Written by Cennedi Dally
Spending three weeks on placement in Fiji has been one of the most eye-opening experiences of my teaching journey so far. Backtrack a couple of months before my placement commenced. I received an email regarding the Fiji Outreach Program for PDHPE major students within the Bachelor of Education K-12 course. So, of course, I had to jump at the opportunity. I applied with the hope of being a successful candidate. Then, about a month went by, and I got it! Now all I had to do was sort out my passport, complete some paperwork, pack my bags, and say goodbye to my family at the gate. Before I knew it, I had landed at Nadi International Airport in Fiji.
From the moment I stepped off the plane, I knew I was in for an unforgettable month abroad. Alongside two of my peers, I met the wonderful travel guides and friends to be, Sunny and Preti, who picked us up from the airport and took us into town for lunch before dropping us off at our new ‘home’ (for three weeks). AKA, Newdoor Apartments. Most of our time at the accommodation during the program was spent on lesson planning, sleeping, or cooling down in the pool, and chatting.
It wasn’t until Sunday, when everyone had made it to Fiji and settled into their new rooms, that we had our first exploration. Natatdola Beach, down the Coral Coast on the western side of Fiji. On the way back home, we stopped in at a local Rups Bear shop to get ourselves some Diwali outfits for school. Diwali is an Indian celebration, the festival of light. Then, after a quick shower and a fresh set of clothes, we head into Port Denarau for the first of many group dinners. After dinner, the Uni Liaison Officers gave us a rundown of placement expectations and hyped us up for the upcoming weeks of new learning experiences.
Week one, day one arrived, and everyone was dressed in their Diwali attire, meeting their students, and settling into their classrooms. I was lucky enough to be placed with my wonderful 3 Red, a class of 42 students, all with big ideas and even bigger hearts. As the days passed, it became increasingly clear to me how different the education system in Fiji is compared to Australia. The way I was expected to run my lessons tested many concepts I had learnt throughout my degree. I took this challenge and used it as an opportunity to build my teaching and adaptability skills to create suitable and engaging lessons for my students.
Week two and three also led the group to incredible adventures within and outside of school hours. Such as making meaningful connections with students, so much so I cried saying goodbye, learning a little I-tuekai, visiting a couple islands, hiking to a waterfall at one of the Coral Coast local villages, spending the day at the Crowne Plaza, where we met a few NRL stars, walking back from the gym most afternoons, snorkeling in crystal clear waters, and meeting so many friendly faces along the way.
All and all, it was such a rewarding experience that I will never take for granted, but I sure will treasure the time I spent in Fiji forever. If you get the chance to participate in this program, I strongly encourage you not to hesitate. Just go get lost and find yourself in Paradise. Like I did! Click here to find out more.
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
