FIJI ~ Intern Options

While in the Fijian Islands, choose from Two possible internships.

Marine Biology: Coral Reef Section / Fiji

Following dive certification, you will head out to the Yasawa Island Chain to begin your reef ecology section. The majority of your efforts in Fiji will focus on a monitoring program for coral reefs. Learn coral species identification, including quadrant survey techniques and data analysis. A university instructor will lead the section. Coral species identification requires a serious commitment. Study outside the lectures and practice in the field is necessary to master the indicator species for Fiji. Systematic quadrant surveys will be undertaken at specific coral reef study sites.

While mapping the reef, you will collect data on coral species abundance, diversity, and richness. You will obtain baseline data on the coral reefs in these areas - and this will contribute to establishing a long-term coral reef monitoring program at these sites. Past programs have utilized long boats to pull a drag net for species identification. Travel by boat is a great way to explore the island environment.

Location
The internship begins on Viti Levu's Coral Coast. The Coral Coast is in the rain shadow of some of the dryer, mountainous areas of Fiji's largest island. Located approximately 1.5 hours from Suva, this area of coastline produces some of the most amazing sunsets you'll ever see. Dive certification will take approximately five days to complete. From the Coral Coast, we will continue on to the Yasawa Islands to begin our curriculum in reef ecology. The Yasawa Islands (1.5 hours by boat) will be the site of 6-7 days of reef study. Featured in the Tom Hanks movie Castaway, solitude and an opportunity to commune with nature abounds. The Yasawa Islands are circled with coral reefs, and provide an excellent location for reef instruction.

Course Schedule
The coral reef ecology section of marine biology internships will have a similar format to the Hawaii section, where students will have lectures, research activities in the field, and group projects for presentation at the end of this section. Again, there will be exams on all lecture material. Lectures will focus on coral reef ecology, mangrove ecosystems, and basic oceanography.

Housing
Housing is dormitory-style on both the Viti Levu Coast and in the Yasawa Islands.

Village Stay / Fiji

The Fijian village of Delalasakau is set on the banks of the Rewa River, in the Natisiri province of Viti Levu. This village and its few hundred residents warmly embrace student volunteers. You will fill your time with immersion in the language, observing subsistence farming, and involving yourself in community life. The villagers are all schooled in English, and have a fascination with outsiders and their homelands.

The villagers are still defining what they wish to share with the outside world. The presence of participants provides an excellent test case that aids them in working out the complex new additions of the outside world. It is our hope that each volunteer who participates in this experience carefully considers the full responsibility implied by their presence, the moral and ethical implications of your interactions with them, and the importance of stepping outside your own values.

You are welcome to participate in every aspect of daily life. In return, the village elders ask for your consultation on eco-tourism, and the building of trails and resort-like bures (houses) at a few distant locations. At this early stage of development, they value your straightforward advice, and the opportunity to gain further experience with foreigners. Villagers go about their daily tasks quite happily, without the burden of electricity. There are approximately 240 people within the compound. The village is U-shaped with houses facing each other across a grassy courtyard. Children of all ages move between dwellings as a living expression of community and communal living. Farmlands ring the village and luxurious rainforest surrounds the farmlands. The major cultivated crops are taro, tapioca, bananas, and a wide variety of fruiting plants. In addition to farming, villagers actively gather wild roots and other foodstuffs from the nearby jungle. It is on such hikes that the impressive fitness of many of the villagers can be observed. Keeping up with your bush guides requires effort and stamina. In addition to backcountry foraging, women also fish with bamboo rods in the nearby river. The sandbank of the Rewa River provides a field for late afternoon soccer, volleyball and rugby matches. Sport is carried out more for exercise and social enjoyment than high competition. The deftness of your host's ability serves as a fitting reminder as to why Fijians consistently produce some of the world's greatest rugby teams.

