Only 420€ per week!
Culture Week
Suva - Fiji
Culture Week
Suva - Fiji
Travel to this wonderful Island country of Fiji, embrace the beautiful beaches, warm people full of love and hospitality!
These tropical islands are home to some of the happiest people on earth. The unique blend of culture and nature can be seen throughout Fiji and in virtually every aspect of your stay – from the food, festivals, rituals and the arts.
Program
Living
Suva
Fiji
Program Description
The best way to embrace Fiji is in Suva, where you will get familiar with the culture and people of Fiji. During this week we will explain the dos and don’ts regarding safety and transport.
Various crafts give Fiji a unique identity that along with traditional etiquette and local architecture tells a story of a culture and its evolution over time. You will be invited to join a kava ceremony during your stay. After the formalities, this is a wonderful way to make new friends and learn a little more about their country. Dig a little deeper and see what you can discover! Visit the Fijian markets, attend a weaving class, go on a tour in the sports stadium, learn the Fijian language, cooking and get to know about your projects. The week consists of three days of activities to introduce you to the Fijian culture and surroundings and also for you to interact with the fellow participants. During the last two days of the week, you will be visiting your project and commence your work.
Aims & Objectives
Introduces you to Fiji’s diverse geographical and cultural environment by fostering a deeper understanding of cultural similarities and differences through experiential learning in Fiji and to help you develop awareness and deeper understanding of culture.
Schedule
Monday to Friday
Highlights:
- Introduction regarding the culture and people of Fiji.
- Sessions on safety, transport, do’s and don’ts.
- Suva City and Market Tour (visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral Church, Suva Port, Suva Cinema, Fish market, Fresh market, Swimming pool, Shopping center, Souvenir shop and Fiji Immigration Office).
- Attend a Weaving class.
- Attend a class to learn the Fijian language and Fijian cooking.
- Make friends around the world! – Take part in our cultural exchange session where you share your culture with the fellow participants
- Experience a traditional Fijian welcome ceremony called the “Kava Ceremony.”
- Visit your project placement sites and get to know the projects you will be working upon.
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: –
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Basic
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: On Signup
Resume copy required: No
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
Participants below 18 are required to present a parental consent letter and participants below 16 are required to be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Additional Equipment
- Personal medicines
- Hat
- Tidy clean clothes for formal occasions
Location
Suva is located on the southeast coast of the island Vitti Levu. It is the capital of the country and the largest most cosmopolitan city of Fiji. Suva has an approximate amount of 86,000 inhabitants and works as a harbour city built on the peninsula. The city has a warm rainy tropical weather throughout the year, which keeps the flora fresh, and the temperature in beach-perfect scenery. This town represents the meaning of a multicultural country. It has so many combinations between European, Indian, Asian and Fijian that every single person seems as interesting as the next one. Make sure not to miss the Fiji Museum to learn more about how the beautiful Fiji came to be. The best part of this multicultural aspect is that you can find Chinese, Indian and Italian cuisines in one place!
About the Accommodation
Participants will stay at our centre on Suva, yet can vary depending on the project, but will be in shared bedrooms at our house Centre. There are refrigerators at the accommodation for the participant’s convenience.
Food Arrangements
Three meals, per day are served for the duration of your trip on Monday to Friday two meals per day on the weekends for the duration of your trip. We serve breakfast and dinner at the normal time during the weekend. Breakfast is western style and lunch and dinner are typical Fijian style.
Facilities
- ATM’s: There are many ATM's near the Suva House centre which is about a 5 to 10 minutes from the house.
- Local supermarket is a 5 minute walk from the centre.
- Personal SIM card for your mobile: You can buy at the local shop.
- The closest city is Suva about a 20 minute ride by car/bus from our Centre.
- 5 minutes ride to to Makoi Health Centre +679 334 0197, Lot 5 Matanikorovatu Nasinu.
- 20 minutes ride to Suva Private Hospital 120 Amy Street, Tork Suva /Fiji +679 330 3404.
- 20 Minutes ride to Colonial War Memorial Hospital Brown Street & Waimanu Road. Suva/ Fiji +679 313 3444.
- 20 Minutes ride to Gordon Street Medical Centre 98-100 Gordon Street Corner of Thurston Street, Suva/ Fiji +679 333 1355.
