We left the village of Nananu on September 28th (day 16). Little did we know we'd be leaving behind so much of our hearts. Nananu became a home away from home. We became a part of a community with inspiring family values and work ethic. Everyone in the village has a role and every plays their part without hesitation, without complaint. Together, they would support one another, look after the young and the old, and work as a whole. We had the opportunity to be among them. To be apart of that whole. We lived our every day lives with the pure necessities, learning how different life is a across the Pacific. The Fijian culture, the traditions and the lifestyle, grew on us. We let go, left our worlds from home and we joined theirs.
Our project was to build a road, an entrance to Nananu. We finished the road with a few days to spare and continued to help the community by collecting mangos to be sold in town for juice. We spent our final full day with our homestay families. Some stayed home speaking with their mothers and families about their lives and their stories while dancing and listening to music, some went by horseback through the plains to a natural waterfall with a rock slide, some went to catch lunch in the river and cook it on the spot for a picnic, and at the end of the night, we danced and danced. Some stayed up late talking to the villagers, among the villagers, spending as much time as possible till morning came and we would have to leave.
The day we left, the entire village gathered outside the community hall. We sat around and exchanged emails, addresses, tears, and hugs while our bags were packed in the truck. When we walked out to the car, we shook the hands of the very men we constructed the road with, we hugged the very women who cooked our meals and looked after us as their own children. We made our way to the car looking into the eyes of each individual. When we were loaded up, we looked back with tears in our eyes, seeing tears in their eyes, and drove out down the very road we built and out of Nananu. An experience we will learn from. An experience we will never forget.
We arrived at a backpackers resort on the southern coast of Fiji, west of Suva, in the Pacific Harbor. We went kayaking and rafting, boating and sight seeing, along the very river the second 'Anaconda' movie was filmed. We reflected on our experience thus far around a bonfire on the beach, and enjoyed some of the simple pleasures of a movie in the dorms, hot showers, a pool, and an Australian-style restaurant next door.
Our next stop is to spend a night in Nadi and fly out in the morning to New Zealand. We will be staying in Auckland for three days and moving on to the WOOFER farm following. Until then.

Homestays in beautiful fiji!!!!!!!

Hey everyone, coming from Fiji its your group OZ!! What can i say, its pretty much amazing here! September 16th (day 4) we arrived at the home-stays. As soon as we got here everyone was smiling and waving! Being here is such a new wonderful experience. Theirs cows and horses running freely and every morning wake up to the sound of roosters! The meals are wonderful! Theirs breakfast, lunch, tea time, and dinner. Every night everyone sings and dances at dinner and its so amazing!! The children are so friendly and they love to play! When we arrived we divided into twos. So each house has 2 of the oz kids living with them! We have a nau (mom) and a mongoo (dad) and brothers and sisters if they have. We've been currently working on building a road for them so its easier. And man, i dont think any of us have worked as hard as we are now. But they all take good care of us, bringing us the best mango juice when we are tired, etc etc.. Last night we put on a show for the fijians, little red riding hood, and it was probably the most interesting show!! But they loved it and everyone laughed. Then we played duck duck goose with the kids, and man can those kids run!!!!!Everyone is getting along great, laying out to look at the stars everynight, its beautiful here. This is only the beggining, much more adventures to look foward to on the way! Until then....

Your
OZ group!!!!!

We Have Arrived!

Bula!

Day one, we arrived in Nadi, Fiji at 5:30 am. From there we took the road 2-hours northeast to Volivoli where we arrived at our backpackers resort. Along the road, we followed an abandoned railroad track. Cattle, horses, and dogs roaming freely alongside the taxi-van. We had orientation upon our arrival and got situated in our rooms overlooking the coast. After all the traveling and a brief introduction, we took to the beach and found ourselves laying in the warm shallows of the Fijian waters. We headed to Rakiraki to find food at the local market and to experience some firsthand Fijian culture. The whole group found the Fijian people extremely friendly, with smiles on there faces and greeting us travelers with a warm 'Bula!' - hello and welcome. For dinner we had potato and vegetable curry cooked by our very own, Drew and Karen.

Day two, we arose bright and early, some meditating on the beach, some exercising. After breakfast we took of kayaking to a nearby island about 2 miles away. We stopped at a sandbar halfway, checking out the tropical marine life. When we arrived on the beaches of the old backpackers island, we ate lunch and hiked to the top to do some group bonding. In addition we cracked open some fresh coconuts - very tasty. With arms and shoulders exhausted some snorkeled and some went back to shower and rest. The students cooked the meal the second night, almost a disaster, but we pulled it together and feasted on some rice, chicken, and vegetables. We played some volleyball down on the beach and met some of the other travelers staying at the resort. We ended day two with an introduction to our Fijian homestays given by our local contact.

The group has bonded well thus far and is excited to be a part of such an incredible experience. We love and miss you all.

The Team is Together

I just got a call from Drew and Karen, and their words were: "We have everyone! See you in Fiji!" Never before have I seen a team of leaders so complimentary, so capable as a team, and so incredibly happy to guide their team Down Unda'.

There was actually no drama in the team's union - it was a remarkably simple as everyone found their way to the Air Pacific desk: excited as heck and ready to get there!

Stay tuned for future posts from the group.

- Ethan