they hate me now).

That's all for now. I could type forever, but I am getting sleepy!

|ˌnôrmələˈzā sh ən|

What can I say? Its been two and a half weeks since I moved to Hawaii, and I don't quite know if I have made sense of what has been going on around me. Maybe writing all of this down will help me out on some level, or maybe it will confuse me even more.

Last weekend really helped me to feel at home in Hawaii. On Friday, my housemate Jan took me on an adventure around Oahu. She took me first on a hike around Makapuu. We saw the place where the Humpback Whales will come in in a few months and also the most amazing blue water surrounding a lighthouse.

 

  

After getting in a good workout that morning, Jan took me into the Waikiki area. Though many tourists see the main event (hotel-lined streets, restaurants for all, etc.), she took me to a back street and beat me up! Just kidding. She did take me down a back street and bought me some "shave ice." This is the same treat that President Obama got for his daughters when visiting his home, Hawaii. Shave ice is like snow, flavored like a snow cone. I had ice cream in the bottom of my shave ice. It kind of tasted like a dreamsicle. 

Later on Friday, after thanking Jan a MILLION times for showing me around, I met up with some of the other students in the cohort for some Friday night fun. I was really worried about meeting new people in Hawaii and making friends, but these people make it very easy. We had some drinks at Mai Tai's Bar, had some burgers, then a few of us went off to Chinatown. I had a wonderful time, and hope that this trend continues with all of the awesome people in our group.

On Saturday, I was invited to go to the Dole Plantation with another MEdT (Master of Education in Teaching) student. The Dole Plantation is kind of a rip off, but it was fun. The other student's family friends were in town, and they had two awesome elementary-aged boys. We raced through a pineapple maze, boys versus girls. Unfortunately the girls beat us, but it was fun to hang out with the little guys. In Hawaii, if you are younger than someone, you might address your elder as "auntie" or "uncle." So on Saturday, I was uncle Austin. :-)

Later on, I met back up with that same group and went to see a movie on Waikiki beach. They have sunset movies on Saturday night, where people line the beach with blankets and watch movies on the GIANT screen. I had more shave ice.

Sunday involved me going to a few different churches, just to check out the Catholic scene. I first went to the Cathedral downtown, thinking it might be like my old church, the Basilica. I was wrong. It was nice, but I just didn't fit in. I then drove about 25 minutes to another town, called Kailua, up the windward coast. I liked that church much better, and the priest was SO kind to me. Another MEdT lives up there, so she invited me out to lunch. Kailua is a beautiful little town, with a breathtaking beach. Seriously, who dyed the water that color of blue?

Monday began my week of immersion into the local schools. I will spend this week at Moanalua High School (about 5 minutes up the hill from the USS Arizona and Pearl Harbor). Unfortunately, this school is on the other side of about 1 hour of driving in the morning. Boo. How far does one hour of driving get you in rush hour here in Hawaii? Only about 15 miles. So, the living situation may change in the near future.

I suddenly feel very busy. At the same time, not as a result of any coincidence, I am feeling so much less homesick. Business and homesickness seem to have a complimentary relationship: one diminishes and the other thrives. Fine with me!

I am still getting a feel for the program, the living situation, and the schools. At this point, I know that I can survive the semester, so I being very observant about how I am doing throughout this time. If for some reason I am very unhappy here, I will then move home around the holidays. If I am very happy here, I'll visit Minnesota over the holiday break.

Still looking for a job.
Beginning my 5 week substitute teacher training in 2 weeks!

Thanks for your support- give me a call any time!

The Move to Hawaii... Dreams to Sitcoms

Well, as you can probably tell, I am no longer in Fiji. Though Hawaii and Fiji are both inhabited groups of islands in the Pacific Ocean, they are not the same. This new series of entries will hopefully give folks back home some idea of what I am up to in Honolulu, both good and bad. If you have never moved far from home before, I hope that you can live through me. If you have never moved to Hawaii before, I hope that you can also learn something from me.

On August 17th, which seems like just yesterday, Dad dropped me off at the Minneapolis/ St. Paul airport. Mixed feelings were going through my mind. In order to explain, I should back up a week or so. Looking back to the beginning of August, I was almost positive that the move was not going to happen. MULTIPLE pro and con lists were made, and looking at the practical side of this huge life change, it just didn't make sense. The expense was too great, my student loans were growing, and I really do like Minnesota. What was the point in teaching in a new state? After a week of thinking like this, I was confronted by family and we talked out what was going through my mind. Turns out I still really wanted to move. Event with such powerful cons of moving, my gut was still convincing me to follow my dreams (1-moving to Hawaii, and 2-becoming a teacher). Nothing had been canceled- I see this as a sign that I still wanted to move. Mom explained to me that I would probably spend the difference in money to make up for not moving (pretty smart, I think). For example, I would probably buy a new car, and go on extra trips.

So, I set everything back in motion. Mom and Dad offered to come help me move, since they did the same for Jenny, and they had been talking about coming back to Hawaii for YEARS. I said goodbye to friends, which was much easier after having done a similar thing just 6 months before. No big family gathering was planned, or really any celebration at all. This was much more low key.

Back to the airport...

I got on the plane, really not knowing what to expect in the coming weeks. The idea of moving hadn't taken much toll on me as of yet, because it was all happening so fast. 7 days prior, I was looking for a job in Minnesota! I even went to an interview! Heck, I was ready to buy a new car (once I actually got the job). I knew the realities of the day. I knew that I would meet mom and dad in Seattle, that we would then fly to Honolulu together, and that classes would start in one week.

It all became real after we checked into the hotel. We stayed at the Waikiki Sheraton- no regrets. This monstrous tower right on the ocean was classy, had a beautiful pool and beachfront access, and a great bar. It was exactly what one might expect from a nice hotel in Waikiki. We landed at night, and the next few days were a mess of driving and getting lost around Honolulu, drinking beer, wine, and mai tai's, touring the good the bad and the ugly of Honolulu's tragic housing, and test driving a few different cars. It was an experience I may have been able to do on my own, but realistically, I may have broken down and came home had I been there alone. Thanks mom and dad.

