GROWING WITHIN - High School Summer Programs (800) 321-4353

*Fiji Update: March 24, 2009
Please note that due to changes in flight schedules from Los Angeles, the scheduled dates of all of our South Pacific programs have been changed. All programs will now depart the USA on Tuesday and return on Thursday. The updated departure dates are listed below and any dates in our printed catalog are now incorrect.

Ponte tu “zulú”, y prepárate para un poco de “sevusevu”, se parte de un programa que te llevara a explorar la vida de los nativos campesinos de Fiji. Viaja pequeno pueblo de Rabaraba, donde seras parte del proyecto innovativo “grass root” comenzado por cuatro hermanos locales.

Oportunidades para el futuro
El programa “Growing Within”comenzo a partir del trabajo arduo de cuatro hermanos fiyianos al tratar de proveer alimentos básicos para sus familias. Empezaron con dos toros que se usaban para arar la tierra y utilizando un tanque del irrigacion. Su idea ha crecido hasta lo que hoy se conoce como el innovador proyecto de desarrollo de “Grass Root”, una iniciativa agroecológica. Apoya sus esfuerzos para que estos hermanos desarrollen un negocio donde puedan proveer a sus familias, a su clan de productos básicos y ayudar de esta manera a toda su comunidad mejorando su calidad de vida. Ven y comparte tus creativas ideas y energía positiva, para ayudar a estas familias a crear un cambio positivo.

Vida en la Finca
Mientras estes en el programa viviras en el “Rustic Pathways Farm House”. La casa es un “bure” el cual es una estructura tradicional fiyiana, esta se mantiene en la mayoría de las casas de la comunidad que se benefician y trabajan las fincas del programa “Growing Within”. Conviértete en un miembro de la comunidad al vivir y trabajar junto a estas familias. Recolecta comida para las cenas, comparte los trabajos diarios y aprende de primera mano como es la vida en un pueblo remoto en Fiji. Cuando no trabajes en las fincas ayudaras en las escuelas locales y jugaras y conocerás a los niños del pueblo.

En este lugar remoto, uno de los retos mas importantes es el transporte a la ciudad ya que no existe un camión o un bus que viaje al pueblo si no está completamente lleno. Por eso queremos que tengas la oportunidad de viajar al mercado de Nadi, donde llevaras sacos con yuca, bananos y papayas y asi ayudaras a las mujeres del pueblo a vender sus productos.

La vida diaria en esta region es tranquila y relajada. Entenderas los marcados ciclos de las estaciones y aprenderas a apreciar lo que significa trabajar la tierra mientras siembras semillas, cultivas la tierra o cuidas los cultivos para finalmente sacar el provecho de tu duro trabajo. Ven a vivir en las montanas de Fiji y se parte de una comunidad donde el respeto y el apoyo mutuo es la base de todo.

Rastros Locales
No hay viaje a Fiji que sea completo donde no se explore sus increíbles paisajes. Acompaña a tus nuevos amigos del pueblo, a una caminata en las montanas vecinas para ver sus plantaciones de “Kava”. Duerme una noche en la cueva, visita las cascadas escondidas, aprende de hierbas medicinales que crecen en los bosques de Fiji y participa en las ceremonias tradicionales del pueblo. Pasa un fin de semana en nuestra base de las montanas en Nasivikoso, donde aprenderás tradiciones y costumbres de la más grande comunidad nativa de Fiji.

Disfruta tu último día en una de las playas tropicales mas famosas de Fiji, reflexiona acerca de tus experiencias y de las lecciones que aprendiste mientras vivías junto a los nativos. Las islas Fiji son muy conocidas por sus imponentes costas pero seguramente que serán las montanas y su gente los que extrañaras cuando te marches.

Preguntas? Por favor escribenos a: fiji@rusticpathways.com

Daily Itinerary

Growing Within: Advanced service and immersion
in indigenous life and grassroots development Summer 2009

This is an advanced service program for students with a real interest in learning about innovative solutions to some of the most pressing challenges of life in a remote village and for those ready for true immersion in an indigenous way of life. Through this program, students will gain great insight into the life of a native Fijian villager and through their experience be challenged to grow within themselves. Be ready for breathtaking scenery, friendly and welcoming villagers, and the chance to contribute meaningful service.

Day 01 - Monday
Depart the USA
All of Rustic Pathways scheduled group flights to Fiji depart from Los Angeles. Our carrier is Air Pacific – Fiji’s national airline. The flight each week is non-stop to Nadi International Airport and is escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. The flight departs LAX in the evening and takes about 10 hours. During your flight take the time to get to know other students, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival in the South Pacific, relax with a movie or two and start to settle into the easy-going and friendly nature of the Fijian’s and their legendary hospitality.

