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Program Description
GlobaLinks - Study at University of the South Pacific
Ratings and Reviews
3 of 7 people found this review helpful
AustraLearn: Study Abroad at the University of the South Pacific
100%Overall
Rating
4 of 7 people found this review helpful
Bula!
100%Overall
Rating
If you enjoy the laid back lifestyle, Fiji is the place for you! The whole country runs on "Fijian time" which basically means that people will do things in their own time. It can be very frustrating for an American to take it in, but once you learn to let things go, it is amazing!
I loved starting my days by waking up with the sunrise (its natural!) and not ever feeling like I woke up too early. I took a class called "Ethnic Relations and Conflict Management" during the 2009 coup, which was very interesting. Our teacher did not want to censor his thoughts and beliefs because he wanted to educate his people on what was going on. The professor ended up moving to NZ after the semester.
Suva is not a pretty beach town, it actually doesn't even have a real beach. But it has a lot of character, it is a dangerous city if you aren't careful. People yield to cars, and beware of people who are trying to pick pocket. However, I believe that living in a third world city will make you appreciate everything you have a lot more. It is a very fun city to go out on the weekends. Fijian beer is quite cheap, and at one point, beer was cheaper than Fiji water!
The living accommodations that AustraLearn provides is very nice, and the nicest of all study abroad programs in Fiji. It is suite style with your own bedroom and bathroom with a shared kitchen with one other roommate. In addition, there are washers and dryers on site. Other study abroad programs had to hand wash their clothes or carry it half a mile to the laundry mat. In addition, there is a housekeeper who comes in once a week to change the towels and the bedding. Pretty sweet for a college student.
Fijian culture is definitely different, but very amazing. Fijian and Indian food will become an addiction. You will have Kava sessions every weekend with your friends and the locals. Also, being a USP student will get you a discount at almost all touristy things! So use it to your advantage! I can't say enough good things about my time spent in Fiji, I would love to go back soon!
2 of 7 people found this review helpful
Amazing and Beautiful
100%Overall
Rating
I studied abroad at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. The experience was like no other. Many of my friends have studied in Europe which is fine if you want to spend a lot of time with other Americans and learning about much of the stuff that you already know. Fiji is something that no one knows about. Its something that will challenge your life. It was frustrating at times living on "Fiji" time if you want things to happen right away i would stay away from Fiji. But one of the best things in my opinion was moving at a slower pace. You are forced to take time and smell the flowers(of which there are many and are stunningly beautiful). The entire experience pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me examine how I live my life and how I want to live my life.
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Live in paradise? Yes please!
100%Overall
Rating
Fiji will challenge your every expectation. Living here is similar to living in a dream world where everything is turned upside down but only in the best of ways. Here in Fiji you want to do chores and get food at the local fresh fruit markets.
Classes are fun and sometimes even silly when the teachers make jokes about their subjects during class. When writing papers keep in mind that some teachers may want essays to be written in British english.
Public transportation is defiantly the way to go in Fiji. Buses can take you all over the island of Viti Levu (meaning Big Island) even to resorts that you can visit on weekends. The buses either play movies or music during the ride.
All resorts can be quite cheap for students especially if you talk to the study abroad office. I would recommend going with a group of friends no matter where you go because that makes the experience a million times more fun!
The best food you can eat in fiji is locally made food. Lovo is a traditional meal that is cooked in the ground. If you get a chance try to help cook one its an experience you'll cherish forever. Kokoda is a fish dish usually served in a coconut shell and is my favorite dish. Also keep in mind that there are many indians in fiji as well and Indian food in fiji is amazingly delicious! Indian food has the best deserts in town and the best indian deserts are surved in carts on the streets.
If you are lucky enough to take place in a kava ceremony (which is likely when you are in fiji) then there are some things that are necessary to know. The first dish of kava given to you should be taken or it will be seen as an insult. Then there are two ways to take kava either high tide or low tide. Always do your best to take kava in one go. When my friend first tried kava she tried to refuse her second cup and the guy just looked at her and handed it to her anyway saying: Please.
Fijians are a very social bunch and they fill the night clubs on the weekends. When you are out there is fijian way to share drinks. We call it Take (pronounced Ta-Kee). One person will get a jug of either Tribe (delicious) or fiji gold or fiji bitter and a glass. They will pour the glass and hand it to their friends one at a time. This goes on until the jug is gone.