By Saturday, I found a place to live and a car. This is where life began to get funny. There weren't too many wonderful options in the central Honolulu area, so we branched out the eastern side of the island. Hawaii Kai, a 40+/- year old former swampland is now home to some of the fanciest and wealthiest of Honolulu, and maybe Hawaii. A nice older woman named Deena happened to be renting out a room in her beautiful house just 2 blocks from the ocean. A grocery store was one block away, along with our new favorite restaurant- the Kona Brewing Company. Delicious food, and an incredible view.

I signed the lease within 2 hours of touring the place, and my life instantly became a sit com. You know, those cheesy shows with the laugh track, so popular from 1970-1998, before reality shows were mainstream. Turns out, I live in this house with 4 other women. They are all WONDERFUL and treat me like their son and grandson.

Saturday also brought me to the realization of how nice a particular Buick Rendezvous actually was. Now, I would have much rather been caught driving the Honda Accord Coupe, loaded with leather and a moonroof, but for only a few thousand dollars, this crossover was a steal. So, I live with the golden girls and drive a periwinkle Buick (which kinda looks like a moomoo). Where is my life going?

My first night in Hawaii Kai was Mom and Dad's last night in Honolulu. They then spent Monday touring around the island. For having spent a week running all over looking at housing and cars, they were sure ambitious! Fine with me. I felt pretty guilty all week- heck, they were supposed to be on vacation, and they were helping me move. Dad explained to me that they really enjoyed the experience of getting to know "real" Hawaii. Its not every day that you get to get to know the locals when you are on a trip. For instance, we had dinner with Deena, my land lady, and she told us of her adventures in Hawaii back in the 60s and 70s. You don't get that at the Sheraton. You only get that out on Deena's Lanai, in her outdoor kitchen over some beer and wine.

Monday, I was pretty preoccupied with my first day of class: the reason that I moved here in the first place! Our cohort is so nice and from a variety of backgrounds. Put a bunch of graduate level students together who all are ambitious in teaching, in Hawaii, and you get a pretty awesome mix. You get parents, newlyweds, navy wives, war vets, fresh out of college students, transitioning business people, and everything in between. I'm one of the youngest, but everyone is so nice to me!

Monday evening, I had to say goodbye to mom and dad. This was not easy- I was pretty comfortable here in Honolulu until they left. There were tears, which is expected as I am transitioning. We all survived, however.

After they left, I felt suddenly that I had been abandoned in a new place. I was kind of a mess on Tuesday morning, and driving was not easy. My mind tends to wander back home when I am in the car here for 40 minutes at a time. ESPECIALLY when I have my favorite, country music on, because most of those songs are about leaving, remembering, or sticking to your roots. AHH! I tell ya. This is homesickness folks. That feeling when I am sitting at my desk, thinking about what I am missing, thinking of my former comforts, and my former support networks. Suddenly those things are all gone, and I am on my own.

Kind of scary- but I think back to what I wanted to get out of this experience in Hawaii. I really wanted to meet more people, know what its like to live somewhere new, on my own, and become more independent. Getting over homesickness seems to take time too. It feels a little better every day. Phone calls to friends at home help a lot. As do walks in the morning for some reason- I think it gets the endorphins flowing. I'm still a little weird about being in the tourist areas, because those are all families and people running around and loving their vacations. Give me a week, and I'll be eating it right up!

On the bright side (and the bright side is HUGE), I have a great place to live in a classy house, I have other students and amazing professors who already seem to care an awful lot about me and who I am, and I've almost survived for 2 weeks here in Hawaii. The silver lining to everything that happens here is that I am in Hawaii. I live here. How many people can say that? Only about 1.3 million of 7 billion. Crazy awesome things happen here. For instance, I drive down the freeway in rush hour. A car cuts me off, and the driver goes out of his way to thank me with a HUGE wave. People don't honk, they don't get impatient in traffic (so far), and there is an ocean view from almost any point through my commute. Heck, I can see the USS Arizona Memorial from my classroom. I went to the mall today and had a 30 minute conversation with the lady in the store. People take time to talk with one another here, and it is real and genuine. I love that about Hawaii. Cheryl, one of the other students in the cohort invited me to hang out with her and her mainland friends this weekend. So, I'm going to a movie on Waikiki beach with some strangers. Cheryl doesn't seem too threatening...

So, this is an adventure for sure. The unexpected homesickness is kind of annoying, but I think that I will get over that pretty quick. Keep the calls coming! I love hearing from all of you! Or better off, just come and visit.

Take it easy...
Mahalo!
Austin

Resort Hopping Weekend

Its been a few weeks since my last update. I've been busy and with only 2 1/2 weeks left in Fiji, I am trying to stay that way each and every day.

One big event was the wedding of my host sister Sala. It was a treat to be able to attend the wedding, and also in some sense be a guest of honor. The family treated me as one of their own, and had a custom printed bula shirt made to match everyone else in the family. It is my favorite bula shirt. I got to sit up alongside other family and friends at the front during the ceremony, and even got to help serve ice cream and cake to all of the guests. This wedding was quite special. It was held at Taunovo Bay resort along the coral coast of the main island. Taunovo Bay is a 5 star resort with absolute 5 star service. I was able to spend a night, though I slept in my own private movie theater. The family rented 3 villas along the ocean, each equipped with two swimming pools, a hot tub, 4 bedroom suites with an indoor and outdoor shower, jacuzzi, movie theater, gourmet kitchen, dining and living rooms, and your own private beach. It was incredible. 7 of the other students also attended the wedding, some excited to be there, while others seemed more interested in plans of the previous evening. The wedding was half in English and half in Fijian, and I will be given a DVD of the ceremony. Let me know if you want to watch it!

Prior to the wedding extravaganza, Allison, Melissa and I took a trip of our own (part research, part fun). We departed from Suva city on Wednesday afternoon heading straight to Nadi via coach bus (a 4 hour ride, only stopping at resorts along the way). We stayed with a family friend, who is a pastor and his wife. This was an excellent example of Fijian hospitality. They cleared the kids out of the bedrooms and moved us in, cooked us meals, and even gave us rides to and from the bus location. They refused any sort of money, though we did buy them a nice glass and pitcher set from the MH Homemaker Store (kind of like a combo between Target and Sears).

