An unforgettable semester in Suva Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I took general education courses that I had saved for abroad while in Suva. I would highly recommend this! I had three courses, which was extremely manageable. The professors were helpful and had a lot of interest in the international students. All courses were set up on Moodle. The courses were much less intense than what I would expect them to be at UWL, however the final accounts for 40% of your grade, which is different than how it is in States.

On-site administration of your program

The International Office at USP was quite helpful for helping with problems out of your control, i.e. bed bugs (common problem in South Pacific in my experience), or the wifi network being down. Helped with all administrative stuff with study permits and all.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in 11th hall, one of the campus housing buildings. It is apartment-style with shared kitchen, bathrooms, and living spaces with private bedrooms. The bedrooms were quite nice with a built-in desk and we had our apartment cleaned by staff each weekday. Its a good experience living with so many different cultures in one small space. The kitchen however was quite limited with space and items, making cooking a challenge.

good and bad- cooking in halls was very difficult!! I have never eaten so much pasta and ramen noodles in my life. We did not have an oven and the pots and pans were quite limited unless you want to buy your own set- our apartment just shared all the dishes we had. Even the majority of local students just eat a lot of noodles and toast and things like that. BUT if you go out for Indian food or make friends with some locals, you can have some of the best food of your life. I miss all of the curry so much already, and if you get the chance to have Lovo, enjoy it! absolutely delightful.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I was able to make friends with some Fijians as well as Indo-Fijians. I would highly recommend integrating yourself as much as possible and talking with locals in class. They can be a bit shy but don't be discouraged by that. Whenever you're out and about in Fiji, people will make you feel like family. Also, this program includes a village stay, which was one of my favorite parts. I felt so at home and like I was experiencing the real Fiji- not just the beaches like everyone thinks!

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had a few small health problems while abroad which were easy to address at the Health Center on campus. Any prescriptions needed are free with the health insurance we have through this program. However, the standard of medical care is not like the States and you must remember that. My friend did have dengue while abroad, which was not diagnosed until after it was passed and was misdiagnosed multiple times with unnecessary antibiotics prescribed. I got the CDC recommended vaccines before traveling.

Suva is one of the more dangerous parts of Fiji. Do not travel at night, and be aware of your surroundings. Especially as a female. There have been incidents of assaults, as well as one incident during my term where my friend was followed/chased by a guy while walking home alone from a nearby restaurant. Petty crime is common, so be aware of where your phone is, especially while out clubbing. When taking a taxi alone, always sit in the back seat. If you are smart about your surroundings, chances are, you'll be fine.

The culture of Fiji was one of the best aspects of being there, and something I look forward to experiencing again some day.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Cost of living is quite low, so what you spend is totally up to you. If you eat on campus and don't drink, saving money would be quite easy. Traveling is also quite cheap and most taxi rides will be less than 5 USD.

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• Apartment

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Living on campus
• Kris (On-Site Coordinator)
• Freedom to travel during semester

• Program fees- quite expensive
• Easier application

The Nearly Native or Trail Blazer