The village does not own a vehicle, and the drive into town is quite long. There are no phones for several miles. Conversely, within the village, a feeling of privacy is practically nonexistent. Past participants have been challenged by the intensity of social interaction experienced. While most Westerners are accustomed to living neighborhoods of unrelated, often totally unacquainted nuclear families, here you will be in the company of many large extended families, living communally and in very close quarters. You are constantly cared for, and almost always accompanied by village members. You must be prepared for the newness of this experience. Such reflection, before and during your experience, will provide you with the best possible mind frame for adapting to everything you encounter. You must be able to adjust to feelings of isolation from the outside world. Sometimes the emotional strain of this is difficult to bear; you should be prepared to meet these challenges with maturity and patience. A respectful tolerance for their religious practices is required, as this plays a significant role in village life.

Having accepted Western guests into their village for the first time just two years ago, there is still much to learn between cultures. Students that have stayed here previously commented on the gift of hospitality afforded them by both their host families and the village as a whole. You have a wonderful opportunity to connect with this community in profound ways. Of course, this experience demands your complete and consistent sensitivity and respect. As a group, we will make every effort to ensure that we consider the impact of our presence… understood to the best of our abilities as outsiders. Location A two-hour drive from Suva, the village is only accessible by four-wheel drive or truck. As the road winds past village after village on the long ride out, mountains loom on all sides of the river valley. Once you arrive, visitors must cross the river. This is accomplished by walking in low water, or by bamboo ferry, known as a bilibili, in high water. The village possesses a large tract of land up a secluded river valley, perfect for exploring and fishing.

The prevailing climate involves a good bit of rain, sustaining the plush rainforest environment. Tropical rains often pelt the metal roofs of village houses in the afternoons, but in Fiji the sun shines just as often. When the weather is either too hot or too wet, people stay indoors. During other times, younger villagers head out for a rugby game in a neighboring village or settle in to drink kava with friends.

Accommodations
This unique cultural immersion allows students the opportunity to live one or two per household with Fijian families. Students shadow their host parents in the gardens and into the surrounding forest, and learn through experience about wild and domesticated crops. The families take good care of their guests, and food will not be a consideration during your stay apart from the fact they have a penchant for making you eat large quantities. Paramount is the need to be gracious--understanding that this hospitality is a major component of Fijian culture. As a guest, come prepared to be the center of attention. Upon entering the village, you are granted special rights and privileges; asked to sit at the front of the table, often receiving the first ceremonial cup of kava. This experience is the equivalent of becoming famous overnight, and village children will follow you everywhere. On a morning walk through the village, you will hear cries of "Bula!" and "Yadra!" (Hello and Good Morning) from nearly every house.

Eco-tourism: Raintree Lodge Building Project

In this exciting internship project, students have the opportunity to contribute their skills in the building of a traditional bure-style house. Working with Raintree Lodge manager Tom Davis, interns will contribute to the on-going construction of the shelter. The cool rainforest setting keeps temperatures manageable as you work hard to erect the structure. Composed of intertwined grasses and reeds, a traditional bure is a functional piece of traditional craftsmanship. The thatching keeps the house cool in the hot season and warm in the cool season. In following a traditional means of construction, you are helping to preserve the knowledge base for future generations.

When not working, fire up the lolo (underground oven), for a home cooked traditional meal. The building project is good choice for students who desire some personal freedom and who like to come and go on their own schedule. Supervision is provided by lodge manager Tom Davis, but interns must be able to work independently and without constant supervision. This project will require four or more interns to sign up two months in advance of the program's start to allow for enough time to hire local staff member members to assist and plan in the building process.

Location
The Raintree Lodge (www.raintreelodge.com) lies eight miles north of Suva, in a state park of international significance. An important refuge for coastal rainforest, the refuge is home to both endemic and native plants. Dissected by a free flowing stream, the refuge is also an important watershed area for the nearby town. The rainforest setting is home to a multitude of native forest birds: the two most visible being the Fiji parrot finch. Afternoon rain showers contribute to the nearly 160 inches of rain per year that the lodge receives.

Day trips into Suva are a mere 15-minute bus ride away. So, the opportunity to continue to explore that rich coastal city abound. And, ten minutes in the opposite direction brings you to the University of the South Pacific. Here a full library waits, as well as the opportunity to interact with the diverse student population of one of the world's truly international universities.