Green Island Service

TRIP ITINERARY Green Island Service-REMOTE ISLAND SERVICE

Exciting service projects and exhilarating explorations within Fiji’s more remote island villages and surrounding communities!

Day 01 - Tuesday    
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 Fijians and their legendary hospitality.
    
Day 02 - Wednesday    
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 - Thursday
Bula!  Welcome to Fiji! 
You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff and start the journey of a lifetime.  After hopping off a plane you will take a short car ride and then board a ferry for a four hour ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands.  Pass by some of the most beautiful islands in the world while enjoying a nice cold ice-cream bar and talking with your new friends.  The last stop in the Yasawa Islands is Nacula island which is home to Malakati Village and that is where you will call home during your stay. Toba Totoka, meaning “Beautiful Bay” is the name of our Nacula Island Base where you will be partaking in your exciting activities. By the time you reach Nacula Island there will be a village ready to welcome you with open arms.  Lunch will be waiting for you after you unpack all your belongings.  After lunch you will start orientation with your trip leaders about what to expect over the next week.    Once you have finished orientation throw on your swimsuit, snorkel, fins and head out to see some of the beautiful marine life that the South Pacific has to offer.  There is a beautiful reef right outside Toba Totoka and you can usually spot a multitude of fish, squid and rays.  If you are not up to snorkeling, spend time relaxing in the sun or pull out a kayak and explore the bay Malakati village has a population of approximately 200 people. It is located on the north earstern side of Nacula Island.  The village still maintains strong cultural traditions and this becomes very evident within a short period of time at Malakati. Students will be able to gain a great impression of the Fijian way of life and contribute their energies and time towards very worthwhile projects. They will also have the chance to see some wonderful areas of Fiji, including the beaches, islands and mountains that Fiji is famous for.

Days 04 to 05 – Friday and Saturday      
Village Life in Fiji!
Life on Malakati, for you and your group, will be determined by the project you are working on and the various activities within the village community during your visit. The description contained here should give you a good idea of what may happen during your stay. The initial projects for Malakati village include renovating the village community center.  Rustic Pathways will also be involved in the building of new homes for those villagers who currently have none.  You will work side by side with the Fijians in this village in order to make a positive impact.  These projects will make the living conditions more suitable for the Fijian villagers. Every morning, Rustic students are normally divided into work teams and assigned a specific section of the project to work on.  The team then works alongside and under the guidance of a Rustic Pathways staff member and various members of the village that take an interest in the morning's activities.  There are always plenty of helping hands around and the morning is generally a very social and jovial occasion.  You will typically continue your work for a few hours after lunch and then your group may head off to watch the local village boys play a club rugby game.   Rugby is the most popular sport in Fiji and the Fijians are very good at it!  Most young boys aspire to play for their country as Fiji is one of the leading nations in this sport and were the World Champions a few years ago in Sevens rugby.  Any Fijian rugby match is a wonderful spectacle. These gatherings always attract excited crowds from opposing villages, keen to cheer on their teams. Another afternoon your group might head to the beach for an afternoon of swimming and snorkeling along the reef or just sunbathing and relaxing. As another option, your group may depart the village for a chance to explore the surrounding islands, perhaps taking a boat ride to the spiritual underwater caves or go on an underwater adventure while snorkeling. In the evening, the village gathers to celebrate the work you are doing with traditional dances (meke) or you might just lie on the beach take in the amazing blanket of stars in the sky and have the chance to identify some of the constellations in the Southern Hemisphere. One evening your group will organize and put on a small show or skit for the village. This always ends up being a very entertaining evening with much humor and frivolity! Another night, the guys may learn how to do a traditional Fijian spear dance, and the girls may try their hand at a Fijian meke. The nights are always a wonderful spectacle of traditional Fijian culture, laughter and fun. Each morning your group will continue with their community service projects after breakfast. Afternoon activities will depend on the group’s rate of progress and several afternoons may also be full of work. Most days end with an incredible Fijian sunset.

