This post features student writing.

Before arriving in Navakawau, we stopped to get groceries and sulus (a sarong-like cover-up). When we finally got there, we left our luggage in the houses and nervously went down the hill to be welcomed to Navakawau. We were greeted with a sevusevu ceremony, which welcomed us into the community. We all sat in a circle with the chief and community elders while the children and women watched from the side. It was interesting to see how the community was situated in the hall, where people were seated in specific groups and areas. The community sang us a traditional Fijian song and we all drank kava, which is a drink made from the root of a plant called yaqona. While it looked like dirty water and left a tingly sensation on our tongues, we felt so grateful to be officially a part of the community. Upon leaving the community center, we were swarmed by children at the rugby field asking everything about our names, homes, and siblings.

Sunday is known to be the day of rest here in Navakawau, so we had another relaxed day to continue meeting other community members. We started off the day by going to church. It felt amazing to recognize the similarities of the ceremony from our experiences going to church at home. Although we couldn’t join along in the endless singing as part of the ceremony, it was impressive to see that the people know all the words to the hymns, and can harmonize perfectly without instruction. After lunch, we went on a nature walk, which ended with a tough hike up a tall hill. We were joined by a bunch of kids our age so it was great to talk and meet them. We got to see a viewpoint called “The Blowhole,” where the pressure of the waves blasts water high into the sky. At the top of the tall hill, we learned how yaqona and taro, Fijian staple crops, are planted. After the hike, we were all very tired, so we showered and went to bed.

On Monday, despite the rain in the morning, we began our community service. Our project is to build a fence around the school’s property, so we first picked up trash to clear the area. We spent the morning digging holes for the fence posts, and filling the holes with cement. Hannah, Nolan, and Haily went to the kitchen for the day to help prepare lunch for the schoolchildren. Each of us will have the opportunity to help cook traditional Fijian food throughout our program. After our work we learned how to farm, we played with the children, and some of us did laundry. We had dinner in the village and participated in a dance party soon after, which was so much fun!

Today, we started community service at 8:15, and began nailing the chain link to the posts. It has been challenging to work in the project site at times but the group is proactive and excited to step up and do as much as possible. Eli, Eva, and Monica worked in the kitchen, and we all reconvened at lunch before our trip to a farm. Although the days are exhausting, we have all gotten so much closer, and are looking forward to the rest of the trip!

— Dani B., Ruby S., Maria N., & Eva H.