Vinaka Vakalevu

10 months of preparation

100+ email messages exchanged between different parties

47 students

4 teachers

8 days

... uncountable number of memorable experiences at Fiji for Experience Week 2011.

Vinaka Vakalevu

Again for this year's programme, I tried something new - a new destination for CDNIS and for Fiji. We were indeed the first student group from Hong Kong that has ever visited Fiji. With this, everything was new to me as the organizer and for Fiji as the host. From two years ago, when I visited Fiji during Easter, I already began to check out possible activities for students to be done while in Fiji. Then last year, I began to connect with Air Pacific - the national airline for Fiji - then the tourism board at Fiji, and finally Rosie Holidays - the largest land agency in Fiji. It was definitely a learning experience for me through the preparation, but I was equally as lucky to meet with very nice people along the way.

Everything came together last Saturday when all 51 of us gathered at the Hong Kong airport and boarded the plane. However, due to a technical problem with one of the engines, the flight was delayed for close to 2 hours. The first thing that came to mind was to arrange for a contingency plan if the flight needed to be cancelled.

We arrived at the Nadi International Airport on Sunday but was 2 hours behind schedule. But then, we were in Fiji - so let's go with Fiji time instead - no rush at all. After returning to the hotel briefly, we headed out to Natadola - one of the top ten beaches in the world. It definitely lives up to its title. I think everyone could not admire the beauty of that beach more than any other places they had ever been to.

One of the main purposes for this year's programme was a building project at the Koropita community. We were divided into 5 groups - one group made and painted the doors for the houses, one group dug and creating the retaining wall, and three groups built the frames for the kitchens and the bathrooms for three houses. In two days time, the wooden frames were all made and the retaining wall was close to completion. The students worked industriously for those days and even the site manager praised for their effort as they had definitely exceeded his expectations.

After two strenuous days at Koropita, the students all deserved a break, and we headed to Sigatoka where they had a chance to experience the historical and cultural side of Fiji. They also had the chance to taste the local drink - kava. Unfortunately, that was when the biggest drama - a student had a major negative reaction to the drink and was immediately hospitalized. The student was discharged after two hours though her condition fluctuated in the next few days.

The weather on Thursday was not too pleasant when we visited the village along the Navua River and especially on the way back from the Magic Waterfall. When we returned to the hotel, the hotel had prepared a very special dinner at a nice venue with music and games. Everyone had a great time, however, the student who did not feel well on Wednesday needed medical attention, so we immediately asked the doctor to come to the hotel. The doctor came back in the wee-hour in the morning. I basically stayed up the entire night with no more than 2 hours of sleep in total. What an experience!

Friday was definitely an highlight for the week, when we visited the South Sea Island. Despite its geographical proximity to Nadi, its natural beauty already suggests how much more can an island hopper could expect for the rest of the islands in Fiji. We invited members from the Marine Conservation Unit to come to the island to introduce coral planting and help with the snorkeling activities with the students.

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Although the in-flight entertainment on Air Pacific was very limited, but I love their channel 4 which was their audio channel for contemporary religious hymns. On the way to Fiji, it helped me to relax and the clear my mind from all the concerns and worries and on the way back to Hong Kong, I enjoyed the hymns even more, because I could relate to those lyrics with a thankful heart. One of the most beautiful hymns on the channel was Come to Jesus by Chris Rice.

Weak and wounded sinner,

Lost and left to die,

O, raise your head for Love is passing by,

Come to Jesus,

Come to Jesus,

Come to Jesus and live,

Now your burden's lifted,

And carried far away,

And precious blood has washed away the stain... so

Sing to Jesus ,

Sing to Jesus ,

Sing to Jesus and live,

And like a newborn baby,

Don't be afraid to crawl,

And remember when you walk sometimes we fall... so

Fall on Jesus,

Fall on Jesus,

Fall on Jesus and live,

Sometimes the way is lonely,

And steep and filled with pain,

So if your sky is dark and pours the rain... then

Cry to Jesus,

Cry to Jesus,

Cry to Jesus and live,

O, and when the love splills over,

And music fills the night,

And when you can't contain your joy inside... then

Dance for Jesus,

Dance for Jesus,

Dance for Jesus and live,

And with your final heartbeat,

Kiss the world goodbye,

Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side... and

Fly to Jesus,

Fly to Jesus,

Fly to Jesus and live,

Fly to Jesus,

Fly to Jesus,

Fly to Jesus and live.

The week has come to an end. Although, with the protocol from my school, I could not infuse a religious element to the programme, but I hope the students who came to Fiji would realize how fortunate they are and would live out their lives with a more generous heart - just like what all Christians should do.

Vinaka Vakalevu