Day 06 – Sunday
Village Day
Within the Fijian culture, Sundays are generally observed as a day to rest, relax and enjoy the company of family and friends.  Your Sunday will be spent enjoying life with the locals.  A family will “adopt” you for the day and you might spend time at church, cooking, playing with your “siblings” or feeding the livestock.  Spending time with a Fijian family is an experience you will never forget and by the end of the day you will have made some amazing new friends.

Day 07 – Monday
Optional Activity Day!
Today is an exciting day away from service. On this day you have the ability to pick an optional activity and strike out on an exciting adventure.  Some of the optional activities that you can choose to go scuba diving or island hopping.  You can spend the day exploring other areas of the Yasawa Islands.  If you feel like spending the day on the beach feel free to hang back at Nacula Island and hang out with the villagers of Malakati or relax on the beach and snorkel.

Days 08 and 09 - Tuesday and Wednesday
Final days of service in Malakati
Over the next two days you will complete your work on the project you have been undertaking during your time in Malakati.  You will see your project in completion by the end of the day on Wednesday so feel free to jump into the ocean after a solid day of work. Experience the thrill of working hard to provide numerous improvements to the village. The feeling of accomplishment is truly satisfying. Your last few days in Malakati are very community oriented. There will be time set aside for you to have your final sevu sevu with the villagers that you have gotten close with during your week. The village then performs a traditional farewell ceremony for your group.  In return your group performs their newly learnt spear dance or meke.  It is amazing how in the space of a few days, solid friendships have developed, deep relationships have been nurtured and genuinely warm feelings are shared.  This afternoon can be a deeply emotional time and many a tear has been shed in saying farewell at the conclusion of your visit.  The interaction you have with the people and the project you contributed create a wonderful brotherhood between the Fijian people and Rustic Pathway's students. As part of our project goals for 2010, Rustic Pathways is endeavoring 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 neighbors’ book shelves. In addition, any basic school supplies like markers, backpacks, rulers, paper or chalkboard erasers could be put to good use.

Day 10 - Thursday    
The final morning!
This morning you will say goodbye to Malakati and Nacula Island and head back to Nadi via the Yasawa Flyer.  If you are departing to the USA tonight, after a final meal with your group, you travel to the airport and bid Fiji farewell (until next year perhaps).  For those students who are continuing to another Rustic Pathways program in Fiji or overseas, depending on the trip you are continuing on to, you will commence your next program this morning, or stay overnight at the Rustic Pathways Eco Lodge and commence your new program the following morning. It is important to highlight that a considerable amount of time is dedicated to cultural interaction on this program. This happens in the form of time spent with a Fijian village and extensive interaction with the villagers in general. This program offers an in depth look at how the Fijians live from day to day and also focuses on the cultural importances for the Fijian people. Our Green Island Service-Remote Island Service is one of our most popular programs.  Participants receive up to 32 hours of community service and integrate themselves into the lifestyle of the Fijian villagers where they live and work. There is plenty of recreation and adventure built into this trip. The program is popular with students who are looking for a real life- changing experience in an amazing culture

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

Green Island Service – Remote Islands Service

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 Remote Islands Service program:

Due to cultural rules in Fijian villages, it is customary for females to have their shoulders and knees covered at all times. While you are outside of the village you will be able to wear tank tops and shorts, but for the majority of the program female students will need to wear t-shirts or other sleeved shirts. Women must also wear sulus (sarongs) when in villages and at 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!

Please make sure you have the following items:

Flashlight or headlamp with extra batteries

A water bottle – water bottles with an internal filter device are useful but are not required.

Sleeping bag

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 Glove

Donations for Fiji Island Service Projects

Students on our community service programs will visit kindergartens, elementary and high schools and rural village health centers during their time in Fiji. We have undertaken the support and renovation of libraries in many of the schools we visit and provide basic school supplies whenever possible to ensure that students have the tools they need for their education. At rural health centers and in villages, we work to provide basic medical items that are often in short supply to the general public.  If you would like to provide additional support to these efforts, donations are greatly appreciated. Below is a list of items identified through consultation with local institutions which are particularly needed.   If you have questions about donations for Fiji please contact ann@rusticpathways.com. 