Being in Nadi again was interesting. We hadn't been there since February when we first arrived. I remember it being much dirtier and more of a mess, but now it actually appeared to be quite nice. Perhaps they have spent some time and money cleaning up from floods that happened two weeks prior to arrival. Maybe I was just used to how Fiji looks (kinda polluted and dirty in towns), so Nadi, being catered to tourists, seemed a bit nicer. Pushing aside the hassling of taxi drivers and vendors along the street, town was really nice.

On Thursday of last week, I was able to visit the Nadi International School for my research. It was a beautiful school, filled with amenities and resources that one would not see other places in Fiji. It caters to students from overseas, but also serves as a top-notch school for locals who are not afraid to pay. You can read my research paper if you want to know more. It will be about 30 pages, so get out your glasses.

We spent Friday night at a backpacker's resort along the coral coast called Mango Bay. We had a room to ourselves filled with about 10 beds, and only paid $30 for the night (about $15 US). This was a deal- its a fairly new place, included breakfast, and we definitely hit up happy hour on the beach, by the pool. I ate spaghetti for dinner, which always makes me happy!

This week, I am spending a lot of time in the International School in Suva interviewing children, teachers, and observing classes. I will visit four schools in the next 4 days: Ghandi Memorial Primary School, the Marist Brothers Catholic Primary School, Draiba Fijian School, and spend another day at the International School. I am getting worn out, but a few of us will be going to a place called Bounty Island for 4 days next week to relax. I'll be leaving my homestay 2 weeks from Saturday and spending some more time at a resort, saying goodbye to all of my good friends I have made in Fiji.

Last chance for a post card- let me know!

Random News

Off to Grad School
I just got word on Saturday that I have been accepted into the University of Hawaii-Manoa!!! So, come August, I will be going on a one-way flight to Honolulu. This is my next big adventure, and it should be exciting. I'll be starting out studying secondary social studies, but have the option to switch into the elementary education program during or after my first year.

Why Hawaii you ask?

Simple. If I could go anywhere in the US to live, it would be Hawaii. I've been there once before on a choir trip, and it took my breath away. This is my opportunity in life to go live somewhere without many restrictions or possessions. I have a room full of things at Mom and Dad's house that I need to liquidate this summer, but I don't really need any of those things to make my life work. Fiji has helped me to realize this. I also love the education program at UH because it is a cohort system with high priority in experience. I'll be in the classroom 3 days a week from the start, only increasing throughout my 2 years there. Life is good.

Back in Fiji...
We just began our independent study on Monday. This is the last big task I have during my college career (before graduate school, that is). We have one month to do whatever we want, but we must turn out a 20-40 page paper in the end. I chose to study education for obvious reasons, and will specifically be studying the comparative relationship between the student and the teacher in a primary school classroom. So, I am busy right now planning all the details of this work:
-Contacting schools
-Meeting with principals
-Preparing interview questions for teachers/students
-Analyzing results
-Meeting with academic advisor
-writing a big paper (hopefully on the beach)
So, I'll be busy for a while.

In the meantime not a lot else is going on. My host family is all wrapped up in their megachurch conference. I am trying to steer clear of that business. It scares me a little bit, but they don't pressure me to go to any of the events. Actually, its kind of nice for the house to be empty and quiet for a change. Its really only me, my host sister and her baby hanging around the house until about 11pm, when the whole crew comes home. By then, I try to be sleeping. In the 2 1/2 months I have lived there, I have not been home alone one single time. It gives the Wellman house a run for its money in being hectic!

In 2 weekends, my host sister will be married. This is also big news, and I cannot wait for my handmade bula shirt to be done!! Be ready for a new Austin with many, many bula shirts (which are kinda like hawaiian shirts) when I come home.

Here are some photos, new and old, in case you want to see where I am.

This is my host sister Mele with her baby, Jannette.



Here are some of us students at Colo i Suva Rainforest Reserve. We had a picnic here one afternoon and played in the waterfalls. I think I saw 15 waterfalls that day!



A few of us went to the boxing match at the Vodafone Arena. It was pretty cool.



In case you are not on facebook, here is a video from about a month ago when we chilled with the dolphins. Look carefully! They are tricky to see. This took place during our Fijian village stay in Silana. The water really looks that blue!!

Not Much Going on Right Now

Its t-3 days until ISP (Independent Study Project) time begins. That means I only have 3 days until college courses are over. Weird is all that can describe this feeling. I am still waiting to hear from Hawaii, and I am growing so impatient and so nervous! It is sort of distracting, so I am trying to convince myself that when I stop thinking about grad school, I will find out. Also, I need to be thinking about other options if I am not accepted into grad school. It has crossed my mind to go to technical school and become a draftsman for homes. This is also in my life plan to really learn how to design homes. It is a little hard to think about an alternative to grad school as technical school. We'll see what happens.

The past few days, we have been enduring our usual morning lecture from a new professor each day, 2 hours of Fijian language class (time could be better spent), and then we made visits to 2 Non-Government Organizations. One of which had to do with women's rights (had more to do with public knowledge of community issues) and the other had to do with HIV and AIDs in Fiji. This was very nice to be out traveling and seeing that "insider's" look at Fiji. We have to remind ourselves often that we are all outsiders in Fiji, no matter how long we are here.

ZIPLINING!

This past week and a half has been absolutely crazy. With assignments due left and right, us students haven't had much time to go and have some fun in Fiji. After all, I am coming home in just 6 VERY SHORT weeks, and there is so much left to do! In an effort to celebrate having a few large assignments turned in, it has been designated fun weekend. Last night, about 5 of us went to the local club, O'Reilly's and had an excellent time. Going out and partying in moderation is proving to me nice on my wallet. The occoaisonal wild night is also just enough for me to be completely rediculous when I do go dancing. Those who know me well know that I am an awkward dancer, and my friends in Fiji seem to be embracing this. I love them for that! Think Tina Fey in the movie Baby Mama.

