Troopers

The resort in Viti Levu was named Club Oceanas: a sweet place, set right next to a river, with a pitch of grass, small pool, and an outdoor reception lined with room keys. We volunteers were given one large bunk room to share and, after a quick, college-style earmarking of our chosen beds, the first thing we did was head for lunch.

On the kitchen patio, the resort had pulled together two long, wooden tables and laid out a heaped plate of rice and stew for each of us. Though the food looked scrumptious, I was only a few mouthfuls in when I found the raw chicken of Fiji Airways finally taking its effect in roiling up my insides. However, a rather precarious but desperately needed splash in the pool soon provided the perfect distraction from the salty taste in my mouth.

‘I’m so impressed by you two,’ said Catherine, as we hit a volleyball back and forth across the water; everyone called her CP for short. ‘I would’ve been so dead by now after all that travelling.’

Danni and I looked at each other, practically glowing in our swimming costumes and sunglasses. We’re troopers, we thought, and shrugged.

It was a day of lounging around and getting to know one another and I couldn't have been happier with our little group, even on my first day. Everyone was absolutely lovely!

Despite little to amuse us, we were all extraordinarily entertained filling in Hanna's book of crossword puzzles, crowded round it under the canopy or shouting answers across the dinner table late into the evening; some of us arguably more valuable contributors than others. The afternoon mostly consisted of volleyball – another activity in which I had little expertise, but as the evening air settled in, players began dropping in and out of the game to take showers - myself included.

By dinner time, having washed, changed and rinsed the ‘travel’ out of my system, I was exhausted and the thought of another meal did not sit well with my jet-lagged body. However, our team leaders implored that we attend dinner, at least for the sake of a quick run through of events and, thankfully, the meal was delicious, helping me regain enough energy to hear the schedule. It became clear very soon that we were headed for a training-heavy day come-morning and our project leader, Nigel, who visited us that night, advised that we get plenty of sleep in preparation for it.

So, hardly had the plates been lifted from the table when I too rose, slid into my bunk and did just that.