I think I need say little else other than, as I'm planning on returning to Fiji in the hopefully very, very near future, it was a pretty fantastic experience; however I do in fact have heaps more to say on the matter as I adored EVERYTHING about my time there!
I took part in the teaching project: originally TEFL, though after speaking to the headmistress of my assigned school at our introductory meeting, I was given the opportunity to teach my preferred subjects - a huge boon for me as an aspiring secondary school history teacher, as I was able to garner invaluable subject-specific experience, rather than just the classroom experience I had bargained on.
I, along with my fellow teaching volunteers, was placed in a Methodist primary school in the heart of the capital Suva, just a short walk from our home stay. I was assigned to Master Pau and his yr 8. class (the education system works a little differently and primary goes up to yr 8, and the students then move on to college for the equivalent of their GCSEs and A Levels) and taught social science, health science and creative writing to a wonderful bunch of interested, engaging, amiable students ... plus a handful of cheeky ones, of course! My teacher was fantastic, gave me full control of lesson planning and delivery, but was also hugely supportive with supplying curricular material, and a significant source of knowledge on the history of the Fijian education system as well as the students personal education histories which was hugely helpful to myself; was always happy to answer my many questions, and we swapped information and stories about our differing experiences as students and trainee teachers in the times when I wasn't stood in front of the blackboard - he even bought me lunch on my first day! A typical Fijian - friendly, welcoming and oh so charming - as were all the staff, who in no short order popped their heads into my classroom to introduce themselves (and offer me lesson time in their own classrooms!) We, the volunteers, were included in all the schools social events from recess coffee and cake mornings to Friday night after school kava and lovo (the traditional food and drink), and a huge fuss was made of us with both welcoming ceremonies and leaving parties; I felt my time there was hugely worthwhile, both staff and students were hugely grateful, and I saw a real improvement in my class during my time with them, both academically and confidence wise (as they were a tad shy to begin with).
We were also welcomed to join in on extracurricular activities, and so I joined Master Vili in coaching the under-11 rugby boys, training with them after school, and accompanying them to their Saturday tournaments to scream and shout with their proud parents on the sidelines!
If the school placement experience was exceptional, then the home stay one was out of this world! I had a bed at the main home stay on Brown St with several other volunteers, the in-field project co-ordinator (who need mention as she was both a fantastic support as mentor, and fun cohort and friend for evening and weekend activities and adventures). Staying with the Sokosoko family - now my Fijian, or second family, 68 Brown St truly became a home away from home - I had oh so many wonderful experiences with this family. The entire clan (of which there were many) were so warm and oh so welcoming: from head of the household Master, who sat around around drinking grog and wine with us till the early hours many a Friday night, teaching us to dance/ward off unwelcome partners Fijian style, to two-year old Lote who'd toddle up the driveway every weekday afternoon to great us from school with a big hug and drag us into whatever mischief her and her siblings and cousins were up to that day! From the youngest to the oldest we interacted with all, and I have a plethora of happy memories from my time, including racing around having water pistol fights to cool off in the heat with my darling Charles, Minnie, Ba and Andi; and nights out with my Fijian sisters spent dancing till dawn! My time here, just a month, I warn, was far too short, but so well spent, and I can't recommend the project highly enough!
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