:(

I can't believe it's finally here! It's my last day in Fiji! My flight leaves for the US tonight and it's such a bittersweet feeling :( I definitely miss my family and friends, hot showers, my bed, & AMERICAN FOOD! But I'm going to miss waking up in this beautiful country everyday and the people that I've shared this experience with. Most of them are from all parts of the country so I probably won't ever see them again and that makes me sad. We've all gotten pretty close during these last two weeks and we've shared an unbelieveable experience together! I can't believe it's over. It flew by. My blog didn't turn out exactly as I had planned because of the lack of internet access, but sanga na langa! That means No Worries...That's just one of the things I've learned on this trip. This trip has taught me so much!..about the culture and people of Fiji as well as about myself. I can't wait to get back to America and share my trip and all the crazy memories with all of my loved ones back home. Fiji has been very good to me and I wouldn't trade this experience for anything! See all of you soon :)

just one of the beautiful scenery shots :)

I'm Halfway there...

We’ve moved from our 2^nd hostel, Raintree Lodge in the capital city of Suva to our 3^rd hostel on Coral Coast. And it’s definitely an upgrade! J It has better WI-FI!!..more room, a lamp, and more than one outlet per dorm. I’ve definitely been humbled by this experience. Since most of the day was spent traveling, we got a chance to just chill by the beach for the remainder of the day. It was so nice and relaxing since we’ve been on the go SO much! But the ride to our new hostel wasn’t an easy one. Yet again, we had issues with our bus. I don’t know if it’s because of how much luggage we have or what, but every time we go uphill, the bus almost comes to a complete stop. It struggles to make it up the hill. It’s so nerve wracking! But the new hostel has more guests here and a more youthful vibe. When we got here, they were playing loud music at their restaurant and there were way more young people. After dinner, we all had a blast dancing in the hostel’s bar. I can’t believe I’ve already been here a week and in a week, I’ll be back in the US. It’s flown by, but I’m enjoying every moment of it. It’s been such an eye opening experience so far, so I know there’s much more to come! Talk to you soon!

I'm Here!!

Hey ya'll! I'm officially here :) Sorry for the delay in posts, it's just really hard to find internet around here. It's my 3rd day in Fiji and it's absolutely beautiful! It's like nothing I've ever seen before. The first day was a free day because everyone wasn't here yet. Yesterday was our first official day with everyone here. We had to travel from Nadi to the capital city of Suva. Our original plans were slightly derailed when our bus broke down! But we made the best of the experience when we hung out with some of the locals while we waited for the new bus. But today, we've gotten back on schedule with a couple lectures at the University of the South Pacific and a scavenger hunt throughout the city. After being here just a couple of days, I've noticed so many differences in the culture and the people. It really is fascinating! I'll post pictures soon :)

Today's the BIG day!

It's finally here! May 20, 2012..it's seemed like a date that was far in the distance and would never come, but here it is! The day I leave for Fiji & begin my international adventure is today! All the paperwork, meetings, phone calls, and PACKING is finally done! I'm ready to go..my bags are packed. I've got my passport in hand and I'm ready to leave for Fiji! I'm so anxious and excited to get there and see everything. I've gotten advice, asked questions, and received all the info I think I'll need. I feel completely prepared and the main emotion I'm feeling right now is enthusiasm. I believe this will be an amazing journey! And I can't wait to put all my little adventures and observations on here for all my friends and family back home to see. I love you all & I'll see you when I get back! :)

*Here's just a sample of the packing process...needless to say, I may have overpacked. ;)

The Countdown Begins!

I'm officially 10 days away from leaving for Fij. I'll be spending approximately 10 days in Fji studying Special Topics in Management with OE-Study Abroad. It's finally starting to set in and seem real. I'm beyond excited for my first trip out of the United States! Nerves are starting to set in though. I'm thinking about what to pack, the flights, the weather, etc. But more than anything, I'm just super enthusiastic about this new experience! I can't wait to see the beautiful country, meet new people, learn all about a new culture, and be exposed to something completely foreign to me. Because this is such a special experience for me, I'm planing on blogging my entire trip. I want to include stories of experiences as well as pictures of everything I'm seeing and doing. I've always wanted to travel and this will be the first trip of many!..one I know I will never forget :)