Monday, February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Hey Ya'll!
I am currently sitting in the airport in Sydney Australia! I'm so excited about finally getting into Wellington tonight so I no longer have to live out of my suitcase!
The Village!
Beachcomber!
Sand dunes!
Fiji was an incredible experience, our group really got to see Fiji from many different perspectives which was amazing. We got a taste of the touristy side when we went to Beachcomber Island, we were able to experience the local life of the Fijians by living with our host families, which was great! Sateri and Walter may come visit the south island of New Zealand with Shoshana and me in May. We went out to the bars a couple times with our local coordinator's son. The bars were hoppin', I discovered that you can get guys to buy you a drink if you do the robot... still not sure how that one worked out. Finally we were able to see the cultural side of Fiji when we went into Waikete Village, I didn't realize before coming here how many people still live in villages. We really got a chance to view their lifestyle, they baked our food, chicken and taro in an underground oven, they heat the rocks up with a fire and then remove the wood, covering the food with large leaves and dirt to hold in the heat. One of our guides climbed up a coconut tree and cut open a fresh coconut for us to drink the juice inside. Everything there is so fresh and available, I was loving all the watermelon especially! It was definitely very hot and humid, my hair could not be tamed, I rocked a pony tail most days with a sweaty face. I found it interesting how much the Fijians love Americans, I thought that they might have some negative bias of us but they just love Obama! It was really cool how the Fijians are able to hold on to their culture and simultaneously progress, they are not against technology or anything like that but they continue to live in the Villages.
I am currently sitting in the airport in Sydney Australia! I'm so excited about finally getting into Wellington tonight so I no longer have to live out of my suitcase!
Fiji was an incredible experience, our group really got to see Fiji from many different perspectives which was amazing. We got a taste of the touristy side when we went to Beachcomber Island, we were able to experience the local life of the Fijians by living with our host families, which was great! Sateri and Walter may come visit the south island of New Zealand with Shoshana and me in May. We went out to the bars a couple times with our local coordinator's son. The bars were hoppin', I discovered that you can get guys to buy you a drink if you do the robot... still not sure how that one worked out. Finally we were able to see the cultural side of Fiji when we went into Waikete Village, I didn't realize before coming here how many people still live in villages. We really got a chance to view their lifestyle, they baked our food, chicken and taro in an underground oven, they heat the rocks up with a fire and then remove the wood, covering the food with large leaves and dirt to hold in the heat. One of our guides climbed up a coconut tree and cut open a fresh coconut for us to drink the juice inside. Everything there is so fresh and available, I was loving all the watermelon especially! It was definitely very hot and humid, my hair could not be tamed, I rocked a pony tail most days with a sweaty face. I found it interesting how much the Fijians love Americans, I thought that they might have some negative bias of us but they just love Obama! It was really cool how the Fijians are able to hold on to their culture and simultaneously progress, they are not against technology or anything like that but they continue to live in the Villages.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
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!
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!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Muggle Struggle #1: Getting to Fiji... on a plane.
WOW! I have never been so stressed out while traveling in my life! After finding out that my flight from BOS to LAX was canceled it was like I was on The Amazing Race, and let me tell you I would not be in shape enough for that! I had to run/mall walk to catch my flight out of Boston to go to JFK making my goodbyes to Mom and Gramma sadly rushed. I got to the gate just as they were boarding my row. When I landed in JFK I had to run to another terminal where they kept shaking their heads at me telling me I would not make my flight to LAX where I needed to catch my flight to Fiji. But I was determined. I raced through the express security line, and ran, literally ran, through the airport terminal to my gate. Large tote in hand and heavy backpack on. I was the last person to get on the flight but I made it, nice and sweaty for my 6 hour flight to LAX. Upon landing in LAX I was supposed to get my checked suitcase and recheck it for my international flight. As the belt of bags spun around, and around, and around, and around it was with a sinking feeling that I realized that my bag had not made it through (sorry Mom for all the yelling and crying to you on the phone with that one). Moving on without my bag I rushed over to the international flights building where I received my ticket with an hour before flight time and a line for security check longer than ever. Once again I made it to my gate with no time to spare, landing myself a seat in the middle row in between two people. I was exhausted and starving and dehydrated. But mostly just tired. But apparently I hid it well because the guy on the plane next to me thought that it was date night, he would not shut up! World traveler, Air Force man and a New Yorker.... he probably couldn't tell you one thing about me as the conversation was very one sided with a lot of "right" "hmm" and "awesome" coming from my end. In a moment of silence I jumped at the opportunity to put my ipod in and drift in and out of sleep for the next 11 hours. I am now in Fiji and it is BEAUTIFUL! And I still don't have my luggage, we went to the air port today to try and figure it out. They told me it should have arrived because American sent it to Sydney .. however no luggage for me. (Mom want to complain to American Airlines for me? Maybe get some free round trips to VA or something?)
WOW! I have never been so stressed out while traveling in my life! After finding out that my flight from BOS to LAX was canceled it was like I was on The Amazing Race, and let me tell you I would not be in shape enough for that! I had to run/mall walk to catch my flight out of Boston to go to JFK making my goodbyes to Mom and Gramma sadly rushed. I got to the gate just as they were boarding my row. When I landed in JFK I had to run to another terminal where they kept shaking their heads at me telling me I would not make my flight to LAX where I needed to catch my flight to Fiji. But I was determined. I raced through the express security line, and ran, literally ran, through the airport terminal to my gate. Large tote in hand and heavy backpack on. I was the last person to get on the flight but I made it, nice and sweaty for my 6 hour flight to LAX. Upon landing in LAX I was supposed to get my checked suitcase and recheck it for my international flight. As the belt of bags spun around, and around, and around, and around it was with a sinking feeling that I realized that my bag had not made it through (sorry Mom for all the yelling and crying to you on the phone with that one). Moving on without my bag I rushed over to the international flights building where I received my ticket with an hour before flight time and a line for security check longer than ever. Once again I made it to my gate with no time to spare, landing myself a seat in the middle row in between two people. I was exhausted and starving and dehydrated. But mostly just tired. But apparently I hid it well because the guy on the plane next to me thought that it was date night, he would not shut up! World traveler, Air Force man and a New Yorker.... he probably couldn't tell you one thing about me as the conversation was very one sided with a lot of "right" "hmm" and "awesome" coming from my end. In a moment of silence I jumped at the opportunity to put my ipod in and drift in and out of sleep for the next 11 hours. I am now in Fiji and it is BEAUTIFUL! And I still don't have my luggage, we went to the air port today to try and figure it out. They told me it should have arrived because American sent it to Sydney .. however no luggage for me. (Mom want to complain to American Airlines for me? Maybe get some free round trips to VA or something?)
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