So, clubbing last night. Today was the day of the ultimate zipline adventure. I really wanted the whole group of 11 of us to go, but I guess everyone else thinks that we are here forever and will have plenty of time to go in the coming weeks. It turned out to be Allison and I, the two captains of adventure. There is a village about 30 minutes by car west of Suva that has a rainforest zipline adventure. We found a bus leaving for $1.60 Fijian that dropped us off right in front of the driveway to the facility. Good point of the day #1. Then, we walked for about 20 minutes to get to the zipline location and the guides got us set up right away. I was quite impressed with the professionalism and safety of this place! Maybe I need to do tourist activities more often. They showed us the course and we went to town, all in all experiencing 8 different ziplines. At times, they said we were moving at 60 KM/Hour. I'd believe it, and with the added excitement of flying over rivers, dogs, rainforest plants and palm trees, it was quite amazing. They then took us again, because they said we needed to go a second time. Good point of the day #2. The second time was almost more fun. We left, and right as we were paying, I asked how much. They slashed the cost in half. For no reason. Good point of the day #3. We walked down to King's Road, the main highway that takes us into Suva, and we saw our bus roll away. This was a bit comical to Allison and I, because it was the first really not amazing thing that had happened all day. Within 10 minutes, a taxi van pulled over and drove us 30 minutes back to town for $2 each. Good deal, indeed.

Tonight, I plan to go to a boxing match at the Vodofone Arena, which should be quite the experience. Tomorrow is my host dad's birthday. I think I might make him cut his bday cake with the army sword, just as he made me do. Host mom is making a big lunch, and I cannot wait to see what we are eating. Probably fish in coconut sauce, chicken, chop suey, kasava, and pizza. That seems to be what we have for birthdays, and is probably the extent of the diet at my house. I have apples and granola bars in my bag from the store. Thank you Nature's Valley for providing me with snacks when I cannot eat any more fried food! Also, it is nice to eat something produced in Minnesota!!

I am still impatiently waiting to hear from the University of Hawaii. If I am officially admitted, I have decided to attend. Meaning I will be moving to Hawaii in August, which is only about 3 1/2 months from now! Grandmas and Grandpas, we will be spending a lot of time together this summer, because I won't see you again until Christmas, unless you come visit in Hawaii! This is not official yet, until I get the real letter from UH Manoa. My life story is becoming kind of cool. I will be able to tell people someday that I lived in Minnesota, Fiji, and Hawaii all in one year if all goes through. Cross your fingers and say a prayer for me please!

Samoa Students

The school that I am studying through, the School of International Training, has programs throughout the world. While I am in Fiji, there is also a program in Samoa (another island nation in the south pacific). We were fortunate to meet up with these students last night. Their program takes them through a program in Pacific Studies, starting in Hawaii, moving to Samoa, spending a week in Fiji, then moving back to Samoa.

It was really great to meet with these students because first of all, we are all afraid of the other American students in Fiji, studying through the other programs. We see them and run in the opposite direction (they do the same). So it was nice to talk about America, what it is like to be living in the Pacific as an American, and just to meet some cool people. I even met another Minnesotan who goes to St. Kates! Sam, she doesn't know you (as she hasn't been on campus all year).

Here is a photo of me by a waterfall on the island of Taveuni. This is a rare triple waterfall, and was quite breath-taking. I was pretty tired at this point, as it was one of the last days on our 2 week excursion. Brian took this photo, and is an amazing photographer!

An Update

So, it seems that my concerns a few weeks ago are now concerning some of you back in the states. I didn't mean to concern you at home, I was just explaining what was going on. I spoke with my host parents about the situation in Fiji, and yes, the government is a bit unorthodox right now. There is no constitution, and the police kind of run the show. BUT you have to know that we are in Fiji. Host mom and dad explained to me that people here kind of laugh at the government situations. Think about it- there have been four coups in twenty years. Life is normal when the government takes a weird turn, because Fijians don't want their lives to change. Fijians are also pretty chill (we are indeed a pacific island). You get tired, you lay down on the floor and take a nap. So, when I walk down the street, shops are still open, people are still going to the movies, and the warf is still full of ships. It is hard to explain, but just know that life is alright.

In addition, I have this added level of security that others in the group do not have. My dad is retired from the Fijian army, and now works for an American security company as a guard in Iraq. His hands are the size of my host niece (who is four months old). Also, my dad is old friends (when he was in the army) with the military dictator. We borrowed his tent for a church function for my family's church, and I went to his house. This nice added level of security is nice just in case something would happen. SO, there should be no more lingering concerns of any of you at home. If you are concerned, you are welcome to call my phone here, though it might cost you a pretty penny. My email is wellman.austin@gmail.com and feel free to contact me if you want to chat.

See my photos

Here is a link to up to date photos

http://picasaweb.google.com/Wellman.Austin?feat=email

Turmoil in Paradise

So, the last week has brought about some interesting developments in the Fijian government. I will see if I can summarize what has happened in a nutshell.

About one week ago, our group returned from a 2 week excursion from some of the most beautiful places in Fiji. I came back rather tired, walked into my home and had a rest. Later that day, my host dad was really into the news and a certain announcement. It was announced that the military dictator (basically) and all government was said to be illegal by the constitution. The only person left in power was the 80 something year old president (actually, the oldest president in the world). Many Fijians were excited because nobody likes the dictator man.

The next day, we found out that the president re-instated this man and completely got rid of the constitution. So, we were in a state of anarchy. We wouldn't know this by walking down the street, as everything went about normally. Now, Australia and New Zealand are angry with Fiji and saying that we are officially in a military dictatorship. The newspaper on Sunday had to cancel half of the articles because of government restrictions. The news was canceled on Sunday, and now they are watched with armed men in the studio, because they cannot say anything about the political situation.

A family friend here in Fiji was over the other day. She is a doctor and her dad was the governor of the reserve bank of Fiji, until Saturday. They fired him, and took him into a camp to most likely beat and interrogate him. Of course, we just hear about these things from the BBC and word of mouth, not from any internal source.

So, Fiji is a mess. Our academic director is home sick, so we don't know what is up with us. If things get violent, I guess they send us home on the first plane. Most of our families say we will be fine, but you might get to see me sooner than you thought.

On the bright side, I think I have been accepted into the University of Hawaii... I'll let you know officially in a few weeks.

Don't let all of this scare you- I don't think that Fiji would mess with any Americans. Our government is way too powerful, and would crush Fiji if any of their citizens were hurt. :-) Go America.