Schools Donations
Sport Needs

1. soccer/rugby/volleyball balls
2. Nets for soccer/volleyball
3. ball pump
4. indoor board games
5. Card games
6. Rugby boots or soccer shoes

Library Needs

1. Story books
2. Educational DVD’s-CD’s , Tapes
3. Educational Magazines

Classroom Use

1. Any teaching material – pictorial poster boards for charts
2. science equipment
3. blackboard erasers
4. chalk
5. Newsprint
6. whiteboards
7. motivational stickers
8. stamps
9. 3x5 index cards

Computer Room
1.  Computer Donations
We are working to donate computers to schools throughout Fiji, where most children have never had access to a computer before. If you are interested in finding about more about this initiative or donating a new or used computer, please contact Ann Fuller at ann@rusticpathways.com.
       2.  Educational software

 

Music and Art Classes

1. Music instruments
2. Music cassettes and CDs for Kindergartens and primary schools
3. Art materials-paints, paint brushes, glue, scissors, construction paper, white paper
4. Scissors

 

Donations for children’s personal use

1. Backpacks
2. White collared shirts for use with school uniforms
3. shoes
4. pencils/pens
5. erasers
6. portable pencil sharpeners
7. folders for homework

Teacher Resources

1. Phonics Cards
2. Phonics Activity Books
3. Audio Video Aids – Rhymes and Jingles
4. Elementary books on tape- with books

First Aid for schools

1. first aid kit
2. bandages

 

Medical Donations
This list includes items that are readily available at you local drugstore/pharmacy and will be donated to rural village health centers.

• Pain Relievers (Tylenol, Motrin or Advil or generic versions)
• Children’s Tylenol
• Antacids (Tums, Pepcid)
• Anti-diarrheals (Imodium)
• Pedialyte or Gatorade powder
• Prenatal Vitamins
• Anti-biotic ointment (Neosporin)
• Hydrogen peroxide, betadine, alcohol swabs or pads
• Gauze (4x4 pads, regular and non-stick, and Kerlix)
• Bandages
• First Aid Tape
• Ace bandages
• Slings
• Medical Gloves
• Face masks
• Thermometers
• Linens (twin bed and standard pillow cases, white)
• Microscopes, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs
• Crutches, canes

 

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).

 

Malikati Magic – FAQ
1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students on this program will be staying on the island on Nacula.  The tents will be equipped with a mattress and linens are is quite comfortable.  Boys and girls will be places in separate tents with the counselors sleeping in adjacent smaller tents.   There will be a separate area for eating and three large bures with multiple activities in each one where students can hang out after they return from their daily activities. Showers will be heated by solar power and flush toilets will be right outside the tents.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?  
Students can purchase bottled water but will be supplied with safe drinking water at each location.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
The food will be cooked for the student by Fijian staff on Nacula.  There will be a fix of traditional Fijian food which includes chicken, rice and various vegetables. 

4 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
The average trip load is 60% girls and 40% boys.

5 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Diver’s Dream is only for students that are certified scuba divers.  If you are not certified Diver’s Dream is a great add on to the Learn to Dive in Fiji program where you will obtain scuba certification.  Other trips will be running on Nacula Island so you can easily add a week of marine research, with Marine and Environmental Monitoring or a week of community service with Malikati Magic. This program connects easily with other programs in the South Pacific, as well as our other countries.  Students who will be coming from or going to other countries will fly to and from Nadi, Fiji. 

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
Students travelling on our group flights from Los Angeles will fly to Nadi, Fiji and will be accompanied by a flight leader.

7 - How long is the flight to this country?
From Los Angeles to Fiji is 10 hours by air.

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. No prior arrangements for US citizens are needed

9 - What immunizations do we need for this trip?
Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician regarding immunizations before you travel. You can also find more information on the websites of the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or World Health Organization (www.who.int).

10 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Optional activities, snacks and souvenirs are not included in the program cost.  Optional activities include;
Visit to caves: $30
Island hopping: $100
Massage: $45 per hour
Wake boarding/ tubing: $30
Scuba diving - $100 – $150 (depending on if you are scuba certified)
Souvenirs and snack food: $20-$200 

11. Do I need to bring my own scuba diving gear?
It is not necessary to bring more than a swimsuit or towel as the location where we will be diving provides all equipment.  If you have a pair of goggles and snorkel and you would like to bring them it is fine