It Takes a Village: Community Work and Immersion in Natalau, Fiji

This winter, I spent three weeks living in Natalau, Fiji, as I participated in daily village life. I engaged in childcare, helped plant crops, collected river mussels, and attended numerous community service events in the village hall. I hiked up to the 50 Cent waterfall, explored the Garden of the Sleeping Giant, and visited the Sabeto Hot Springs with my teenage neighbors. Many late nights were spent chatting with my host family on the veranda or at kava ceremonies. Through conversations with village residents and my community work, I was able to learn about the community's values and gain a better understanding of the world from their perspective. As people continue to visit Fiji, whether for tourism or to aid in public health initiatives, the necessity of understanding traditional village life and how these communities find meaning-which is best done through immersion-becomes increasingly important.