2 weeks of fun

It has been quite some time since I've written a posting, but there is good reason. I've been traveling around Fiji for two weeks, and just returned this morning. Here's what I've been up to:

Two weeks ago today, I packed my duffel and messenger bag not really knowing what to expect for the next two weeks. I knew that I would be living with a few families, that I would be trying new food, and that I would be throwing myself into uncomfortable situations. Well, I did just that these past few weeks. On Thursday morning, March 26, I loaded all of my gear into a taxi and went to the University of the South Pacific Campus. There, we all hung around for a while (which is very usual in Fiji) until loading our gear onto a carrier truck. A carrier truck is a pickup with a tarp over the back end used for hauling people at a very low cost. Our gear was not alone: we also were loaded into the back.

From USP, we drove about 3+ hours up the east coast of Viti Levu on rough road to the village of Silana. This is an Indigenous Fijian Village right on the ocean. We unloaded our gear and had lunch in the community hall. Silana was about to be our home for the next 3 nights, and soon after lunch, we met our homestay families. I lived in a one room house just across the path from the community hall. The inside of the house had two beds (they gave me the big bed), a dresser, a small china cabinet (with one piece of broken glass), and a large, woven mat covering the 20'x2
30' floor. Outside on the wrap-around porch was a bathroom and a cooking stove. My host family consisted of my dad (who was only 32) and my younger brother (who was four). I also had a mom, but she was in the city preparing to give birth, so I never met her. It doesn't sound all that great, but my host dad was awesome, and they took care of me very well.

During our time in the village, we spent a lot of time on the beach. The white sand stretching across the bay was beautiful, especially with the backdrop of the many hundreds of coconut trees. During the mornings, we went on several excursions. My favorite had to be our time spent out on the small, fiberglass fishing boat in the sea. This particular day, we ventured out to the big, open waters to see the reef and the dolphins. Boy, did we see dolphins! Once we came into the reef, the locals from the village began to blow on the big conch shell. about 20-30 dolphins then surfaced and welcomed us into their reef. I did get to blow the conch shell, and I must say, playing trombone for 12 years has made me quite good! We then jumped into the very clear water and spent some time snorkeling. Some of the water was rather shallow, and with all of the coral, I freaked out a bit. Luckily, seeing some of the blue starfish helped me to relax! Another day, we went to a lovo, which is a type of party/cooking of a pig in a fire pit. This celebration was in honor of a girl's 1st birthday. The whole village was there, and everyone prepared a dish to share. We also spent time swimming in a waterfall. Overall the village was fun, yet exhasting and dehydrating.

Next, we were off to the second largest island of Vanua Levu (which means big land in Fijian). We took a plane, which seemed a little posh after living in a village for 3 nights. Here, we were meant to experience Indo Fijians (Fijians originating from India), as they make up almost half of the population of Fiji. The city we lived in is called Labasa. Brian and I were teamed up here with a couple who were recently made empty-nesters. They smothered us with attention to say the least! This family lived in a more rural setting in Fiji on 4 acres, and raised many animals. I felt very at home here! They had about 20 chickens, 10 goats, a cat, and 2 dogs. Brian and I each had our own room in this home, and for the 4 nights we stayed there, we stayed plenty busy. This family happened to be Hindu in religion, so we got to experience some of the different religious celebrations going on in the preparation for the birth of the Hindu god Ram (who is kind of like Jesus to Hindus). I didn't really know what was going on, but they fed us well. Here, we also visited a pearl farm ran by Fijian women in a village. We visited a school another day, which was probably my favorite part of Labasa. Also, my host mom here made Brian and I quilted pillow cases and she also bought us new Bula shirts! Our host parents were very sad to see us leave, and Brian and I miss the smothering a little bit :-).

We were now done with the deep exposure part of the trip and on to the "oohs" and "aahhhs" of Fiji. So, we went to Savusavu, a city which has been described in the past as the Honolulu of Fiji, set back about 50 years. I don't know if I would compare Savusavu to Honolulu, but I will say it was a bit different than other parts of Fiji. Europeans and Americans have loved to move to Savusavu throughout the past 100 or so years, because of the beautiful bay, perfect to keep a yacht. There were quite a few large yachts parked, and also many large homes. It was wierd to walk down the street and see white people around, as we were usually the white people being glared at. Savusavu thrived off of tourism, and this was apparent when the cruise ship came into the harbor, and bus loads of Australians, Europeans, and Americans came in by the hundreds. They were mostly ripped off by locals, but I don't think they cared much. This was the only stop for the cruise in Fiji. Most of our time in Savusavu was spent relaxing and preparing for the next stop of the trip. Though, we did visit a place where coconut oil was made.

The last stop of the trip was the island of Taveuni, the garden island of Fiji. Up to this point, I thought that most of Fji's landscapes were pretty spectacular. None compare to those of Taveuni. Lush flowers, palms, and stretching trees sprawl across the mountains and beaches of this island. We stayed on the beach at a place called "Beverly's Campground." Life was not plush here either, as we stayed in tents and cooked most of our own meals right on the beach. Not much is to be said about Taveuni, but let's just say that in the 3 nights I spent there, I took 500 photos. If there is a question to ask me when I return home, it is "what did you like about Taveuni?" I will talk for a hours and show you photos. I saw about 7 waterfalls in 1 day, and even used one as a waterslide.

Well, I am tired. Luckily, Fijians take a 4 day weekend for easter. Imagine that!

Quick Update

So, here's what's been going down in a nutshell (I have little time today!):

-Friday, I made lunch at an Indo Fijian family's house and learned how to make curry!
-Saturday, 8 of us went to the Beach House resort: photos to come
-Sunday, still at the beach house, and got a sun burn while playing in the ocean
-Sunday evening, I went to mass at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Suva. Americans should learn to sing from Fijians.
-Right now, it is my birthday. My host family is throwing me a big bash at our house. I will be wearing my favorite bula shirt! I am on my way to a meeting with a professor who studied at the University of Hawaii. He is going to tell me all about it!

Running tally of cool places to be on my birthday:
17: The Czech Republic
18: Hawaii
21: Chicago (kind of)
22: Fiji

Peace Out!