Day 2 – Tuesday
In Transit
Today is “lost” as you cross the international dateline, but don’t worry too much… you will get it back on your way home!

Day 03 – Wednesday
Bula! Welcome to Fiji!
You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff and then you will make a quick stop at our Rustic Pathways Eco-Lodge in Momi Bay for breakfast and orientation. Have a delicious tropical breakfast with your trip leaders and new friends and sit with your group for an orientation about the weeks ahead. After breakfast, you will pack your truck and begin the drive to the Highlands, about three hours from our Momi Base. Your first night will be spent in the village of Nasivikoso, where you will instantly feel welcome by the native Fijian villagers here. You will present the traditional kava root to the village chief and take part in a sevusevu ceremony that opens this village to you and welcomes you inside. In small groups you will stay with families in the village, and share your first village meal with the rest of your group in our Nasivikoso Base House. This is your introduction into the culture and traditional ways of these parts and is a very special experience that is not soon forgotten. Take a swim in the river and begin to get acquainted with life here.

Day 04 – Thursday
Introduction to Life at our Farm House
A short walk from the village of Nasivikoso is the Rustic Pathways ‘Farm House’ and the home of the grassroots business initiative of four brothers from the village, know as Highlands Grown. Like most all villagers here, this family lives primarily on the food they grown and sell anything extra in local markets in town to earn money to pay for things like school fees, uniforms and books, medical care, clothes and other basic items. Life here is simple and villagers are happy, but they have little with which to support their families. With the desire to earn a greater income to support themselves, these brothers started a savings group to try to collect enough funds to purchase bulls to plough their fields and expand their farm and their income. With a small loan, know as a micro-loan, from a friend, they were able to begin a farm that will enable them to grow far more and earn a much larger income than they could have afforded on their own. Micro Finance is one innovative solution to overcome the challenges faced by villagers around the world and this program will explore this first hand as you work with these brothers to support them in their efforts.

You will live at the Farm House for most of your program, a traditional thatched bure that sits along the river here and next to the fields that grow papaya, bananas, pineapples, lettuce, beans, carrots, cabbEdad and much more. Each member of your group will have a daily task as you work together to prepare meals and share in life here. You will take overnight excursions to caves and the village of Nasivikoso from this Farm House base.

Today will be filled with an overview of the project initiative and the life of the families here. By late afternoon, you will find yourself learning how to water the crops, share in the cooking, collect firewood and immerse yourself in life here. As night falls you will spend time with villagers as they play guitar, sing traditional songs and drink kava late into the night.

Day 05 – Friday
A Plan for Service
Wake up early this morning and help out on the farm for the morning. As you work alongside villagers here you will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn first hand about their goals and dreams and traditional way of life of the boys who work the fields. Later today you will share what you learned about the lives of those living and working at the Farm House.

At lunch, discuss the challenges and successes of this grassroots initiative and work with your group to determine what you can contribute that will help them to thrive. Can you share any skills to help manage the business? Do they need a tool shed, a new fence, better water supply? As part of you service here you will work with these villagers to determine a project for your group to contribute to this grassroots initiative.

Then, it is time to collect some firewood, go fishing, take a swim and help prepare dinner in the traditional way. All participants are encouraged to keep a journal on this program and you will be given time each day to reflect on the experiences you have here.

Day 06 – Saturday
Village Culture and Entertainment
Locals here finish work on Saturday afternoon and head home to the village for social time with friends and family, and you will too. Walk the short distance back to the village of Nasivikoso and get ready for the traditional meke dances and entertainment that the village will put on for you as a show of appreciation for your support to their community. As you return to the village today, you will be surprised how much you have learned since you first arrived here. Take this chance to ask questions and learn more about the intricate family relationships that guide life here, ask about the tradition of kerekere, about education and hopes and dreams. This is an awesome chance to build friendships here and learn more about the life of native Fijians.

Day 07 – Sunday
Feasting and Celebration in Nasivikoso
Sunday is a day for rest in Nasivikoso, as most villagers are Methodist and attend church on this day. You will join them, as your host families dress you in traditional gear and lead you to the service. The singing is beautiful! Then, it is time for a big meal at lunch and a chance to relax and enjoy the day. You will return to the Farm House in the late afternoon.

Day 08 – Monday
Harvest Day
Today is a big day on the farm as crops are picked and packed and ready for shipment to town on Tuesday. Your help is really needed today as this is the busy season for the farm and extra hands enable them to produce more than they would otherwise be able. You will sleep at the Farm House tonight.

