Soccer & Service in Fiji

Itinerary
Soccer and Service
The Fiji Islands

Day 01 - Tuesday
Depart the USA
Rustic Pathways primarily uses Air Pacific, the national airline of the Fiji Islands, for our group flights departing Los Angeles. This flight is non-stop to Nadi International Airport and is escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader.  It departs LAX in the late 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 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! 
Upon clearing customs and immigration, you will be greeted by Rustic Pathways’ Fiji leaders and transported to your new home at our beautiful Eco Lodge Base.  Here you will enjoy a tropical breakfast with your leaders and new friends.  The Eco Lodge is also home to our Introduction to Service and Sun, Sand and Service programs, so expect to meet lots of new friends outside of your Soccer and Service group. It’s a fun and social place and a favourite spot for many in Fiji.

This morning you will receive an orientation about the week ahead of you while you overlook sugarcane fields that seem to fall into the ocean.  The staff will help you settle into your new home and answer any questions you might have.  Then, it is off to the beach for a few hours of sun and fun for your first day in Fiji.

After lunch there is no time to waste.  You will stop by a local school to lead after-school sports and games for a few hours.  This is a great time to start exploring your new community and get a sense of what to expect in the days ahead.  You will be surprised how welcoming and excited the Fijians are to see you!

During the evening you will participate in a formal sevusevu ceremony (a traditional welcoming ceremony) and begin to learn about the amazing country you have just entered.  Dressed in your new sulu (traditional Fijian sarong or skirt), sitting around the kava circle, you will begin to learn that there is more than just the world-renown beaches that makes Fiji special.  The local staff will guide you through your first step of cultural understanding as you participate in this ceremony.  Sharing in a kava ceremony while watching the sunset from our huge deck with new friends is the perfect end to your first day in Fiji. 

Day 04 – Friday
The Fijian People and Your Projects
Friday will be your first full day of service work. Rustic Pathways has developed a wonderful relationship with the local people of Momi Bay and the larger Nadi area.  Project work during the course of your program is focused around the eight service initiatives we have undertaken at the Eco Lodge with the addition of soccer and sports related projects such as running soccer clinics at local schools and hosting shoot out competitions and playing scrimmages with local teams. A typical service day might include teaching computer literacy classes to older youth and young adults or helping a neighbour repair their roof or build a kitchen in the morning and then running a soccer clinic for elementary schools students in the afternoon. You will also get involved in some environmental projects to help preserve the incredible beauty and fragile ecosystems here. Your service will be varied, interesting, challenging and extremely rewarding and worthwhile.

You will also participate in some of the beautiful natural wonders Fiji has to offer.  From surfing down sand dunes to soaking in the natural hot springs or jumping into a pool of mud, no afternoon is dull.  At the Eco Lodge we host meke performances (indigenous Fijian dances) and Indo-Fijian cultural nights where you can learn about the large Indian culture that exists in Fiji.  We keep your afternoons full of the exotic beauty that makes Fiji a top tourist destination while providing you the opportunity to learn about the culture that created it.

Day 05 and 06 – Saturday and Sunday
Work and Wander this Weekend! 
During the weekend you will participate in large group community service projects.  Generally, work on Saturday or Sunday mornings will involve projects that enable us to complete tasks at schools while students are not in their classrooms or larger projects that involve a whole village or community.  Many of the local adults are able to participate and get involved after meeting their job obligations during the course of a normal working week. 

This freedom from work or school also allows the opportunity for a game of soccer with local village teams.  This game can take place either at the Eco Lodge soccer field on a village field.  It is an exciting game for both sides and a wonderful opportunity for cultural exchange.

After your morning of service and soccer there is the time for some touring and sightseeing along the coral coast in the late afternoon.  Your group can determine the pace of the afternoon but it may include a few hours at a local beach to relax, swim, snorkel or perhaps even learn to surf.  Other options include a stop in town to explore a Hindu temple, survey the open-air market for possible bargains and souvenirs or taking a class in local handicrafts.  Your staff will know all the best sights and activities to fill up your day and will happily help you make the most of your afternoon.     

When your group is not doing service or playing soccer this weekend, your time will be spent enjoying the wonders that Fiji has to offer in whatever way that fits your mood!  How you spend your free day is up to you.  You can go swimming, snorkelling or surfing at our beautiful Natadola beach, or join in the awesome optional activities that are available. From exploring paradise while island hopping to participating in amazing, adrenaline water sports, discovering the world below us while scuba diving or the world above us while you sky dive, get ready for a day you will never forget!     

Days 07 to 09 – Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday
More Exciting Projects and Wonderful Cross-Cultural Participation! 
After a day of fun and sun, the focus of your next three days will be on service and soccer. Your group will spend the days on a variety of different initiatives with soccer and sports the focus after lunch. Get ready to teach, paint, plant, build and share in the diverse and welcoming communities around the Eco Lodge.

Evenings are special at the Eco Lodge!  They range from the ridiculous 80’s dance parties to the quiet songs around a traditional kava circle.  The staff will charm you into being outrageously silly or sincerely reflective.  You will find that Fijians will inspire you to try both.  

