BULA!! (The traditional greeting we heard way too many times in Fiji)
Our first flight to Minneapolis was surprisingly very quick. We arrived there and took our time looking around the airport and stopped at Chili’s while sharing some good Mexican food! We had a little bit longer of a layover so we tried to sleep a bit while waiting. Then we were off to Los Angela’s where the flight was a little bit longer but still went by quickly. I was pretty nervous went we got there wondering if I would be able to get us to the right place…but it was actually really easy to get to the international section and we were through security quickly. We definitely were not looking forward to the eleven hour flight after we had just traveled on two planes already but it was really cool to see how big it was. And no we did not get bumped up to first class unfortunately. We were at the in row 80 of 80 rows haha; so it took us quite a long time to get off the plane. But we were so glad to get up and move around after. Even a sleeping pill couldn’t put us to sleep the whole time. So we arrived in Fiji in the morning at 5:30am but by the time we got through security and got our luggage put in lockers we weren’t out in the town until 8:00am. Surprisingly most of the stores were open all ready so it was exciting at first to see all their different souvenirs and culture. After being in a few stores and realizing how pushy everyone was, we were getting pretty sick of it. So we thought we would get a bite to eat (We were ready to eat lunch but in Fiji time they were only serving breakfast). Walking through the main city center we came upon a lady who was passed out on the middle of the sidewalk which was pretty weird and we didn’t really know what to do-that’s when Moses came along. He starts asking us where we were from and finally meeting someone who was friendly we took advantage of it. He begged us to come with him a few stores up where his good friend Mike and him owned their own souvenir store. We were boldly welcomed and were told to sit on this m
at laid out in the store. In Fiji it is customary to take off your shoes when entering and to sit cross legged. Tandri was told to be the “Chief” and I was told to be the “Mrs.Chief” whatever that meant. Haha. They then showed us these articles from their daily newspaper of how performing a “Kava” ceremony is a traditional welcome from your host. Not knowing what to expect it was interesting watching them clap and mix the root of a plant (which is pressed into a powder) with water until it absorbed most of the powder. This liquid is then put into little coconut dishes and then everyone around takes a drink. Good thing for us we had been warned about this “liquid” – it is a hallucinate which is kind of little marijuana but in a liquid form. So we just watched them instead. Then they gave us these necklaces because we were such good company and so we were excited about getting some free stuff. So we go to leave the store and then are asked how much money we are going to give them?!?!? For what?!?! I guess by giving us the necklaces they meant BUY THEM. Haha. So after enough of that we left the store and continued on looking around. It gets to be pretty hard because the people here are so persistent with the stuff they are selling, and I felt so rude not buying anything. So finally we just decided to go to good ol’ Mcdonalds for some lunch/breakfast.
We did so much walking and in the hot weather it really tired us out. We arrived back at the airport at 10:30 soaked in sweat and feeling so gross because of the humidity. So then we were like great we only have ten more hours to go until we leave. We got to go to a hotel which was
only about a five minute walk from the airport and take a VERY nice three hour nap. They had a really big pool and a restaurant where we amused ourselves until 3:30. So from then on until 8:00 when we left we did a lot of lying around and playing cards. Our flight to Brisbane was a little slow just because we were so anxious to get there. We are very excited to be in Brisbane and eat some real food! The worst thing in Fiji is their Ketchup! It is sooooo gross. Because Fiji was not exactly what we expected we were pretty picky about where we should eat so we stuck to the airport food which was not very good either. We woke up this morning feeling so rested because of the time difference though; we came out to have breakfast at 7:30! Haha can you actually believe Tandri was up and awake at that time?!?! So today we spent the morning walking around their town center looking at all the different stores, watched the “Vim Boys” which was like three flying monkey guys who did tricks. We came back to have a rest and plan on going back to get a good supper and see what else goes on at night here. We are feeling so much better and actually are excited now being in this culture. They are so friendly here and make us feel so welcome. Tomorrow we take the bus to Surfer’s Paradise in the afternoon to finally see where we will be living! We are very excited for that! It has been such a crazy couple of days so we are looking forward to relaxing and getting to know the place. We are trying not to think too much of everything we are missing, because we don’t want to get too homesick! But we do miss everyone back home! Email us to let us know how all of you are!