Day 09 – Tuesday
Rural Education at Wouosi Primary School
Learn today about the education that children receive in these parts. Schools in these remote areas are under-funded and lack many basic supplies. Students often leave school early, or miss long stretches as they do not have the money to attend, their help is needed at home, or they don’t want to make the long walk to school each day. Many students from Nasivikoso board at the Wouosi Primary School with children as young as six spending the week away from their family in order to get an education. Spend the day here and provide important extra-curricular and enrichment activities at the school – from tutoring to art projects to sports. At the end of the school day, return to the Farm House to prepare dinner and settle in for the night.

Day 10 – Wednesday
Traditional Foods and Medicine
Pack an overnight bag this morning, as you are heading out to the bush for the night! Villagers here keep farms in the small mountains that surround the area to grow kava, which their most valuable crop. Today, you will hike a few hours to one of the brother’s kava farm. On your way, learn about the things villagers rely on that grow wild in the bush, from fruits to leaves to eat to plants used to heal broken bones or calm a stomach ache and much, much more.

Tonight, you will sleep near the kava farm in a cool and awesome cave in the mountains. This is where the brothers stay when they come to their kava farm. You will cook out over a fire and will surly be even more amazed by the way the locals here can survive in the bush.

Day 11 – Thursday
Service
Return to the Farm House today and get started on the service initiative your group as established for the farm. You will also work to prepare the activities and lessons you will take with you to the local High School tomorrow. You will sleep at the Farm House tonight.

Day 12 – Friday
Rural Education at Navosa Central High School
Travel today to the village of Keyasi and the only high school in these parts, Navosa Central. Just about 50% of students in Fiji continue on to High School and most all students have to travel farm from their villEdad to attend. Student here are excited to see you and you will spend the day providing tutoring and enrichment activities and may also help with some basic constriction to help maintain the school facilities. Talk with teachers here to learn more about the challenges they face in this remote area, and perhaps you will be able to make recommendations for future Rustic Pathways projects here.

Day 13 and 14 – Saturday and Sunday
Visiting Friends in Nasivikoso
It’s back to the village today! Take a hike to a local waterfall along the way and spend the afternoon swimming in the cool waters there. Then, return to your host families for the night and join in the meke performance. Sunday is back to church if you wish and a chance to relax, play some games with the children or read a good book. Say goodbye to your host family before you go, as this will be your last stop in this incredibly special place.

Day 15 – Monday
Harvesting
Another day to harvest the crops and get ready for the market, and your last day at the farm of Highlands Grown. It will surly be hard to leave this magical place and all of the close friends you will have made. You will have a big send-off tonight, with music, laughter and fun at the Farm House for your final night.

Day 16 – Tuesday
From Farm to Market
Today, you will pack the truck with the crops for market and then hop in yourself as you depart the Highlands are return back to Nadi town. You will join the women of Nasivikoso who sell the crops of Highlands Grown and lend a hand as they bargain their prices and sell in the local market. Then, have a hot shower and a big dinner and begin to feel the culture shock as you return to life in a more modern setting.

Day 15 – Wednesday
Beautiful Beaches
Your last day you will take in the cool breezes and incredible views as you spend the day along the coast. In stark contrast to life in the Highlands, you will see another side of Fiji. Your experience in the Highlands begins to settle now and you will have some laughs with your group and share some final moments and reflections on all that you have learned on this awesome and unique experience of Growing Within.

A Special Initiative
As part of our project goals for 2009, Rustic Pathways is endeavouring to help upgrade supplies at the local schools. To help with this we would like to ask each student who participates in this program to bring with them 5-10 books that are suitable reading for students aged between 6 and 14. These books do not have to be new and you may find them simply lying around at home or on your friends’ or neighbours’ book shelves. In addition, any basic school supplies like markers, backpacks, rulers, paper or chalkboard erasers could be put to good use. If each Rustic Pathways participant is able to help with this, we will greatly expand the variety of books and supplies available for the students from the villEdad in this region

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

Growing Within

In addition to the general Fiji Islands packing list available at www.rusticpathways.com/packinglists all students should review the following information specific to the Growing Within program:

Due to cultural rules in Fijian villEdad, it is customary for females to have their shoulders and knees covered at all times. While you are at the Growing Within/Highlands Grown farm you will be able to wear tank tops and shorts, but there will be many occasions during the program where female students will need to wear t-shirts or other sleeved shirts as well as sulus (sarongs) or other long skirts. This includes while working at schools, spending time in villEdad and participating in traditional ceremonies. Typically our students wear light shorts under their sulus. We will provide the students with a sulu on their arrival, and they may wish to purchase an additional one during their program (about $4). If you have a sarong already at home you may want to bring it along. You may also wear a long skirt that covers your knees instead of a sulu. Please pack with this in mind

