Volunteer Trip to Fiji

[MarioRPG]

Lots of images warning.
So as you may know, for 2 weeks in June I was in Fiji (and a day in LA on either side of that). The reason I was in Fiji was because I was volunteering. The local schoolhouse was in very poor shape, and the infrastructure of the country overall is pretty poor so they definitely needed the assistance. Our group consisited of about 14 people, including two representatives from the organization we were with. We lived with a host family and worked for the first week and on the second week we went on a short island hopping trip.
For you non-geography majors, Fiji is a group of over 300 islands (100 inhabited) north east of Australia. So yes, there was about a 19 hour time difference to what I was used to. Also the weather there is awesome, a cooler day is about 27 Celcius.

So there's some pictures from the trip to look at if you are interested.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0060.jpg Landing in Nadi airport, around 5 AM.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0064.jpg Our airplane to Suva, capital of Fiji, and closer to the villiage we would be staying at (Savu).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0087.jpg Walking around Suva, during orientation.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0101.jpg The first Kava ceremony. Kava is a customary Fijian drink, with numerous effects. For one, it numbs your mouth and after a few bowls you tend to loosen up a bit. Almost all business done with a traditional Fijian is done over kava.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0119.jpg The schoolhouse we worked on, while there we constructed an outhouse, fixed up three classrooms (painting, etc) and also taught.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0122.jpg One of the local Fijian workers asked if I wanted a coconut. I said yes and was led into the brush. Turns out, it's much easier for them to chain saw down a coconut tree than climb it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0136.jpg Kava in Savu village. The kava here is significantly stronger than anywhere else we had it. And they drink it every night from about 8pm - 2 am.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0157.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0166.jpg Constructing a septic tank holder, with only wheelbarrows to mix in.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0173.jpg This was the kindergarten room before we began, watch for it later!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0188.jpg Savu kids at the swimmin' hole.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0205.jpg Teaching the grade 1 class, they loved the camera.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0221.jpg Facepainting, the whole school rushed to our room as soon as we broke these out. I must have wrote 'Fiji' and 'Canada' like 120 times.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0230.jpg The last day that the school kids would see us, so they had a thank you ceremony for us.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0239.jpg I got lei'd. And I was also given a sulu (guy skirt thing), another traditional fiji item.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0248.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0252.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0254.jpg The finished kindergarten room. On the rear wall we had a Canadian scene.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0286.jpg Sunday is a day of rest for the Fijians. After church they have an enormous feast, and then the rest of the day they will drink kava. I have never eaten so much food as I have in Fiji.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0259.jpg The whole group of volunteers after the church service. I think 90% of us are wearing clothes given to us by our host families.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0289.jpg This is my host family and myself, wearing my "dad's" military uniform. He's a Fijian soldier as well as a UN peacekeeper. He is also like 8 feet tall and has hands that could crush a person.

Anyway, that's it for the first week. I weeded out a bunch of pictures obviously and tried to make it so you could get a pretty good idea of what went on. If you like, I'll post some from the vacation week as well - that would probably contain a lot more of the other volunteers. But we did cool stuff like snorkeling with manta rays, but my camera doesn't mix with water so there aren't many pics of stuff like that.

[The Leader]

So awesome! :O

I would like to see as many pictures as is humanly possible please. :>

[Tadao]

That was an awfully nice thing for you to do. I applaud you and your team.

[Shrubfest]

That is a lot of cake.
And alcohol.

Good job.

[Sam]

I NOTICED MANY FEMALE VOLUNTEERS.

I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU GOT SOME PUSSY.

[Tadao]

AND DID YOU HAVE YOUR PERIOD AT THE SAME TIME AS THEM?

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

That's actually really cool to do MRPG. All joking aside that must have been quite an experience.

ALL SERIOUS UP FRONT. THOSE BITCHES ON THE KAVA LOOK DOWN TO FUCK.

