Betsy is excited to return for her fourth summer as a GW leader with experience in Fiji and Puerto Rico. She works during the school year as a music teacher and an oil painter and fills her free time with yoga meditation, playing in a band 
Dave is a resident of sunny San Diego, California, and enjoys an active lifestyle. As a surf instructor and outdoor educator, Dave is passionate about sharing the “stoke” of life with others.
If it has to do with the ocean, Sara is usually already there! Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, she lives for being outside: kayaking, snowboarding, wakeboarding, and surfing are among her favorites! When she is indoors, Sara is super excited about teaching and learning.
Originally from the Bay Area, Adam is a sportsman, educator, and world traveler by nature. Adam enjoys an active and healthy lifestyle that includes ample bike riding, spontaneous adventures, and any competitive sport that he can finagle his way into. Adam has been substitute teaching in the Bay Area for the past year and most recently in New Orleans where he will begin teaching full time in the fall of 2010. Welcome Global Works travelers, parents and friends. We are excited to share with you trip updates from around the world. As our main office receives updates from the trips we will update the page as we receive news from the field.
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Welcome from your Global Works leaders:
Bula (Hello)! Fiji Surf and Service is coming at us faster than a 10-foot wave! Are you ready to get your feet wet? We, your leaders, have just spent an inspiring weekend planning meaningful service projects, exciting activities, and mind-expanding activities for our upcoming adventure- all that is left is meeting you! Get ready for an experience that will test your limits (in a good way), impact real communities, cultivate your surfing skills, and create long-lasting friendships and bonds that connect over oceans and across both hemispheres!
Some things that your leaders are looking forward to:
- Betsy can’t wait to be under the Southern Sky again- it’s incredible, so make sure you look up! She also loves the musical traditions of villagers and is excited to immerse herself in them and encourages you to open your mind to such rich cultural experiences.
- Sara is energized and ready to share her enthusiasm about soaking up the unique and intriguing Fijian culture and sharpening her surf skills. Are you ready to put on a sulu (Fijian skirt), grab a shovel or hammer, and hang ten? She is!
- Dave is excited to meet all of you upon your arrival in beautiful Fiji! He wants to share his love of the ocean, surfing, and stoke with you. Dave can’t wait to experience cultural connections and smiles with the group and the amazing locals. Get ready for some awesome sevu-sevu ceremonies!
- Adam is excited to share his passion for Fiji with with the group. Whether it be sitting down for a talinoa (a discussion over a bowl of kava) or enjoying some hammock time, Adam is pumped for the summer’s Surf and Service trip.
Update #1:
A swarming sea of green Global Works shirts met in LA.
Ready and eager, we started on our way.
We boarded the plane for our 10-hour flight.
Then we stepped off into the warm Fiji morning sunlight.
After a bit of discouragement from a bumpy 3 hour bus ride,
We arrived at VoliVoli completely surprised.
Our rooms overlooked the shimmering ocean,
We darted for the water, our bodies in motion.
Splashing in the pool, volleyball and the crystal sea,
A feast for the eyes, quite a scenery.
Laughing, talking, and bonding to the max,
It was a perfect way to just relax.
Oranges, reds, and pinks filled the sky as we watched our first Fijian sunset pass by.
Friendship bracelets seemed to be our forte (sp),
The perfect ending to the perfect day.
We woke up to a warm, summer breeze,
All of our smiling faces were sure at ease.
Excited for the adventures ahead of us,
We all quickly got ready and headed for the bus.
We arrive at the market (RakiRaki): what a unique place!
Sulus galore, and fruit by the case!
Lots of different smells smothered the air,
But the smell of sweet bread was nothing to compare.
We left the RakiRaki with treasures, sweets and bags in hand,
Happy to be journeying back to our house in the sand.
-Written by Hannah Perrin and Payton Hoops, with inspiration by their other Fiji Surf and Service family members
Update #2:
Check out a few photos from the field, update coming soon!
Update #3:
After two restful days at our rustic beach getaway, it was time to leave VoliVoli and head to Nativi Village. It took us a little over an hour by bus to reach the village. Nativi is located in the Northeast interior of the main island. Upon our arrival we were greeted with a huge sign that read “Welcome to Nativi Vill.” The village was clearly excited for our presence. The women sang us a beautiful welcoming song and we proceeded to a traditional welcome ceremony or SevuSevu. We all sat in a circle and most or the of the procession was in Fijian. Each Global Worker and some of the Fijians drank one bowl of kava, the traditional drink for this type of ceremony. After the SevuSevu, we were introduced to our homestay families. Our Moms or Naus took us to our homes and we spent the rest of the day getting to know our families and playing games with the kids.
On our second and third day in the village we began our service projects. This included a cement footpath and a fence around the church. Nativi does not have any footpaths in the village, which means when it rains the villagers have to walk through the mud. The work is hard but fun. It has been great to work side by side with the Fijians. It’s amazing amazing how strong the Fijians are! By the end of our village stay we will all be experts in mixing concrete.
On Saturday we will be going on a hike overlooking the village and the ocean! Sunday is our last day in Nativi. We know it will be filled with lots of dancing and a traditional farewell ceremony.
Update #3:
Written update coming shortly!