Make sure you have the following items:

Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries
A water bottle – water bottles with an internal filter device are recommended for this program but not required.
A notebook and pen
Sleeping bag
Long sleeve t-shirt and heavy sweatshirt (It can get cold (60 degrees) in the Highlands at night in Junio, Julio and Agosto)
Extra camera batteries (optional) -- due to limited access to electricity, re-chargeable batteries for items such as digital cameras can often not be charged. You may want to bring an extra, charged battery with you.
Work Gloves

In the Fijian tradition of sevusevu, it customary for visitors to present a gift to any village or home they visit. We ask that you bring 3-4 small gifts for host families and friends in the village. (Please click here) for a link to Suggested Gifts for Host families

A Special Initiative: Rustic Pathways is seeking to directly help the communities we serve with donations of items to support schools, health centers and other local organizations. Donation lists have been created by the local schools and communities with whom we work and we encourage students who participate in this program to bring 2-5 items to donate along with them. These items will be donated at the site where they are most appropriately needed. You can find the list of suggested items HERE (Optional).

Laundry is washed by hand in the villEdad and you can expect to do laundry at least once during your program. Please pack with this in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions Growing Within
The Fiji Islands Summer 2009

1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will stay primarily at our Farm House in the Nasouri Highlands. in three different locations during this one week program. The first and last night, the group will stay at small retreats in the mountains designed for travelers wishing to explore this remote region. Students will share traditional thatched huts, know as bures. Inside the bures, students will sleep on the floor atop straw cushioning and hand-woven mats. The first of these retreats has flush toilets and showers. The second has a drop toilet and students can bathe with a swim in the river. Neither location has electricity. Students will stay in our host village of Nasivikoso for three nights during the program. Students will stay in pairs or groups of three with local families. Accommodations are basic. Homes are typically made of concrete or wood and tin. Families may provide a bed or students may sleep in traditional Fijian-style, on straw cushions or a mattress on the floor. Students will have access to flush toilets located next to or near their host-family homes. There is one cold-water shower in the village but most students choose to bathe in the river as the locals do. The only electricity is at our Base House in the village, which is also where students share meals and many activities together. We also have a base house here where students can sleep if they choose. Students will also spend one night camping in the mountains and two nights in a small hotel in the town of Nadi with hot showers and flush toilets.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?
Students will drink bottled water and/or water from the town water supply, which is brought with the group.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
Students will eat a combination of local Fijian dishes and more western-style dishes. Breakfasts typically include cereal, bread, crackers and fruit. Lunches and dinners range from traditional Fijian feasts of cassava and dalo (root crops similar to potatoes), chicken and fish, to noodles and pastas, curries and vegetables. Peanut butter and jelly is often found as are delicious Fijian pancakes, roti and fruits. We can easily cater for vegetarians.

4 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
On average, our programs in Fiji are 70% female and 30% male.

5 - How does this program connect to other programs?
All programs in Fiji connect easily together. On the final day of each program, students will go to the airport to connect with the staff, arriving students and other connecting participants for their next program.

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
A flight leader will accompany students on the group flight to Fiji from Los Angeles. Students will meet their flight leader at the departure gate in Los Angeles. Our program staff will greet students when they arrive at the Nadi Airport in Fiji.

7 - How long is the flight to this country?
Fiji is 10 hours by air from Los Angeles. Flights from Australia and New Zealand are 3-4 hours.

8 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
US citizens do not need a visa for entry as a tourist into Fiji. On arrival into Fiji, immigration will issue US citizens with a tourist visa for entry into the county. You do not need to do anything prior to your trip for a visa.

9 - What immunizations do we need to get for this trip?
All Rustic Pathways students are required to have an up-to-date tetanus shot. We suggest Hepatitis A and B and Typhoid vaccinations and recommend that you consult a doctor regarding immunizations for travel to the region. You can find additional information on immunizations for travel from the US Center for Disease Control at www.cdc.gov.

10 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Not included in this trip are souvenirs, snacks and small donations that students may opt to contribute. There are very few opportunities to purchase snacks or souvenirs until the final days of the program when the group is in town and at the beach. Students may choose to give a small donation to the village church at their Sunday offering (anywhere from $0.50 to $5 is appropriate and nothing is required).