Why did you choose this program?
I picked this program (IVHQ) to do something totally different in my life. Back at home I was a very unhappy person and struggling a little bit, just unsure about life and school. I wanted to visit a county that I had never heard of before and Fiji was a option for me.
I wanted to experience a place that needed help in way that I could realize, to really open my eyes, to see that I should be really be grateful of where I come from and lucky that I have good family and friends. Volunteering for four weeks was not enough for me.
What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
The program that I went through was very helpful. I registered to volunteer for four weeks doing construction in Fiji. They had me read a booklet and do a training exercise that had really good information that you needed to know before you went.
Booking the fight was easy for me because I booked it through STA Travel, and it made my life easier. I don't travel often so I wanted to make sure that I was doing it correct so I had a person book it for me.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
My own piece of advice would be, don't be afraid of trying something new and don't over think. Just go for it. From California to Fiji, it's a totally different environment for me.
I was so lost but a good lost because it helped me talk a lot more than I would have of. There's so many interesting things to do and people that you just want to go up to them and start conversation.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
My placement was on a island in Fiji called Levuka. It was destroyed by a cyclone earlier in the year. The village that we stayed in wasn't as bad as other villages. Every morning we would wake up, eat breakfast, and go to our placement where we spend our morning helping rebuild homes for families.
About two hours went back to our Fijian family house to eat lunch. We have free time after that, however there's not too much stuff to do because we were on a island that has a small town 30 minutes aways from our village. We read a lot and played with villages kids, enjoying the evening times with other volunteers.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?
The biggest fear was being so far away from home. Fijians have been among the friendliest, and happiest locals I've experienced! Other volunteers were amazing to hangout with. We had some good time on weekends to travel. The four weeks can go by really fast and I wanted to make the best trip out of this... and I did!
Do you have any other recommendations for prospective volunteers?
Make sure ask a lot of questions before you go on your trip. Even though I had a booklet with all the information I needed, I wish I could of brought clothes for my Fijian family.
I didn't know where my placement really was before. I wish someone would have told me ahead time. But it turned out to be okay because I gave half of my belongings to my Fijian family at the end of my trip.