REMARKS

And that's it! Writing this last page on my blog concludes a phenomenal project that started in December from the initial phone call to Think Pacific, to then raising money through fundraising over the spring term, to heading out on the project in the summer and then finally finishing this blog on the 4th October! It has been tough and challenging at times but it certainly was an eye-opener to the world outside of the UK in terms of education, music and culture.

The effect of the teaching did show in the children. The class myself and Lydia took saw a drastic change in the maths results. We really hope that the methods we gave onto the teacher can be implemented for future years and that the children do remember us and the lessons we taught. Obviously, the more weeks you are on the project, the more likely things will sink in so even only having 3 weeks in the school and seeing improvement was a massive achievement for our class.

The music project was a success overall. It was a joy to see so many young children immersed in the wonderful world of music whether that was through dance, singing or playing. There have been numerous studies in the UK about how music can influence performance in core subjects and whilst I do believe that there are numerous other factors to consider, I feel that there does need to be creative elements in the curriculum. Some of the greatest mathematicians were once musicians and they had to be creative to think differently and produce new theorems. And yes budget is tight for instrumental lessons, but the workshops I did in Fiji were on zero budget. Even focusing on a child's ability to sing in harmony, convey character to a piece of music or even hit percussive instruments made out of household materials is a start and something that I hope the school can take forward in the future.

I've left the best moment on the project till last and I must say I was pleasantly surprised that a certain student, who I was teaching music to in Year 4, on the last day came running to me holding a hand-made woven mat with the word 'Zina'. Now I wasn't too sure whether I pronounced my name wrong to them the whole time or that the Fijian word for River was 'Zina' but either way it was a beautiful gift and clearly I must have left an impression with the music lessons to the extent of a child running back to his family, telling them about my music lessons and then creating a mat to say thank you. I couldn't be more thankful to them. I sent them a postcard and I'm hoping to get a response back soon but nothing has arisen yet...

I also received a very beautifully made broom from Class 8 which I have in my uni room reminding me to clean my room and the experiences I had with that class. It is humbling to think that they'll be taking their final exams in the next 6 months and that myself and Lydia both contributed, hopefully in a positive way, towards progressing into higher education.

If there's anything I've learnt from this trip from a personal perspective is that there are always people out there who are willing to help and provide you with comfort in the world. The Fijian community was so friendly and warming and it was a breath of fresh air for me to witness such kindness over the month. As well as this, I've become more aware of how powerful the internet has become in Western culture. Having no connection to the outside world was a detox for me and although it does have its uses for education and information, having family and friends is all that's needed for happiness and joy in the world. I must say I did lose a camera on my trip which had lots of precious photographs on, however thinking about Fiji has made me realise that such inanimate objects don't replace love and kindness in the world and that to some extent aren't even needed in this world of chaos. I will certainly cherish the memories and the people I met on this trip of a lifetime. I do hope that I can return to my Fijian family in the near future, maybe as a potential TP Leader if time is on my side!

Thank you's are in order for the long list below:

My biological family for supporting me in the decision to travel to the other side of the world with no contact for 3 weeks. It was a huge challenge for both sides but you were so supportive of the decision and helped me when I needed it most.
Relatives who have donated throughout my adventures for my Fiji trip and the project fees.
University friends for baking, selling cakes for the cake stand and any donations from my running endeavours. This also includes helping me get to lectures when I was unable to walk after the first half-marathon!
Friends from Manchester for support in the project and donations which contributed towards the project donations.
My Fijian Family for letting me stay within your home for three weeks. Your kindness and gratitude is something that I will forever be thankful for and I do hope in the future I can return to Fiji to meet up again!
Nayaulevu and School for letting us into your lives from inviting us to the party socials to being open in letting us teach/mentor the wonderful children of Nayaulevu.
Volunteers on Project for being a great support network when times got tough and for supporting my musical endeavours with the children.
Leaders on the project for again supporting my musical endeavours and setting aside a month of your lives to create a memorable month in my life.
Think Pacific for creating a wonderful volunteering programme which will improve the education provided in Fiji. Education is a powerful tool and I'm excited to see the prospects and development of the country in the years to come.
If anyone is interested in the project and you have a goal in mind, then ring up Think Pacific. They are flexible in people achieving their own ambitions on the project and they support you every step of the way even if it's your first trip abroad!

All that's left to say is Vinaka Vakalevu!

Note: Anyone who does plan on going on a project, this is not everything that happens! Some stuff I haven't mentioned on here because it would have taken 10 times as long to write every event that happened! But I like it that way because an adventure should be surprising and every expedition is unique. Enjoy the unique yet thrilling excitement of your expedition to Fiji!