Julie Allan, AUIP’s Program and Marketing Coordinator, writes:

I recently returned from spending two weeks in Fiji accompanying students and faculty from Texas A&M University and Pennsylvania State University on AUIP’s Fiji Sustainability Program.

My favorite experience during my fourteen-day stay in Fiji was a day spent with Rivers Fijikayaking on the Wainikoroiluva River in inflatable kayaks. We started the day with an exhilarating bus ride into the Namosi Highlands to visit a village for a traditional kava ceremony with the chief. After this we all jumped into inflatable kayaks and traveled down river traversing class II rapids, stopping for lunch, swimming in the river and walking to a waterfall before finishing off with a long boat ride back to the Rivers Fiji bus.

Another highlight was staying with a homestay family in Votua Village, which is situated along the Coral Coast. and spending time with my homestay mum Frances and her two children, Mary and Savi.

Frances was a fantastic cook and created a lunch for me of freshly caught fish in coconut milk and taro, plus a breakfast the next morning of delicious ‘Fijian donuts.’ Life in Votua was laid back, and I was free to spend time exploring the nearby beach, getting to know the villagers and playing with the local children in the sun.

I also accompanied the students from Texas A&M University to Bounty Island for two nights with local guide and marine biologist Helen Sykes. Time was spent on this tropical paradise exploring the local reef, undertaking research projects, getting to know the friendly staff on Bounty and even having a massage. It was a fabulously relaxing way to end my two-week Fijian adventure!