Packing sucks. I included some pics of my first attempt at packing this week. I don't have final pics to upload because I'm giving up and finishing in the morning..along with 282802 other things I need to do before 9am tomorrow.
Tomorrow morning I leave for LA.
Tuesday night I leave for Fiji.
Wednesday never happens (Fiji is 17 hours ahead of Minneapolis).
I arrive in Nadi, Fiji Thursday morning at 5:30am after a 11.5hr flight (still Wednesday for ya'll).
We hit the ground running right away when we arrive in Fiji. We have some basic training in a hotel in Nadi, Fiji along with Peace Corps Trainees for Tonga for a couple of days. Then we take a two and a half hour bus ride to Pacific Harbour and spend a night in a hotel. Then we take a two hour bus ride to our host family villages where we will spend the next two months learning language (Fijian and possibly Hindi), cultural taboos and norms, and immersing ourselves into everything Fiji...even getting to know the wildlife (Fijian rats better watch themselves!).
My mailing address until November:
Missy Martin
Peace Corps/Fiji
Private Mail Bag
Suva, Fiji
SOUTH PACIFIC
Some Random Facts About Fiji and Peace Corps in Fiji
*Peace Corps has been in Fiji since 1968 (two years before their independence from Britain)
*Peace Corps did leave Fiji from 1998 to 2003 due to a coup. There is a large Indian population (Indo-Fijians) who often conflict with the Fijians.
*In Fiji you are considered youth until around age 35, or married
*Gender roles are strongly defined
*Many religions are represented but the major three umbrellas are Christianity, Hindu and Muslim
*In Fiji, "...an open door is an invitation for people to come in while a closed door is considered rude..."
After I am sworn in as an official Volunteer in November I will be placed in a position working with the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health. Any position I am placed in should be focusing on the goal of educating and modeling better nutrition and exercise for the youth of Fiji. I could be placed on one of six islands, could live with another volunteer or live a few hours from the nearest volunteer, could be in a city, town, village or outer island. I will be assessed over the next two months as well as interviewed and surveyed on my thoughts for placement.
My mailing address until November:
Missy Martin
Peace Corps/Fiji
Private Mail Bag
Suva, Fiji
SOUTH PACIFIC
Some Random Facts About Fiji and Peace Corps in Fiji
*Peace Corps has been in Fiji since 1968 (two years before their independence from Britain)
*Peace Corps did leave Fiji from 1998 to 2003 due to a coup. There is a large Indian population (Indo-Fijians) who often conflict with the Fijians.
*In Fiji you are considered youth until around age 35, or married
*Gender roles are strongly defined
*Many religions are represented but the major three umbrellas are Christianity, Hindu and Muslim
*In Fiji, "...an open door is an invitation for people to come in while a closed door is considered rude..."
After I am sworn in as an official Volunteer in November I will be placed in a position working with the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Education or Ministry of Health. Any position I am placed in should be focusing on the goal of educating and modeling better nutrition and exercise for the youth of Fiji. I could be placed on one of six islands, could live with another volunteer or live a few hours from the nearest volunteer, could be in a city, town, village or outer island. I will be assessed over the next two months as well as interviewed and surveyed on my thoughts for placement.
Good luck!!!!! And safe travels!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!!!! And safe travels!!!!!
ReplyDelete