Getting Comfy

A church along the shore

The Stairway in the Royal Hotel, Levuka


Most of our Group at the Catholic Seminary


It is really nice to be getting comfortable in Fiji. After having some weird dreams last week about home, I spoke to my friend Katie about what I was thinking. She explained to me how when she was in Australia, she was thinking of some similar things. Then, she said that I will be home in what feels like just a short time. So, I feel like life is becoming real here in Fiji.

I am also realizing that living on an island sounds like it could be this fantasy filled with drinks with those little umbrellas, parrots delivering you messages from across the beach, and going swimming in the ocean each day. Well, life really isn't like that at all. I guess if I hopped on a bus and went to a secluded resort an hour down the road, maybe life would be like that (minus the parrot). Life is much like it is in any city. I wake up in the morning to dogs barking around my neighborhood, go for a run, eat breakfast inside with my family, get on a bus, and go to school. I do see palm trees and the ocean on a daily basis, my classroom is a bure (which is a grass-roofed house), and I could go to the beach if I wanted, but life is not quite what people might imagine.

There are opportunities to see these beautiful places if I want- don't get me wrong. This weekend, we are going to something called "The Beach House Resort." It is one of those resorts like you see in the magazines along the coral coast (the south coast of Viti Levu). Luckily, you can get a bunk room for a group, costing only $20 USD per night. This includes tea in the afternoon and breakfast, along with free sea kayaking. I'm in for sure.

Last weekend, our group visiting Levuka, a town on a small island east of Viti Levu. This place is exactly opposite of what one might see in a magazine, but it was still kinda cool. Levuka was the old capital of Fiji and is what is described by locals as "colonial." Old wooden buildings and hundred year old churches cascaded down the hill, with a backdrop of green mountains. Clouds looked like dry ice on the tips of the mountains. I was getting a little frustrated with our tour guide, as he didn't really talk to the group as a whole at any one point. If you really wanted to learn anything from him, you had to walk alongside and ask questions. It was still cool to see what was happening in town. We saw the sight where Prince Charles of England stayed when England was in the process of given up Fiji in the 1970s. We also saw the giant Tuna Factory. The whole town smelled of fish. It was gross. We stayed at the Royal Hotel. Sounds nice, but really I'm pretty sure that it was haunted. The building was built in 1903, and it was a place where sailors stayed back in the early 1900s. The lady who worked at the hotel said that people have hung themselves around the building before, and it is one of those creepy places where you can feel it. That weekend included my first boat ride since arriving in Fiji. I took a few hundred pictures that weekend, so when I get home, I'll show you.

Class is as usual this week. Riding the bus to school is interesting. It takes about an hour, and Fijian buses are sure interesting. They are all old, brightly colored, open-aired, and are about to start on fire at any moment. It is pretty usual news to hear that a bus starts on fire in Fiji. So, I just pray that I don't start on fire every day on my way to school. I just think of how nice the city buses are in Minneapolis- air conditioned, clean, comfy seats, etc. Not much else to update- its my 22nd birthday on Monday! My host parents are having a pot luck for my friends here in Fiji. You can come if you want, but I will not pay for the plane ticket. :-)

Keep the emails coming! I love to hear from all of you! I may be slower in response, as I will not be using my blackberry anymore while here. My parents just got a $200 bill for me using internet in the last 3 weeks on my phone. T-Mobile kinda sucks.

A New Home

On Monday, I moved into my new house with my new family. My host parents are quite awesome- she is a real estate agent, and my host dad is retired from the Fijian army, and they have 6 kids and 4 grandkids. They are the type of people who love having everyone over to visit, and will never turn anyone away. I have my own bedroom and bathroom in the back of this very large home. Mom always cooks and won't let me touch anything in the kitchen, though she is very busy with real estate business all of the time. Dad stays at home, but may have to go to the Middle East for work (he works for a US company) at the end of the month. It is a little weird calling them mom and dad, but they insist. Sorry real mom and dad- I'm not ditching you, I guess I just have two families for a few months! One of my host sisters has a 3-month old baby who also lives with us.

Life is quite comfortable at their home. Everyone likes to spend time in the living room, watching tv, drinking tea, or just talking. I really don't know where our house is yet in relation to the rest of the city, but some of us are going to go explore later today and find out where we all live. This family also just purchased a 280 acre plot of land west of Suva about 45 minutes, which they are selling in 1 acre plots, minus 80 acres for their own new home. Their new home sits on top of a mountain, equipped with pools, horses, etc. I guess the real estate business is doing well! Let's just say that I will never see the amount of money in my lifetime that it will take to buy this place. Host mom said that we get to go there on weekends and ride horses and play in the ocean. It is also kind of cool that some of our host families are friends. Some of the dads are army buddies, and other moms are just best friends. It is still a little awkward, but they are very welcoming.

This weekend will be awesome. We are going to the town of Levuka to spend some time at the resort and to take a tour of the town. Levuka was the old capital of Fiji in colonial times, and is actually on a different island. That means boat!!!!!!! We will be staying in the royal hotel, and we have lots of free time to hang out in the pool and just relax. People are good at relaxing here, because it is so hot all of the time.

I am starting to miss the US, as it has been almost three weeks since I left home. Just little things like having a hot shower, being comfortable in my surroundings, and seeing friends and family are starting to eat at me a bit. I'm glad that we have a cool group to hang out with, or it would get pretty sad at times. Its good to have good friends around. So, send me emails or messages and let me know how things are going! Grad school stuff is beginning to be annoying as well- the University of Hawaii won't respond to me, after they asked me for interview times. I know they want to interview me, but it is just a little discouraging that they won't respond. I hope it all works out!!

Moce (goodbye!)

Waterfalls and Birds

Yesterday, Friday morning, I didn't quite know what to make of the day. I woke up nice and early at 6am knowing it was another field study day. This time, it involved service and a Kava ceremony/lunch. We got in the minivan and drove out to a neighborhood tucked in between several mountains, down in the green valley. We found out that this was a neighborhood sitting right on the poverty line (for most households, as about 80% of Fiji actually lives). Our job for the morning was to plant some flowers by the community center, and pick up rubbish along the side of the driveway into the community center. I thought, hey, my family is into gardening, so maybe it would be cool to do some planting. I found that unlike in the states where you have to buy plants, dig a hole, and hope for the best with your plantings, in Fiji they cut part of a plant off and literally shove it into the ground. I didn't understand at first, but then I realized how moist the soil is in Fiji, so plants will just root on their own.

