Trevor's experience

I became involved in the GIG program in late June and early July 2003. A team of six people visited Fiji made up of three practicing teachers (2 primary and 1 secondary) and two Catholic Mission Diocesan Directors, including myself, and was led by Patrick Fox, Catholic Mission’s National Education Officer. (Trevor pictured first from left - standing)

Our journey began in Nadi where we arrived about 7pm. Our first experience involved meeting a group of young Fijian men and women at St Mary’s Parish. Here we were welcomed with the traditional kava drinking ceremony. One of the leaders explained the importance of the ceremony and detailed the customs associated with the traditional drink. We were served with a fine meal; but I noted that our hosts did not partake of the meal at the same time. They ate much later. Some of the men entertained us with Fijian dances.

The next morning we visited St Mary’s school and took part in a closing Mass for the term. Later we met the principal and staff of the school. The principal was an Indo-Fijian and the staff consisted of both Indian and Fijian teachers. We enjoyed meeting the children and the younger members of our team organised games with students.

Our journey took us to the town of Ba where we were the guests of three Indian families. We traveled by minibus along the King’s Highway, which took us eastwards along the northern coast of the island. Our stops included visiting a village school and a maternity hospital. In one of the villages we visited a church famous for its Black Madonna. The journey to Suva along the highway was long and at times most uncomfortable as the road through the mountains was extremely rough and sometimes dangerous.

In Suva we stayed at a hostel for young women studying at the University, run by the Sisters of Nazareth, an indigenous order of nuns. While in Suva we visited Champagne Institute (left) where students are trained in basic skills of carpentry, weaving, sewing, etc to enable them to find employment.

At the Monfort Boy’s Home, run by a religious order of Indian priests and brothers, we were shown how young men are trained in a variety of trades including furniture making, mechanics, printing, etc. The teachers employed in this home are paid by the government and parents pay fees to have their sons stay in the boarding facilities.

There is urban poverty in Suva. The Champagne Institute was located next to a slum area, where people live in ramshackled housing. Poverty is not just a rural problem in Fiji. In urban areas, the poor are mostly to found in squatter settlements in and around cities, in densely populated low-cost housing areas, and in some urban villages. The urban poor are often among the ranks of the unemployed, the self-employed, those in casual employment, and those in low-paid regular employment (such as housegirls, gardeners, and garment factory workers). The greatest amount of poverty is found in villages, but the most intense poverty is found in urban squatter settlements. (Source:http://poverty.worldbank.org)

A memorable visit was to the leper hospital in Suva. I was expecting to see horrific sores on the patients but the antibiotic treatments and the medical care they have received has really helped to heal them. Most of the patients will stay the rest of their lives in the hospital, some go home for visits to their families. This 80 year old woman (pictured) lost her sight as a result of the leprosy.

On our visit to Levuka we met up with the Koch family who had been sponsored by PALMS. Darren is teaching secondary school in a St John's boarding school in Cawaci and his wife Jenny is a doctor and although she has no official posting she provides medical care for the boys in the boarding school. With their three daughters the family participate in village life and their daughters attend the local secondary and primary schools. They said they really wanted to experience life in a developing country and wanted to give their daughters an experience of living in a different culture.

On our return to Suva we traveled in the back of an enclosed truck to the parish of Namosi set in the highlands of the island. Here each of us stayed in different villages which made up the large parish ministered by Fr Isaia Tuisiga. After our experiences we spent two nights in a retreat centre in Suva to debrief after the program.

My most memorable experience was living for two days and two nights in the village of Nikavaka in the Namosi parish. Here I stayed with one of the elders of the village, was introduced to the headman of the village and visited the school which had only begun operating in 2003.

One of the most uplifting experiences was attending a village Mass celebrated by Fr Isaia. The singing was most inspiring. In the village in Namosi I shared with the family as the house consisted of one large room. I was given the only bed in the house and the rest of the family slept on mats on the floor. There was no hot water for showering. It’s not available in most village houses.

The most challenging experience of the trip was the unknown. I was fully aware that there were many cultural differences and I wondered how I would cope with them. I wondered if I would I be able to relate well to the people, what problems could arise because of language differences and would I be able to eat the food? At times I found the cultural differences a little daunting; but the people put you at ease by explaining the significance of their customs. My main problem was with the language. Even though the people spoke English I found it difficult to understand them at times. One of the reasons being is that my hearing is not 100%. When eating traditional dishes, the hosts usually told what foods had been used to make the dish. I rather enjoyed most of the traditional foods.

I found the Fijian people most friendly and welcoming. They were eager to please and wanted to tell their stories. They were really interested in learning about Australia as well. A most significant feature of life, especially in the villages, was the support the people gave each other in their day-to-day lives. The extended family is a key feature of life.

One of the significant issues for the Fijian people is the provision of an adequate education for their children. In the schools we visited, teachers spoke of the lack of adequate resources to educate the students.

One must admire the dedication of the teachers for their preparation of teaching aids despite their limited resources. Lack of transportation in remote areas is also a problem and often prevents children from attending school at all.

Visiting Fiji was a great learning experience for me. I admired the industry and initiative of the people who were striving to improve their quality of life. It would be great to participate in another GIG trip to another country and I believe that the GIG experience would be of great benefit to young adults.