Why did you decide to study abroad with AustraLearn in Fiji?
Rylee: One day during my junior year of college I decided to go to my school's study abroad fair. I visited several tables, and everybody seemed to be marketing the same places. When I got to the AustraLearn table I saw the word "Fiji," and it immediately caught my eye for two reasons. First, I've always liked to sort of go against the grain, and I didn't know anyone who had been to Fiji before; Second, Fiji is the sort of place you see in movies and hear about in stories, and I just couldn't pass up the chance to see it for myself!
What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Rylee: The thing I appreciate most about my study abroad experience in Fiji is that the entire trip really turned out to be a cultural experience. AustraLearn arranged for us to spend a few days in a remote Fijian village during our first week in Fiji, and that was such a great way for us to get accustomed to life in Fiji. During that visit I learned about the traditional Fijian kava ceremony.
I spent time in the village school with third and fourth grade students. I took a ride down the river on a BiliBili bamboo raft. I attended a service at the village church which was conducted almost completely in the Fijian language. I went back to this particular village before I returned to the United States, and I'm pretty sure I left a little piece of my heart with its people. If there is one thing that I can say about Fiji it's that the generosity and kindness of it's people is rivaled by few other countries in the world.
How has this experience impacted your future?
Rylee: My time in Fiji really opened my eyes to a different way of life. Factually speaking, Fiji is considered a developing country, but when you're there you see in the people of Fiji a genuine happiness. They may not have iPhones, or laptops, or excessive money, but they don't need those things to be happy. I think of material possessions a lot differently now.