We got done with our projects within an hour, so we were asked to go on a walking tour with some of the community members up to the waterfall in the mountain. This was a long hike up to the top, then back down into another valley. We then walked through a path in the rainforest, got into the river and hiked some more, and there it was. The waterfall was almost 20 feet tall, and emptied into a large, blue basin. The natural pool was surrounded by high, steep cliffs mounted at the top with vine-covered palm trees and moss. It was amazing! Then, the locals encouraged us to climb up the waterfall, so 3 of us took the challenge. The rocks were slippery, but we all made it up. Our journey continued up the river further, and after climbing and tripping over even larger rocks and boulders in the river, we saw another waterfall, this time three times the size of the previous. The surrounding landscape was even more amazing, and was probably the most amazing thing I have ever seen. The two local guys who were with us climbed to the top and dove in, though there was no way I was about to try that. After some time of splashing around, we decided to go back. Then, we had to get back down that first waterfall, so against all rules for our program we decided to jump. Brian went first, and was all good. Allison was next, but unfortunately landed wrong and hurt her ear. I went next, and it was all good.

So, that's my adventure story for the day. I also went clubbing with my instructors last night in a lecture called "intro to clubbing in Fiji." Cool, eh?

All By Myself

We woke up this morning, and were told to meet in the outdoor dining area of our hostel. I new we were going to have a meeting, but I really had no idea what this was about! The past few days, we have just been going to campus and having lectures, so I was hoping for something a little more exciting. I got my wish! Today was a field study, designed for us to explore the city on our own. All 11 of us were given a name of a few stores or shopping areas in Suva, and were told to figure out what they were, how to get there, and also were given money to purchase something from one of the stores.

I left the hostel not really knowing what to expect. I thought, well, I like to see the big picture of things before diving into details, so I thought I would just walk around the city by myself for a while. After realizing that I had been walking for about 45 minutes, I thought I would finally stop into an eyeglass shop to see where I was and where I needed to go. Turns out I was just around the corner from the three stores I needed to visit: a "homemaker's" store (furniture, appliances, towels, etc.), a department store, and a bread shop. I made it there without trouble, and actually went into the homemaker's store and had a 20 minute conversation with one of the sales people. She was a woman who grew up on an island south of here out in a very rural village, moved to the city away from her family, and now is sending her oldest daughter to the University to be a teacher. Her husband is moving to Canada to work as a plumber (I thought this was strange), and she may move there as well. Fun. Then I went next door to the bread shop and bought a sausage roll and orange fanta, then went across the street to the department store I was supposed to visit. Many of these stores had very expensive items. For example, tennis shoes in the department store were more than $150 US, just for some simple Nike tennis shoes. Washing machines are at least $800 US, and that does not include a dryer (which is a luxury here).

I then continued my journey, because I was not meeting up with the rest of the group for another hour and a half. I walked down along the ocean for a while, but being white in Fiji is like yelling "Hey! I'm a tourist! Come take me to your shop!" So, within a moment of walking along the ocean I hear "Bula!" Uh oh. Its another one of those vendors who wants to sell me something. Luckily, Chelsea, another one of my classmates came along and came with me. These people are impossible to say no to, even if you tell them that you live here. I thought I would amuse him anyway and go to the shop. It was some little Fijian village shop in an arcade (kind of like an outdoor mall between larger shops). I went in for a few minutes and said vinaka (thank you) and left. Whatever, it is my adventure day.

This afternoon too is all about me. I am walking around town and checking out some other new places, I'll probably get a cold drink and just learn about some new shops. I've been waiting for this moment when I could feel comfortable in Fiji on my own, bumming around the city. As you can tell, I am still learning how to not look like a tourist, because I do live here. Its all good though- people are still very friendly.

This weekend is going to be sweet. We have Saturday off, but our teacher wants to take us to a waterfall in the Rainforest National Park. SOUNDS GOOD TO ME! There was also talk of going to Misquito Island (hopefully not as bad as it sounds).

Still no luck uploading photos. I'm getting closer each and every day, and soon, you will be able to see more in depth what Fiji really looks like. I hope all is well with you! If you would like a postcard, just email me your address!

well0328@umn.edu

Vinaka!
Austin

Quick Update

So, it is still hot here. No complaints though, as it is about 100 degrees colder in Minnesota. Boo.

A bunch of us are hanging out in the Bure, enjoying our new wireless capabilities on the University of the South Pacific Campus. We've had a pretty slow few days, which is kind of nice since everyone has had a cold, the rhea, or some sort of cough. Vitamins are wonderful. I still can't get over how beautiful campus is, and how great rain is each day.

Just yesterday, Allison and I were wandering around campus. Here, there is an abundance of palm trees and tropical-like fauna. As we were walking toward the ocean, a giant 5ft leaf fell from the sky and exploded! It was all brown and crusty, with little pieces of dust floating into the sky back to where it came from. It caught us both by surprise, because there was a loud bang associated with this attack from the plant gods. We both screamed, as all of the locals laughed at those weird white kids walking around campus (that's us). So, another surprise that adds to my culture shock.

The bus is also exciting. Our whole group went to the Fiji Museum the other day in downtown Suva, so we took the city bus. City busses here are open-air automobiles, and there was a pimped-out green bus (for lack of a better term). The bus driver added speakers, was blaring reggae music, and the sun was shining. It was an awesome moment to be in Fiji.

Last night, a few of us went on a walk to enjoy the sunset over the ocean. We got downtown about 7:00pm, and EVERYTHING was closed. There was one exception: McDonalds. We went and enjoyed our 75 cent cones. A perfect way to end a hot day.

As you can tell, not a lot happening right now. Its pretty relaxed, but just nice to be getting into a groove. I'm having trouble uploading photos to facebook, but no worries. I have taken 350 photos so far, and I will get them on facebook sooner than later.

Vinaka!