When you go shopping for souvenirs make sure that you make it clear you are a student at USP. You will get great deals!
One thing I wish I brought with me is cheese. This is one thing that you cannot get cheaply in Fiji and the one thing everyone here misses! For instance you can get a block of chee
All in all I cannot imagine studying in a more amazing place. Being here is surreal. After a month I decided to stay for as long as I possibly could. Come to Fiji and find your adventure!
Alumni Interviews
Interview with Sarah Stevens, AustraLearn alumna at USP
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with AustraLearn at USP in Fiji?
Sarah: There was a statistic floating about when I was considering study abroad programs that stated that 90% of American students who studied abroad went to Europe. I’m not particularly fond of doing things that everyone else does, so I started looking into less traditional destinations. When choosing my program, I also had to find a school that would enable me to take courses directly required for my major; I was to be in my last year of school and had certain requirements remaining in order to graduate on time. Thus, when I found the University of the South Pacific, it seemed ideal—a foreign paradise with a lifestyle starkly different from mine, the ability to complete graduation requirements, and a program through AustraLearn that seemed to have all of the logistics arranged.
GO: What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Sarah: It goes without saying that placement of the USP itself makes this study abroad experience unique and special—I still have people reacting with awe when I tell them that I lived for four and a half months in Fiji. Beyond that, I feel that this experience was special because of the nature of the university itself. USP is the primary higher education facility for twelve member nations, including Samoa, Tonga, Kiribati, and Tuvalu among others. I was able to meet students from all of these nations and learn the nuances of the culture of the different pacific island countries.
Sarah and friends in Suva, Fiji with AustraLearn
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Sarah: Living in Fiji was my first real exposure to life in a developing nation and the longest that I had been away from home. This showed me two things: that I was capable of being apart from my family and friends for long periods of time and that I was able to handle life without all of the comforts and amenities to which I am accustomed. In learning those two things, I have since explored the world much further.
I am currently a volunteer teacher in Guyana and probably would not have embarked on such an endeavor if I hadn’t first experienced living in a developing country through the safety of an educational institution. Furthermore, I met other students through my study abroad program from all across the United States. We have since stayed in contact and now I have a network of friends no matter which region of the states I am in.
Interview with Rylee Genseal, AustraLearn alumna in Fiji
GO: 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!
GO: 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.
Rylie and a friend in Fiji!
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.
GO: 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.
Interview with Andrea Graetz, AustraLearn alumna in Fiji
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with AustraLearn in Fiji?
Andrea: Getting everything together for studying abroad can be a confusing and difficult process. AustraLearn was very helpful and made that process much easier. The advisors at AustraLearn are wonderful as they are there for you with any questions or concerns you may have before, during, and after your study abroad experience.
By choosing to study abroad with AustraLearn, I received many benefits: I was greeted at my destination airport by my advisor who introduced me to my new country for the first week or so (filled with many fun activities) to help me feel comfortable getting situated. They also organize a bridging cultures program for your new AustraLearn family to participate in before starting school. In my case, we went to a remote village and painted a school, brought over books for the children and spent a few days learning about the Fiji culture through ceremonies, bush trekking, eating the local food, and spending time with the village members!
GO: What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Andrea: Getting to know and experience the Fiji culture was so special! The locals are very welcoming and excited to get to know you. Joining in on Kava ceremonies and the Meke ceremonial dancing at all of the villages that we were invited to are some of the most unique experiences I’ve ever had in all of my travels. I would not have gotten those experiences anywhere else in the world and I am so grateful that I choose Fiji and the University of the South Pacific to broaden my cultural knowledge!
Andrea and friends enjoying life in Fiji!
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Andrea: My time at the University of the South Pacific has opened up so many doors for me. It not only made me a stronger person overall, but has determined me to travel more, meet people from around the world, and fulfill more of these once in a life time experiences. Due to my time in Fiji, I am now pursuing a Graduate degree abroad (in the UK). I feel that you learn so much more when studying abroad than you do by staying in your comfort zone. The experiences I had while in Fiji studying at the University of the South Pacific will forever be remembered and I reminisce of it often!
Interview with Jessica Mew, AustraLearn alumna in Fiji
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with AustraLearn in Suva, Fiji?
