Discovering Fiji: From Food Anxiety to Underwater Peace
36 hours and 32 minutes. That’s the exact time it took to get from Arcadia University to Blue Lagoon Beach Resort on the Yasawa Islands of Fiji. Our first flight landed in LA., where we boarded Fijian Airways for an 11-hour red-eye. But the long travel day wasn’t over when we got to Nadi, one of the largest cities in Fiji. We still had a 5-hour boat ride to get to our chain of islands. While the views were certainly breathtaking, it was definitely one of the most exhausting parts of the journey.
But once we arrived at the resort, every minute in transit was worth it. The Fijian workers welcomed us with a song and refreshing beverage while bringing our bags to the room for us. The first thing we did was eat lunch. We were all so hungry at that point that no matter what we ate I am sure that we would have enjoyed it. But, being that the food was something that I was the most nervous about, I and others were incredibly surprised.
When we learned about Fijian food in class, a lot of my classmates were really excited to try all of the new things. Traditional Fijian foods, such as sweet potatoes/root vegetables, kokoda (fish ceviche), and taro can be high in fats with coconut milk consumed regularly, replacing a lot of other dairy products. I, for one, was pretty nervous. I wouldn’t say I am a picky eater, but I am definitely not that adventurous. Lunch when we got to the resort instantly eased all of my food anxieties. There were some Fijian options, but plenty of food that catered to tourists. Pasta, stir fry, quesadillas, pizza, salad, and sandwiches were all popular and safe options. Truly something for everyone.
Apart from sitting down for lunch and five-course dinners, the true beauty of Fiji was definitely in the ocean. While the food will always be a very memorable part of the trip, we also did a lot of swimming. The course was designed to include lots of snorkeling. So much so that even when we were on campus, we got into the pool once a week to practice our snorkeling skills. In Fiji, we took a boat out to snorkeling spots and/or snorkeled the reef in front of the resort at least once a day, usually twice. The first time we went out for a boat snorkel, rain started pouring. Although you’d assume Fiji is always warm and sunny, it is the Pacific islands, so there is actually a lot of rain. We took the boat out anyway, getting completely dumped on during the boat ride. Everything was soaked. But, the rain was warm and the water was warmer.
The moment I fell backward off the boat into the water to snorkel, everything around me stopped. I could feel the rain on my back if I thought about it, but I could not hear anything but my breathing. All I could focus on was the incredible world that existed beneath the surface of the water. I saw hundreds of fish and a beautiful array of coral that I assumed I would only ever see in pictures. It was so unreal that even on the 11th time we got into the water, I was just as overwhelmed by the beauty as I was the first day.
One thing that did change, though, was the quality of my pictures. I got an underwater camera for the trip, anticipating everything I might get the chance to see while in Fiji. but the first day, I barely knew how to take pictures with it. But, luckily, by the end, I was able to get some pictures that still barely capture the true beauty of everything I saw. A camera is something I would recommend to anyone going on a Global Field Study. Not only to Fiji, but also to Italy, Germany, Ireland, and England, all of which are much closer to Arcadia than Fiji is.
Arcadia offers so many of these courses at such a big discount you really cannot miss the opportunity to take advantage of it. Scholarships and financial aid are available, and you get some of your Arcadia University Curriculum (AUC) requirements taken care of. They are also good for any major. The Global Field Study that I took was focused on marine biology. But I can say with certainty you do not need to be a Biology major to take the class and it will still fulfill your science AUC requirements.
Overall, the global experience and memories are impossible to explain in such few words. Everyone at Arcadia should, if possible, take advantage of study abroad. For me, Fiji was truly out of this world and an experience I will never forget.