Above: Panoramic of Natadola Beach
Right: Sunset at the Hotel
Below: A few of us in the Ocean

















Right: Sunset in Suva, at the Hostel















Right: A horse at Natadola Beach
















Left: Me at Natadola Beach







So, Fiji is still awesome. We began classes yesterday (Monday), which really consists of us hanging out in the Bure and having guest lecturers coming in to speak with us. Some are really cool, and others are boring. It doesn't really matter too much, because I can look out the open door and see palm trees and feel a nice, Fijian breeze come in off the ocean. It has been a week since we arrived now, and we are all feeling it. Most of us are sick on some level due to drastic changes in diet and our full and hectic schedule, so I hope that we all feel better soon.

We are now living in Suva, the largest sity between LA and Aucklund, New Zealand. It is about 200,000 people, and it is of course right on the coast. The University of the South Pacific is here, and is where we have "class." Much of the learning in our program is experiential, meaning we go on lots of excursions to see what it means to live in Fiji. It is really kind of fun to tell people we are from the States, and that we are living here. The respect is much higher toward us when people know that we aren't just tourists, especially if we say "bula" to say hello and "vinaka" for thank you. Each day feels a little more like I live in Fiji, and that I am not on vacation. It is nice to be in the hostel instead of the resort, because it feels more real and genuine. Also, we have a 79 year-old woman who lives at the hostel named Auntie Amy who cooks us breakfast and dinner every day. She is adorable, but gets bit by the dog a lot. We all feel sad for her. The campus is absolutely amazinginly beautiful. There are palm trees, huge canopies of rain trees, and flowers everywhere. Campus winds up and down hills, so it is VERY confusing.

Yesterday, I went shopping downtown. I bought a new cell phone for $30 that works internationally. If you want my phone number, incoming texts are free and calls are free for me if they are incoming. Just let me know. I also bought a new "bula" shirt, which is a shirt covered in flowers. Many Americans know them as Hawaiian shirts- same thing. When we go out clubbing for class on Friday, I'm definitely wearing it. Speaking of which, remember how I said class was experiential? Well, our instructors take us to the cool local clubs in town on Friday night. This is part of class. Everyone should study abroad through SIT in Fiji.

Anyway, all is good. Shoot me a message, and I will get back to you as soon as I can!

Bula!
Austin

The First Few Days

A view of "Ba"
A city we visited this afternoon

The Fijian youth group at the Kava ceremony last night
(This was their goodbye song)

Sunset on Friday night, before the Kava ceremony

So, time is moving very quickly here. It is now Saturday, Fiji time, and I have had even more adventures since we began. This isn't your everyday orientation, no sir. Since last posting on Thursday morning, I have done the following:

-Had chicken curry at a gentleman's day club (not what you think)
-Had dinner on a Fijian farm and picked coconuts (yes, we ate them)
-Had two classes in the swimming pool
-Went to a place called Ed's bar, and took over the back room with my new Fiji friends (I dance just as weird in Fiji as in the US)
-Was taken to a suburb of a foreign town, dropped off, and was told to learn about culture
-Saw the beautiful ocean
-Got sunburn on the top of my feet
-Had another class in the pool
-Went to a Fijian Youth group and had too much Kava (look it up)
-Explored a town called Ba, and enjoyed the local fresh vegetable market

It has been quite an adventure. One highlight I will tell you about is getting dropped off in Lautoka, which is the second largest city in Fiji. With the program I am traveling with, everything is experiential. So, one such situation involves getting the whole group of 11 in a van and taking us to a foreign city. We are then dropped off in groups of 2 0r 3 and expected to find our way to the center of town, however we would like while learning about a specific topic. I was the first to go along with Dana, a travel mate of mine. We were dropped off in a suburb, and I was truly lost. Imagine being in a new country for only a few days and then you are expected to talk to complete strangers, learn about the culture, and find your way to lunch and a group meeting on the opposite end of town! Crazy? I thought so too. Did it stop me? No. I immediately asked Mrs. Quiliho if she was serious when she told me to get out of the van. She laughed about me for the rest of the day!

At first, Dana and I were quite frightened. We started a few steps in one direction, aimed a different way, and then decided that we needed a game plan. We walked down the street and met a woman who didn't speak much English. She was waiting for the bus and told us to have a nice day. Then, we had a lovely conversation with an indigenous Fijian waiting for a cab, who told us all about her mission work in New Zeland for the past year. This lasted about 15 minutes. Fijians are SO friendly. She even invited us over to her home. Then, Dana wanted to check out the Morman temple we saw, since she is from Salt Lake City- Morman Capital, USA. The bishop was washing his van, and was extremely helpful and friendly. We talked for about 20 minutes, and then figured at this rate, we were never going to get anywhere. Our walk continued, and we came across and Indian trade show. Dana bought a new purse, and we both had some Kava with the security guard. He was just chillin, and we talked to him about his grandfather moving into Fiji from India about 90 years earlier. He showed us out of the show, and then we found mud. Mud is everywhere in Fiji, because we are in the wet season. Our walk continued.

Eventually after seeing the botanical garden, we found the center of town. What a relief! It was over an hour later than the time we began. I bought a new wallet, and went to an Indian restaurant a woman suggested in the store. More curry. We then went to the Catholic church, just down the street. We were hesitant to go inside, so we introduced ourselves to a woman standing out front, reading the billboard. She was a woman from a village up in the mountains who walks to mass each weekend. She gave us a tour of the church, and took us around back to look at the school. Now, in America, do you ever see schools right on the ocean? Probably not. In Fiji, that's how things are done. This was my first glimpse of the ocean up close! This woman then took us down the street to the beach and told us all about the city. We spent about an hour with her (she wanted more time with us!), but it was time to leave. Fijians are so friendly! They take time out of their day to help anyone, even if it takes an hour. It is important for us to remember to think about the hospitality, and pay it forward to someone else.

Don't talk to stangers. Remember that from elementary school? I guess that is rude in Fiji.

This is an example of what I have been doing, though I have little time to share all of my adventures! Tonight, we are going to a Thai restaurant, before we depart for Suva City tomorrow. I am excited to go to the beach, which is rated #6 in the world, by the way. Some of us are going to go horseback riding along the ocean. I hope the snow is nice in Minnesota (sorry, I have to rub it in!). The weather is great, though it is VERY humid and hot. There is almost always a breeze, since we are on an island.

Keep messages coming! I miss you all at home, so stay in touch.

Austin