Jessica: I knew that I wanted to study abroad, but I couldn’t decide where I wanted to go. Many of my peers were heading to Europe and I really wanted to do something different, some place that wasn’t a popular study abroad destination. I knew that I wanted a country that spoke primarily English, because I didn’t think I could learn a whole new language and become proficient enough to get around comfortably.
After hours of searching my university’s study abroad website, I found it, Fiji! I decided at the moment that was where I wanted to go. When you think of Fiji, you think of the sun and the beach, right? One of Fiji’s national languages is English, no one I knew had studied abroad in Fiji, and Fiji was my next destination.
GO: What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Jessica: Before heading to Fiji, I did little to no research on Fiji, and didn’t even know it was a third world country. I knew that Fiji wasn’t all sun and beaches, but I was extremely shocked when we entered the city of Suva. Living in a third world country is a definitely something that I think everyone should experience. It was eye-opening to see a world completely different from our own. For example, “Fiji time,” means that people run at their own pace, often leaving things unfinished. This upset me and lots of other Americans, who are used to having things done now.
Technology is not as advanced in Fiji, and the cost to call/text to call home becomes pricey. In addition, in Fiji, I learned to appreciate what I had a lot more. There isn’t a lot of shopping in Fiji, and I was so use to just hopping in my car and heading to the mall to kill time or to go window shopping. Instead, I was planning trips to local hideouts and making new friends along the way.
Jessica with other AustraLearn students
Fiji has so much to offer, from the history, politics, rugby, adventures such as zip lining, shark diving, surfing, sky diving, and of course the beautiful beaches! The country is small, but there are so many places that I wish I was able to see and visit. I feel like I spent most of my time traveling or planning my next trip. Fiji taught me a lot of things, appreciate how fortunate I am and what I have and to not rely on materialistic things to make me happy and to take life in a slower pace. I came back relaxed, unrushed, and ready to tackle the next steps of my life. Fiji was an eye-opening experience that I wish I could do all over again.
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Jessica: Fiji created my travel’s itch, and I ended up doing two more study abroad trips. I finally made my way to Europe, for a summer session in Scotland, and a 3 month internship in New Zealand, both with GlobaLinks. I took a few social work/sociology courses while in Fiji, and that fueled my interest in the field. Fiji lead me to do an internship in New Zealand, working for Child, Youth, and Family.
Currently, I am in a master’s of social work program at the University of Southern California, and this all began with my study abroad trip to Fiji. After graduation, I hope to find a job abroad (I’m keeping my country list open!) helping families and children. Fiji has helped me develop what I value most in life, and has guided me into a career that I love. My study abroad trip to Fiji has done so much for me that I will never be able to fully explain, but it was definitely the best six months of my life!
Want to hear more about Jessica's experiences with GlobaLinks? Check out her EuroLearn interview about her study abroad experience in Stirling, Scotland at the University of Stirling, or her GlobaLinks Internship in New Zealand!Interview with Jessica Davis, AustraLearn alumna in Fiji
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with AustraLearn at USP in Fiji?
Jessica: I decided to study abroad at USP because I wanted a real cultural difference. I didn't know a lot about Fiji and its culture and wanted to increase my cultural awareness. I wanted to choose the place I knew the least about and it was the best decision I could have made!
GO: What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Jessica: What made this study abroad experience unique and special was the fact that you had to learn a new way of life. Their culture is so rich. You really need to take a step back and let it all soak in. You get to experience life in a village with all of their rituals, you get to see how they live, eat and work. You are also able to learn and understand their daily customs. From different clothing to different food. there were so many mind opening experiences that I think everyone needs to experience at least once in their life.
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Jessica: This experience impacted my future in so many ways. I'm a nursing student and I was able to keep my mind open to different patients with different cultures and not have a biased standpoint like some people who only grew up with one way of life. I was also able to take more changes and have more opportunities because of the independence this experience gave to me. I've also been able to share my experience and hopefully enrich other peoples lives with the amazing stories from Fiji about their culture that is so different from ours here in the states.
I would definitely recommend studying at USP in Suva, Fiji. The people are so nice and welcoming and the culture is so unique and fun to experience. Not to mention the islands are beautiful, pictures do not even do it justice. Suva City is a very easy city to navigate, with bus systems at just 70 Fijian cents a bus ride. You meet people from many surrounding islands. It is overall a very eye opening experience and I miss it soooooooooo much. STUDY IN FIJI!