Nayavutoka, 2024

In my time this year with Think Pacific I had the most memorable moments of my life. From sharing this journey with some of the best people I have met to sharing the culture of the Fijians who were so generous in sharing their life, homes, and knowledge with us volunteers.

From the moment the plane landed in Fiji I met with some other volunteers who had made the same journey and got to the meeting point, and from then on I never worried about safety or felt stressed as the team leaders were so amazing and organised. It was obviously a very nerve wracking thing at the start, flying to the other side of the world with a bunch of strangers to then live for a month with even more strangers. However, looking back on that anxious time, I couldn’t have been anymore wrong about the situation, every single person I encountered within the team as well as the locals in Fiji were so lovely and accommodating.

Life in the village is something I will carry and remember forever, seeing the way they live and being accepted not just into the village but into the host families we lived with was beautiful. This was shown in the effort and dedication they put into our welcoming ceremony. Over the course of the month then bond between volunteers and local had gotten so strong, through the culture course, days trips and just overall the time we spent with them. We were shown how they farm, how they fish, how they cook and eat, and how they spend time together as a community as well as within their families.

I would say the hardest part of the trip is saying goodbye, it was a very emotional experience as you really felt like you were leaving family. Although on the plus side the Fijians love facebook and have kept in contact ever since I left, as they have invited me back which is an invitation I am so looking forward to accept.

If you’re thinking about joining Think Pacific and coming to Fiji then I would 100% recommend going for it. It will be one of the best decisions you make. Whether you’re looking to make an actual positive impact on the communities or want to bring yourself out of your comfort zone then Think Pacific is the organisation to go through. They really care about you as a volunteer and are always there for day and night. It’s an experience that you will cherish.