TIPS ABOUT VISITING FIJI
CURRENCY
The easiest thing is to bring either Traveler's Checks
or a major credit card. Personal checks take six
weeks or longer
to process.
Please note that
Homes of Hope will not loan money. Please come prepared
to care
for yourself.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Electricity is 240V/50 cycle. Plugs are different and
require adapters.
It is good to carry drinking water
and toilet paper at all times.
Patience
is a virtue and necessary for sanity. Even though Fijians
wear watches, "Fiji
Time" is not tied to schedules
and tight agendas. Be flexible.
Tipping
is not expected for any services, including
meals, lodging, transportation,
etc.
Beggars are common in the cities.
Guard
your watch, purse, etc. in the cities. In the villages
there are
fewer problems.
ENTRY INFORMATION
Visas are issued upon arrival at the airport. There
are no forms to fill out in advance of your arrival.
No
immunizations are required to enter Fiji, and Fiji is malaria-free. Generally,
there are no
major health problems,
but standards
of cleanliness are not always
high. Boiled or treated water is sometimes recommended,
especially after times
of a hard rain.
Please
discuss with your doctor the
advisability of a tetanus booster
or Hepatitis series.
You will have an opportunity to exchange
your currency for Fiji dollars. Generally,
the Fiji dollar fluctuates little,
and US$1
will buy between
F$1.80 and F$1.90.
You will only need money for
personal needs, gifts and souvenirs, and personal excursions. The money
per day
that Homes of
Hope requires will cover the
cost of your meals, lodging,
airport
departure tax, and transportation while in
Fiji. WAYS TO AVOID JET LAG
- Get
to the airport in plenty of time. Check in early
and then relax. Getting into an air-conditioned aircraft
while you are hot and sweaty can increase your jet lag. Adjust
your watch
and your mind to the time zone you
are flying into.
- Drink plenty of water or light fruit
juices. One's normal requirement
is 8-12 large glasses
of water
a day.
- Reduce your food intake drastically
to rest your digestive system.
At 35,000 ft.
altitude
your digestive system
is much less efficient.
- Keep your blood
circulating by
walking around and stretching
every
2 hours.
It is easier
to walk about
in the larger
aircraft.
- If possible,
immediately upon
arrival do a
light aerobic
workout 10-12 minutes
or a
brisk
walk around
the block.
MEDICAL CARE
Expect poor medical care in Fiji for anything out of
the ordinary. We do have a newly built Private Hospital
that is fairly good, but the cost is high. Make sure that you have
adequate health
insurance before coming.
A travel insurance policy to cover theft,
loss and medical problems is a good idea. There
are many policies available,
and your travel agent will be able
to recommend one. The
policies handled by STA Travel and other student travel
organizations
are usually good value.
Check
that the
policy covers ambulances
and an emergency flight
home. If you have to stretch
out, you
will need two seats, and somebody
has to pay for
them!
If you are on any medications we suggest
bringing enough to last you the entire trip.
NECESSARY INSTRUCTIONS IN REGARD TO CULTURE
SHOWING RESPECT
Respect, especially to elders or those in authority,
is an important component of the Fijian culture.
One shows respect in many different ways, including body posture and
position, clothing
worn, loudness
of voice, and gestures.
In Fiji, good things
are said to enter the body through the head and
to leave through
the feet.
It is
offensive to touch people on the head
or
hair without
permission. Having
one's head above others in the room is
also not proper,
hence
everyone in
the room will
generally sit
on the floor.
When crossing
a room where others
are already seated, you should
bend over or crawl, saying "tulou" (pronounced "too-low"),
which is the Fijian equivalent
of "Excuse me".
Everyone usually
sits on the floor.
There
are very
few chairs.
During
a meeting
or ceremony,
men sit
with their
legs crossed
(tailor style).
The
women may
also cross their
legs or put their
legs to
the side.
The
knees must
stay low.
It is
unacceptable
to draw your knees
up to
your chest.
It
is rude to gesture with your finger
to "come" when
you are calling
to people. To call
someone's attention,
a hissing sound
is used that may
sound vulgar to
us. On the other
hand, our open
handed "come" motion
is rude to Fijians.
Folding your arms
while speaking
to someone
is a sign of respect,
as is
speaking
softly. To
stand with your
hands
on your hips
is considered rude
and aggressive.