Tandri and Brittni
Our first flight to Minneapolis was surprisingly very quick. We arrived there and took our time looking around the airport and stopped at Chili’s while sharing some good Mexican food! We had a little bit longer of a layover so we tried to sleep a bit while waiting. Then we were off to Los Angela’s where the flight was a little bit longer but still went by quickly. I was pretty nervous went we got there wondering if I would be able to get us to the right place…but it was actually really easy to get to the international section and we were through security quickly. We definitely were not looking forward to the eleven hour flight after we had just traveled on two planes already but it was really cool to see how big it was. And no we did not get bumped up to first class unfortunately. We were at the in row 80 of 80 rows haha; so it took us quite a long time to get off the plane. But we were so glad to get up and move around after. Even a sleeping pill couldn’t put us to sleep the whole time. So we arrived in Fiji in the morning at 5:30am but by the time we got through security and got our luggage put in lockers we weren’t out in the town until 8:00am. Surprisingly most of the stores were open all ready so it was exciting at first to see all their different souvenirs and culture. After being in a few stores and realizing how pushy everyone was, we were getting pretty sick of it. So we thought we would get a bite to eat (We were ready to eat lunch but in Fiji time they were only serving breakfast). Walking through the main city center we came upon a lady who was passed out on the middle of the sidewalk which was pretty weird and we didn’t really know what to do-that’s when Moses came along. He starts asking us where we were from and finally meeting someone who was friendly we took advantage of it. He begged us to come with him a few stores up where his good friend Mike and him owned their own souvenir store. We were boldly welcomed and were told to sit on this m
at laid out in the store. In Fiji it is customary to take off your shoes when entering and to sit cross legged. Tandri was told to be the “Chief” and I was told to be the “Mrs.Chief” whatever that meant. Haha. They then showed us these articles from their daily newspaper of how performing a “Kava” ceremony is a traditional welcome from your host. Not knowing what to expect it was interesting watching them clap and mix the root of a plant (which is pressed into a powder) with water until it absorbed most of the powder. This liquid is then put into little coconut dishes and then everyone around takes a drink. Good thing for us we had been warned about this “liquid” – it is a hallucinate which is kind of little marijuana but in a liquid form. So we just watched them instead. Then they gave us these necklaces because we were such good company and so we were excited about getting some free stuff. So we go to leave the store and then are asked how much money we are going to give them?!?!? For what?!?! I guess by giving us the necklaces they meant BUY THEM. Haha. So after enough of that we left the store and continued on looking around. It gets to be pretty hard because the people here are so persistent with the stuff they are selling, and I felt so rude not buying anything. So finally we just decided to go to good ol’ Mcdonalds for some lunch/breakfast.We did so much walking and in the hot weather it really tired us out. We arrived back at the airport at 10:30 soaked in sweat and feeling so gross because of the humidity. So then we were like great we only have ten more hours to go until we leave. We got to go to a hotel which was
only about a five minute walk from the airport and take a VERY nice three hour nap. They had a really big pool and a restaurant where we amused ourselves until 3:30. So from then on until 8:00 when we left we did a lot of lying around and playing cards. Our flight to Brisbane was a little slow just because we were so anxious to get there. We are very excited to be in Brisbane and eat some real food! The worst thing in Fiji is their Ketchup! It is sooooo gross. Because Fiji was not exactly what we expected we were pretty picky about where we should eat so we stuck to the airport food which was not very good either. We woke up this morning feeling so rested because of the time difference though; we came out to have breakfast at 7:30! Haha can you actually believe Tandri was up and awake at that time?!?! So today we spent the morning walking around their town center looking at all the different stores, watched the “Vim Boys” which was like three flying monkey guys who did tricks. We came back to have a rest and plan on going back to get a good supper and see what else goes on at night here. We are feeling so much better and actually are excited now being in this culture. They are so friendly here and make us feel so welcome. Tomorrow we take the bus to Surfer’s Paradise in the afternoon to finally see where we will be living! We are very excited for that! It has been such a crazy couple of days so we are looking forward to relaxing and getting to know the place. We are trying not to think too much of everything we are missing, because we don’t want to get too homesick! But we do miss everyone back home! Email us to let us know how all of you are!Tandri and Brittni
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