Fiji is an excellent place to have new cultural experiences. In addition to the rich Fijian culture, the University of South Pacific has students from many different pacific island nations, and the cultural diversity is widely celebrated. If you love to snorkel, scuba dive, surf, or just spend time next to/in the ocean, Fiji will be the perfect place for you. I have so many unforgettable experiences with sharks, rays, and other tropical fish and animals. I will never forget snorkeling with nurse sharks for my 21st birthday.

AMAZING. This past summer I participated in the Fiji Scholar Games: an extraordinary opportunity to not only explore the stunning Pacific Islands, but also immerse myself in a thrilling challenge-based competition similar to Survivor!

Our team, Tivua, was crowned champion of the Scholar Games! We exhibited excellent teamwork, applied effective communication skills, and demonstrated adaptability throughout various mental and physical challenges. This unique competitive experience was enriched with the University of South Pacific’s course on Pacific Worlds. We spent much of our time diving deep into topics like Pacific cultural heritage and diversity of Pacific societies for sustainable development. Some specific issues we discussed were migration patterns, colonial and post-colonial contexts, Pacific understandings of cultural and natural heritage sources and conflict over these resources, and future challenges and opportunities in the region. This experience taught valuable life lessons while creating unforgettable memories and forming a tight-knit bond with native Fijians and other university students from across the United States. I'm immensely grateful for the support of my professors, teammates, and the vibrant Fijian community that made this experience possible.