Bula!

Muggle struggle #2... the pictures I take don't move.
Fiji is absolutely Gorgeous!! Everywhere we go is more beautiful than the next, the pictures I've taken don't do it justice. The water is so clear and bright blue and the greenery is amazing. This is not real life. The first day here felt like 3, after we got off the plane we took a trip into the town of Nadi where we saw a bit of the city and a colorful temple. Later that day we went to a hot spring, one of them was so hot they use it to boil their potatoes! They had another spring that was cooler where we covered ourselves with Fijian mud which was supposed to be ridiculously good for your skin, or that's what they tell us to watch all the foreigners look like idiots running around covered head to toe in mud. Either way it was lots of fun (pictures to follow). Another day we went out to Beachcomer Island, did you know Fiji is made up of over 100 islands!? Mind blown. The island we went to was very much a college party beach island. We met some Canadians and Europeans there and they were all bummed that we were not staying the night. Also we met some Germans, every time we run into Germans I try to say something to them, as if I can remember anything other than Gutentag... On the island I got to go snorkeling for the first time ever! It was so cool! I got to see a shark, a million colorful fish, Dory included, and we held a bright blue starfish after someone dove down for it.
We are now in Suva which was about a 5 hour drive from Nadi, did I mention I still don't have my luggage, supposedly its back in Nadi waiting for me. Here in Suva we are staying with host families, Shoshana and I are staying with Walter and Satire, they are wonderful! I am absolutely obsessed with them. Walter loves sports, mainly rugby and has done lots of world traveling for business and Satire is such a mother, she is always making sure we are well fed. One night at dinner I let slip what an extreme sweet tooth and the next day when we got back she had made a chocolate cake and bought ice cream for us! Score!
Yesterday we had a full day of lectures where we learned about the Pacific Islands, but all I learned is that I am not in school mode yet. Luckily classes in Wellington don't start until March 4th.
In Fiji everyone says Bula to greet you! It means many different things: welcome, life or good life, and when you sneeze and say Bula it means someone is thinking of you, I wish we had a word like that in English.
Well its very hot here so I am off to get some ice cream! I'll be in touch soon!