Life Changing in Fiji

Last summer, I went on Travel for Teen's Fiji Service and Adventure trip and I can honestly say my entire life has changed because of it and TFT. As I prepared for my trip, I was not at all expecting what I was about to encounter. I arrived in Los Angeles, and immediately was welcomed with a giant hug from the trip counselor, and was introduced to all of the amazing people who would be traveling on the 13 hour flight to Nadi with me. This is something that makes TFT different; they are more than just the traveling, it is the relationships that count and they make it feel like a family. As we arrived in Fiji, we were met by the Fijian people with welcoming arms, hugs, kisses, and warm smiles. Not only had TFT made us feel welcome and loved, like a family, but the people of this far away, indigenous country were the friendliest people I had ever met. As the trip continued, I learned so much about Fiji: the food, the people, the culture. But what made the trip so life changing was more than that, it was the immense overload of love these people of all ages had for us. One of the days, we visited a small island where the native tribal people had never gone further than a mile offshore to catch fish for dinner. With nothing but eachother, they did not even have a toilet, they opened their arms up to us and provided us with all the food they had and everything they could afford. These people had little to nothing, and they used all their resources to make us feel loved. I had never experienced ANYTHING like it, and I am so thankful to TFT for helping me to experience a country and its people, and for ultimately changing my entire outlook on life and providing me with these amazing opportunities. TFT and Fiji are both examples of true love and compassion, and I am grateful beyond words for them both.