[Esuohlim]

I AM PROUD OF YOU SON

SAY HI TO YOUR SEXY HOST DAD FOR ME :growl

[Wiffles]

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/wiffles/Achievement.jpg

good job ^.^

[Zhukov]

I like the photo of that tree, it looks cool, and I also second the motion for you to post more pictures.

Nice work on the class room, although the kid looks slightly apprehensive getting his face painted.

Kava cola is available here, or at least it was, I haven't seen it in years. I never tasted it. Wiffles, you're from Hawaii right? You should be down with Kava something chronic.

[Evil Robot]

Are you sure you havent joined the dharma initiative? This looks an awful lot like the hatch.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0166.jpg
If they ever start talking about a submarine ride you better run like hell.

[MarioRPG]

So awesome! :O
I would like to see as many pictures as is humanly possible please. :>
Ok there are more on the way but it takes me a long time to upload so I'm working on it!
That was an awfully nice thing for you to do. I applaud you and your team.
It felt awesome to do it... It was seriously so fulfilling. Every detail about the trip was perfect.
That is a lot of cake. And alcohol. Good job.
There was always so much food. It was ridiculous. You have no idea. Each meal had two main dishes and at least 3 sides.
I NOTICED MANY FEMALE VOLUNTEERS.

I NEED TO KNOW IF YOU GOT SOME PUSSY.
That's for another thread, brah :rock
AND DID YOU HAVE YOUR PERIOD AT THE SAME TIME AS THEM?
Apparently, like 8 of them did. That was a nice thing to hear over a dinner.

That's actually really cool to do MRPG. All joking aside that must have been quite an experience.

ALL SERIOUS UP FRONT. THOSE BITCHES ON THE KAVA LOOK DOWN TO FUCK.
The best experience.
AND FUCK KAVA IS LIKE PATENTED FIJIAN PANTY REMOVER.
I AM PROUD OF YOU SON

SAY HI TO YOUR SEXY HOST DAD FOR ME :growl
Totally will bring you up in the letter. :p
http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss259/wiffles/Achievement.jpg

good job ^.^
This is what makes it all worthwhile.
I like the photo of that tree, it looks cool, and I also second the motion for you to post more pictures.

Nice work on the class room, although the kid looks slightly apprehensive getting his face painted.

Kava cola is available here, or at least it was, I haven't seen it in years. I never tasted it. Wiffles, you're from Hawaii right? You should be down with Kava something chronic.

Yeah they got some sweet plants there! And apprehensive I can say they definitely were not. They were all over that.
I can see buying a kava drink. I bought some of the powder back with me.

Are you sure you haven't joined the dharma initiative? This looks an awful lot like the hatch. If they ever start talking about a submarine ride you better run like hell.
That would explain all that weird magnetism.

But seriously, pictures in a while!

[Tadao]

I don't know if you are interested, but Peace Corps is doing much of what you just did. I was very close to going to Eastern Europe to help with construction and/or electronic technology. I got very sick and now I have a gf who would miss me if I left for 4 years.

[Wiffles]

You should be down with Kava something chronic.

Jes, its good. im not very partial to it tho ^.^;

[Shyandquietguy]

That very last picture is friggin' awesome man. I am very proud for you.

PS. Don't get too carried away with this helping business! You'll starve! Money wise!

[Colonel Flagg]

Very nicely done. Congratulations. :)

[MarioRPG]

And I'm back, due to popular demand! (May do another post after this)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0091.jpg
Fiji Gold beer, this was actually the first day during orientation, but whatevs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0093.jpg
Followed quickly by tequila.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0266.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0272.jpg
We went on this crazy hike on our last day in the village. Our destination was the savu (waterfall). The path was not, uh, kept well. At one point we crossed over a creek and the bridge was just two branches that happened to grow there.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0280.jpg
But we ended up making it!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0292.jpg
This at Port Denareau, where we'd left shortly after for our first island, Korovu, of the Yasawa group.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0297.jpg
On the way we passed our last stop, South Seas Island. One of the smallest.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0294.jpg
ALLLLL THE LADIES :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0310.jpg
Korovu after a huge meal that tasted delicious. We'd been drinking all day, and then the main event came up. "Eat My Box"