Wednesday nights are reserved for our weekly farewell ceremony.  Take the time to reflect on your experiences, lessons learned and say good bye to your new but very special friendships.

Day 10 – Thursday
Moce “Goodbye”
Well your time in Fiji has flown by like a dream and you should now be truly entrenched in Fiji and what this easy-going island nation is all about.  Today you can soak up some last rays of sunshine and shop for souvenirs.  You will get the chance to explore the town and the local handicraft market for gifts and reminders of your time in Fiji. 

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).  You will be escorted to LAX with a Rustic Pathways Flight leader.   

For those students who are continuing to another Rustic Pathways program in Fiji or overseas, you will commence your next program this morning.    

Extending your stay
Weeks Two, Three, Four and beyond….
Fiji has a way of seducing you and these islands have captivated many a visitor.  Finding a place with the degree of friendliness that the locals possess, the natural beauty that this country exudes, melded with the easy-going and peaceful pace of life is wonderfully refreshing and incredibly enticing.  Your staff will encourage you to enjoy all that Fiji has to offer and we hope that the quality and range of projects, personalities and activities you experience only make you want to stay longer! 

Students often connect this program with others in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand. Take a week to explore the sites of Fiji on our Escape to Fiji -- a nice reward for a week of sincere service. Or perhaps you desire to continue to serve grows? Diversifying your next service location to our Highlands Immersion Base or Islands Base will only enhance your cultural understanding. The possibilities are almost as endless as the ocean.... 

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.

Soccer and Service in the Fiji Islands

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 Soccer and Service program:

• Soccer Gear:
  • Outdoor soccer cleats
  • Shin guards (1 pair)
  • 2-5 pairs soccer socks
  • 2-3 pairs of shorts for soccer. For females, please be modest with the length of your shorts on the soccer field as Fijians are much more conservative than Americans. 
  • Soccer tape for shin guards, injuries etc.
  • Any knee or ankle braces or other items you need for playing soccer (please inform staff of any injuries, old or new, at the start of the program).

• Twin sheet (fitted), pillow case and light blanket or sleeping bag.
• Work Gloves

• Many of our service programs include work in schools, where uniforms are typically mandatory and other professional facilitates. For this reason, students are expected to wear appropriate attire when involved in service projects and we ask that students do not wear tank-tops during service. This means that for the vast majority of the program, students will need to wear sleeved shirts or nice t-shirts. In addition, female students should be prepared to wear skirts or pants that cover their knees.  Please pack accordingly!

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, shelters 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. For the Soccer and Service program, please consider bringing sports equipment to leave with the local teams you play. Soccer balls, used cleats and other sports gear is great appreciated. You can find other suggested items at XXX. (Optional)

 

Frequently Asked Questions
Soccer and Service
The Fiji Islands

1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
Students will stay our South Pacific Eco Lodge Base during this program. The Eco Lodge is situated on 14 acres of land about 45 minutes drive from the town of Nadi. The base is nestled in the rolling hills here and has ocean views at a distance.

The Eco Lodge consists of a main house with kitchen and activity space and several small houses that sleep six to eight students on bunk-beds. Students share rooms with others of the same gender and one same-sex staff member. Each house has an attached bathroom with solar powered hot water showers, flush toilets. There is an infinity-edge swimming pool, soccer field, small weight room, ping pong and pool table.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?
The water is safe to drink at the Eco Lodge. Bottled water is available for purchase from a snack bar at the Eco Lodge if preferred.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
The Eco Lodge has its own resident chef and team of cooking staff. Students will eat a combination of local Fijian dishes and more western-style dishes. Breakfasts typically include cereal, breads, crackers and fruit. Lunches and dinners range from traditional Fijian lovo feasts of chicken, cassava and dalo (root crops similar to potatoes) to barbeques, pastas, stir fries, curries, salads and vegetables. Vegetarians can easily be catered for and most dietary restrictions can be accommodated.

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. Students connecting to programs in Australia and New Zealand will depart on the final day of their Fiji program and connect with their next trip as it begins.

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. Students joining a program in Fiji from Australia or New Zealand will not be accompanied by a flight leader. 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. 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?
The only items not included in this trip are optional activities (see below), souvenirs, snacks, drinks, phone cards and the like. Local phone cards can be purchased to call the US for about 75 cents a minute. Laundry service is available at the Eco Lodge for approximately $10 per load.

11 – What is the recommended allowance for this program?
The amount of allowance or spending money needed varies based on each student’s spending habits and choice of optional activities. We recommend about $200.00 USD per week to cover snacks, souvenirs, phone cards and other small expenses plus allowance for any optional activities. Students are given one day during their Introduction to Community Service program to participate in these optional activities should they wish. Below is a list of the optional activities that may be available and their estimated costs which we suggest you use as a guide in determining allowance. All activities and prices are subject to change.

Optional Activities (Estimated Prices in USD)
Island Hopping Day - $80
Scuba diving - $75 - $150
Skydiving - $300-500
Banana Boat - $20
Parasailing - $40
Wake Boarding $40
Hotel Lunch - $20