- 20 Minutes ride to Nasese Medical Centre 62 Ratu Sukuna, Suva/ Fiji +679 331 4450, + 679 330 3655.
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
- Fiji Museum: This museum offers a great journey into Fiji’s historical and cultural evolution.
- Suva Municipal Market.
- Oceana Center for Arts and Culture:Arts center at the University of the South Pacific which hosts regular live music, dance and theater, art shows and other cultural events.
Transportation
From this location we do not provide free transport to other locations.
Quick Facts
Name: Republic of Fiji
Population: 881,065
Capital: Suva
Language: Fijian
Currency: Fijian Dollar (FJD)
Time zone: ICT (UTC +7)
Country Information
Fiji is an archipelago of 333 sun-kissed, picture perfect islands tucked away in the South Pacific, close to Australia and New Zealand.
It's famed for its rugged landscape of blue lagoons and palm-lined beaches, and eco-activities from mountain climbing and surfing to soft-coral diving and zip-lining. Its major islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, contain the lion’s share of the population, meaning much of the country is uncrowded.
The 20th century brought about important economic changes in Fiji as well as the maturation of its political system. Fiji developed a major sugar industry and established productive copra milling, tourism and secondary industries.
As the country now diversifies into small-scale industries, the economy is strengthened and revenues provide for expanded public works, infrastructure, health, medical services and education.
The country’s central position in the region has been strengthened by recent developments in sea and air communications and transport. Today, Fiji plays a major role in regional affairs and is recognized as the focal point of the South Pacific.
Fiji is now home to many other races — Indians, Part Europeans, Chinese and other Pacific islanders living in harmony, and keeping their own cultures and identity. Fijians, slightly over 50 per cent of the total population, are essentially members of communities. They live in villages and do things on a communal basis.
Climate
The climate in Fiji is tropical marine and warm year round with minimal extremes. The warm season is from November to April and the cooler season lasts from May to October. Temperature in the cool season still averages 22 °C (72 °F).
Rainfall is variable, with the warm season experiencing heavier rainfall, especially inland. Winds are moderate, though cyclones occur about once a year (10–12 times per decade).
On 20 February 2016, Fiji was hit by the full force of Cyclone Winston, the only Category 5 tropical cyclone to make landfall in the nation. Scores of homes were destroyed and at least 43 people have been reported dead.
Culture
Fiji was first settled about three and a half thousand years ago. The original inhabitants are now called "Lapita people" after a distinctive type of fine pottery they produced, remnants of which have been found in practically all the islands of the Pacific, east of New Guinea, though not in eastern Polynesia. Linguistic evidence suggests that they came from northern or central Vanuatu, or possibly the eastern Solomons.
Before long they had moved further on, colonizing Rotuma to the north, and Tonga and Samoa to the east. From here, vast distances were crossed to complete the settlement of the Pacific to Hawaii in the north, Rapanui (Easter Island) in the east and Aotearoa (New Zealand) in the south.
Unlike the islands of Polynesia which showed a continuous steadily evolving culture from initial occupation, Fiji appears to have undergone at least two periods of rapid culture change in prehistoric times.
This may have been due to the arrival of fresh waves of immigrants, presumably from the west. Pre Historians have noted that a massive 12th century volcanic eruption in southern Vanuatu coincides with the disappearance of a certain pottery style, and its sudden emergence in Fiji.
It is hardly surprising then, that the Fijian culture is an intricate network and that generalisations are fraught with danger. Although the legendary king of Bau, Naulivou, and his successors had control over a large area of eastern Fiji, at no time before colonization was Fiji a political unity. Nevertheless, Fiji does exhibit certain traits that sets it apart from its neighbours, and it is this that defines a distinctive Fijian culture.
Transportation
Getting around Fiji is easy and cheap. There’s a good network of buses, carriers (trucks) and ferries for travel within Fiji’s main islands, and taxis are common. Hiring a car is a good way to explore the two largest islands – which contain 90% of Fiji’s roads – or charter a boat or small plane to get between islands. Fiji is well-served by two domestic airlines which operate between many of the islands, although services are less regular to the outer islands. Yachting and cruising are also great ways to explore the country.