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0317.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0325.jpg
Eat my box is a game where you have to pick up a box off the ground with your teeth, and without bending your knees. One of the girls really regretted wearing a dress. Also, we managed to pull in some other tourists who were on the island.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0332.jpg
The winners! (The guys had bet money on who would win, the fellow on the bottom won about 250 Fijian.)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0333.jpg
After more drinking there was dancing and stuffs.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0335.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0336.jpg
The hired fisherman stopped by during the next day to give his catch to the kitchen of the resort. The top fish is a barracuda and they are terrifying.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0347.jpg
We tried playing volleyball, but soon found that their inland beach volleyball court had an inch of sand, over cement.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0340.jpg
So the girls ended up doing girly junk, like getting their hair did. I chilled around and went snorkeling. The same day a little later we went snorkeling WITH MANTA RAYS! It was the most amazing thing. The creatures are enormous and the way they eat makes them look like they will just consume you too (they dive towards the surface). We saw 3 or so, but they stuck around the group so it was sweet.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0370.jpg
I also hammocked it up.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0351.jpg
Beautiful sunsets!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0354.jpg
So we ended up drinking later (a common theme).

More to come, in time, and if there is interest.

[The Leader]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0336.jpg

That is what I imagine myself to look like as a fish. :(

[Kitsa]

I'm terrified of barracuda too. Especially when you look over and they're just hovering there, watching you.

I love pics of overseas work. A friend just got back from a medical expedition to Jamaica and those pictures are gorgeous. All I know of Fiji is snarky stuff from Paul Theroux :(

[Esuohlim]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0335.jpg


THAT NATIVE IS GOING TO KILL RYAN SEACREST :eek

[Fathom Zero]

Fun, fulfilling, and sexy. Good work, me laddo.

[Zhukov]

Fiji is a fucked up country. FYI.

Nice pictures though, they remind me of when I lived in PNG. The one with the sunset is really awesome.

[The Leader]

THAT NATIVE IS GOING TO KILL RYAN SEACREST :eek
Seacrest out.

[Sam]

NO WONDER HE DIDN'T GET ANY POON, RYAN SEACREST PROBABLY BANGIFIED IT ALL.

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0272.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0351.jpg


GANG RAPE THEN A BEAUTIFUL SUNSET :(

[Esuohlim]

HEY 10 kV GHOST DO YOU WANT TO EAT MY BOX ;)

[Kitsa]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0340.jpg



I'm sure she's a really nice person but I hate it when people make that face in photos, dunno why :(

[Tadao]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0280.jpg

...

[10,000 Volt Ghost]

:MILHOUSEBOXEAT

[Fathom Zero]

...
:gighfive

I knew I wasn't alone.

[Zhukov]

I'm sure she's a really nice person but I hate it when people make that face in photos, dunno why :(

Top face or bottom face? I'm guessing top face, for the same reasons I find it annoying; because it's retarded and it looks stupid.

[Esuohlim]

:gighfive

I knew I wasn't alone.

IS THIS ABOUT THE TURKEY BEING DONE?

YOU GUYS ARE SO IMMATURE

[Tadao]

NO, IT'S ABOUT MOSTLY NAKED WET GIRLS YOU FAGOT

turkey tester was a bonus

[Kitsa]

Top face or bottom face? I'm guessing top face, for the same reasons I find it annoying; because it's retarded and it looks stupid.


Top face, yeah.

[Pentegarn]

How old is this group anyway? Because top face looks like she has grey hair in her early twenties.

[Colonel Flagg]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Soda_Popskinski/Fiji%20Fotos/IMG_0340.jpg


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