FIJI

BULA!!

That's hello in Fijian :) (Once again my internet connection is not working so I still can't upload pictures...I'll keep trying though!!)

I got home from Fiji Tuesday night and had the greatest trip! Emily and I left on Friday and got to the Fiji international airport around 8pm. We were welcomed with shell necklaces and live fijian music and lots of people shouting BULA and asking if we needed help getting anywhere. Fijians are without a doubt the nicest, happiest most helpful people I have ever met! A man in a skirt and bright flower button down shirt helped Emily and I get a ride to our resort which was a 2 hour drive from the airport. On the way we learned the meaning of "fiji time" which is a phrase they use a lot to explain that something may take a long time or not be right on schedule...it's just a very laid back environment where no one is ever in a rush.

We finally got to Mango Bay Resort a little after 10pm. We were once again welcomed with loud BULA shouts and smiling faces. We signed into the resort and were taken to our 8-person dorm. Mango Bay is mainly a backpackers resort so they have big dorms with 8 beds and you just pick your own bed when you get there. Every bed has a mosquito net to keep out the bugs at night. Here's a picture of our place:

The first night we got there, Em and I went to the bar which looks out to the ocean. We got a drink and made some friends playing ping pong and pool. We met a girl named Heather from Canada and two Aussies named Leon and Godfrey. We all hung out for a while until everyone was tired and we went to bed. The next morning we woke up and it was really overcast and cloudy but we didn't let that stop us from enjoying the day. We ate breakfast which consisted of white bread toast and fruit (not ideal...but it was free!) Then we took a trip into the closest town to our resort, Sigatoka. When they said we would drive into town I figured it would be a 5 minute trip, but it was actually an hour away and the only thing separating our resort and the town were a few small villages. The rest was just open land and lots of wild horses, dogs and cows.

The rest of the week was filled with relaxing on the beach, going on hikes, playing volleyball and hanging out with the Fijians who work on the resort, and more. It was such a great experience and a wonderful vacation to top off all the amazing things I’ve done since I’ve been abroad!!

I absolutely LOVED Fiji and already want to go back!!

Next post will probably be the day I am leaving Sydney and it is going to be a really really weird experience! I’ll talk about all the things I’ve learned and how I’ve grown through this experience. For now, I’m going to get some sleep and get ready for final exams!

Love always,
Lauren