Shanin Chloe Maymay - Think Pacific, Volunteer in Fiji

Volunteer in Fiji, 2024

“An amazing and unforgettable experience that changed my life.”

Memorable moments

Meeting the people and youths in the village, particularly my host family. Bonding with my teammates, creating long-lasting friendships and unforgettable memories together. Immersing myself in the Fijian culture by learning the language, the village's history, crafts, and traditional dance. Enjoying evening activities where we could let loose, play games together, or relax and watch movies. Participating in workshops where we worked with the youths in the village and learned from one another.

New culture

As a Filipino raised in Ireland, I have experience with two cultures. My Filipino heritage shares many similarities with Fijian culture. The way we are raised has similar values, such as the hierarchy of respect within the family and towards elders. The way Fijians and Filipinos treat their elders with the utmost respect and care is very similar.

A difference between Irish and Fijian culture would be the general lifestyle. Fijians, while extremely hard-working, are quite laid-back. "Fiji time," as they call it, reflects how they live. Fijians don't stress about time passing or about small things. They take their time to complete tasks and don’t worry about anything else interfering with them. Whereas in Ireland, people work within a specific timeframe and do their best to complete tasks in a timely manner.

Challenges while abroad

Bugs were a significant challenge for me. There were many bugs everywhere in the village, which is to be expected in a rural area. It took a lot of getting used to, but eventually, I was able to coexist with them. We had a bedbug outbreak in our room and had to empty the room completely in order to spray everything, as my roommates were suffering from severe bedbug bites. For two weeks, we had to empty our rooms, sun our beds and bedding every second day to keep the bedbugs at bay.

Travelling and sightseeing

We travelled to a nearby waterfall, cave, the neighbouring village, and farms. Outside of the project, I visited Nadi and Suva, two of the larger cities in Fiji. Whilst in Nadi, we explored the city centre and went on a cruise trip to the South Sea Islands. In Suva, the capital city, I mostly explored the city centre and visited landmarks such as temples and churches.

Making friends

It was very easy to make friends with the other volunteers as we shared similar experiences being university students in the UK/NI. Most of the volunteers on our team were from Ulster University, so we had no issue bonding as a team. It was a "trust the process" kind of relationship with the youths in the village. The beginning was difficult as there was a bit of a language and culture barrier, but as the days went on, we bonded and became "brothers and sisters." By the end of the project, everyone in the village felt like my family.

Advice

Do not be afraid! You should never be scared of anything. Don’t be scared to try new things, but of course, don’t be scared to say no to things you aren’t comfortable with.

Put yourself out there; the people you're with are in the same position as you, and it's important that one person takes the first step in creating a friendship. Be that person.