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