As you may have noticed, I did not complete my LiA due to health concerns. This reflection covers my highlights of the time in the village, and my reflections as a leader despite being unable to finish my project.

I was motivated to take part in the Fiji expedition to help the communities there and gain my own self-improvement as a result. This involved working alongside NGOs to provide informative sessions for the village youth regarding climate change and the impact it may have on them. At the beginning of the project, I set out goals for myself to achieve while in Fiji. These included growing in self-confidence, doing things outside of my comfort zone, and gaining new skills. 

On arrival to Rarabasaga village we had a welcome cava ceremony, and each went to spend time with our host families. The cava ceremonies were an integral part of village life, and were used to welcome us, celebrate, and socialise. Larger gatherings happened in the ‘shed’, where church and meke sessions would also take place.

During our culture workshops, we were able to learn new skills from the villagers. This included preparing a coconut to make small bowls and using the kernel with grated cassava to bake into a pie. We learned Fijian songs and performed these for the villagers. In our free time, I tried to learn the dialectal Fijian spoken in Rarabasaga.

Sadly, I was unable to complete my LiA, after contracting a stomach infection while in project. A key takeaway from this experience is that although a great leader has determination and resilience, they also know when it is time to stop pushing themselves. I recognised that my health was continuously worsening, but I struggled with wanting to continue the project regardless. I’ve since reflected on this experience, and realised that my willingness to complete everything, even when sacrificing my own health, is not always a good quality.

After speaking with the health specialists on the ThinkPacific team, I was advised to leave project, and spent time in a hotel to recover before flying back to the UK. I had gained skills while in project of cultural awareness, working within a team, and presenting. However, my self-development wasn’t over when leaving the village. As I left project prematurely, I was required to take two flights home alone. Prior to my trip to Fiji, I had never travelled alone – and only left the UK once before. I was afraid of flying, especially alone, and struggled with navigating the airports. By successfully travelling alone I built my self-confidence.

 Alongside transferrable skills, I gained great friendships within a supportive environment, and I am incredibly grateful for the scholars’ encouragement and kindness while on project. I am proud of their success when finishing their LiA’s, and hope they had a fantastic experience. I’ve attached some of my favourite images from my time in Fiji.