People in Fiji may smile and say "yes" to
you in order to
be polite. You need to be careful not
to express your
opinion first if you want to know theirs.
Always ask permission
before taking photos.
(It will
almost always
be granted.) Do
not indiscriminately
stand up and
take photos
during ceremonies.
These
ceremonies are
solemn events.
Ask permission
beforehand.
DON'T
WORRY ABOUT MAKING MISTAKES.
PEOPLE IN
FIJI WILL MAKE
ALLOWANCES AND
WILL
NOT BE OFFENDED.
JUST BE POLITE,
AND
ENJOY YOURSELF
AND YOUR NEW
FRIENDS!!
MEALS
Meals are generally eaten on the floor, sitting around
a table cloth. Generally, food is eaten
with the fingers, but you may be offered a fork or a spoon.
The people of
Fiji are great cooks! Meals will mainly consist
of locally grown root
crops, rice, vegetables, fruits, fish, shellfish, beef, pork, mutton,
and chicken.
Curries may be spicy, but other foods will be mildly seasoned. You
will have
a variety
of foods to select
from at
each meal.
You are
encouraged
to try new foods, but do not
feel obligated
to
try anything. Keep an open
mind!
However,
while at
Homes of
Hope, you
will be
required
to at least
try
what
is set
before
you. Because of
the number
of
people
we feed at
each meal,
we can
not possibly
suit everyone's
palate. PROPER
DRESS
Fijians are very modest. In the city or at the
resort, you will see people wearing a
wide variety of clothing styles, including shorts, sleeveless tops, sheer
fabrics, etc. This
style is not acceptable in the traditional village setting
and is
not recommended in
the city.
For example,
it
is appropriate anywhere
for women to be dressed
in skirts/dresses worn below the
knee
and
blouses/shirts
with sleeves. You will
be
sitting on the
floor
for
your meals and relaxation.
Be certain that clothing is loose enough to permit you
to
sit on the
floor
comfortably. Women must keep their
knees covered at all times, even
when sitting on the floor.
Bring comfortable clothing. Cotton fabrics
are more comfortable than synthetics. Be cautious about
bringing clothing that requires special laundering.
A list of suggested
clothing will be provided for you. If you have any
question about the suitability of your clothing, please
do
not hesitate
to ask
a staff member of Homes
of Hope. Please remember that your life is an
example to
the girls at
Homes of
Hope. Dress in
such a
way that
they
can
imitate
you!
SUGGESTED PACKING LIST
CLOTHING
- Underclothing
for at least 7 days
- Swim suit (it is recommended
that the girls wear shorts over their suits)
- Long
sleeve shirt, sweatshirt or light jacket, hat, rain
gear, sunglasses, sandals
or flipflops
- WOMEN:
1-2 pair of
shorts (long!);
4-5 t-shirts;
3-4 skirts
or casual dresses
(should be
mid-calf length
or longer)
- MEN:
3-4
pair of
shorts;
1
pair of
casual slacks;
4-5
t-shirts
- Provision
of a
washing machine
and/or dryer
is not
guaranteed. Be
prepared to
do hand
laundry.
PERSONAL
ITEMS:
- One
towel
- One
pillow
- Waterproof
Sunscreen
- Insect
Repellent;
Toiletries
- Water
Bottle
- Diarrhea
Medication
- Medicated
Powder
(Prickly
Heat Powder)
- Antifungal
Powder
(During
the rainy
season,
body
fungal
infections
are common)
- Triple
Antibiotic
Ointment
- First
Aid
Kit
- Bible,
Devotional
Materials, & Journal
- Writing
Materials
- Books
- Camera
- Photographs
of Your
Family,
Home, & Community
- Musical
Instrument
if
you play one
GIFTS:
NOTE:
No one
will expect
you to
give them
a gift,
but sometimes
the short-term
missionaries desire
to give
a small
gift to
either one
of the
women, their
children, or
one of
the staff.
The following
list is
a suggestion
of inexpensive
items that
would be
enjoyed and
appreciated.
- Photo
Books
- T-Shirts
or Caps
with City
or Country
Logo
- Toy
Matchbox Cars
- Frisbee
- Pocket
Games
- Bouncy
Balls
- Crayons,
Markers, Paper
- Children's
Clothing
- Children's
Shoes
(E-Mail the staff at HoH to find out specific
sizes at the time)
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