Steven

Chinese / stay 22 weeks in 4 beds room

What is the reason you did NOT chose homestay?

To be frank, I am kind of lazy. I cannot get up early. You know, most of homestays are far away from school. And the dormitory is located in the school. In case I am late for class, I chose dormitory. Apart from it, another vital reason is that dormitory is much cheaper than homestay.

What are the good things and merits about dormitory?

Staying in the dormitory, I can set up friendships with schoolmates easily. And we can enjoy cooking, and we can taste Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisine. When we review the lecture, it is easy to discuss with each other.

Who do you recommend to stay in the dormitory?

Put it this way. The students who cannot get up early like me had better stay in the dormitory. And it is a good option for the students who like cooking. Besides that, whoever want to save money should choose dormitory.

Please give some messages or tips of how to enjoy a dormitory life for future students.

First, you must not be shy to communicate with the other students. Secondly, you should figure out the local customs. Thirdly, do your best to speak English. Obviously, improving English is our purpose. On top of that, you have to learn how to cheer you up.

Harry

Korean / stay 2 months in single room

In Fiji, I surprisingly improved my English a lot because there were not many Korean students here to talk with so I had to talk in English all the time and I was very popular in the school, so I could make a lot of friends. The night life here is alright but it doesn’t interfere with your studies as much as it would if you were in the Philippines, so I could concentrate on study. Only thing is the prices for goods here were a bit more expensive than I first thought. But people in Fiji have very warm hospitality and they don’t discriminate Asians, so I felt comfortable here. Also, the island resorts are so beautiful and fantastic. I have never seen anything like it; words cannot describe how beautiful they are. Actually, I’m a working holiday maker in Australia. I went to English school there but I decided to come to Fiji to really improve my English and I did it! So, I recommend Koreans who are in Australia or New Zealand on a working holiday visa and feeling they need to improve English seriously to study in this school. This is the place. Also, it’s a good place for Koreans who prefer to be surrounded by students from other countries or learn Japanese as Free Bird provides free Japanese lessons.

피지에 유학해서 좋았던 점은, 첫번째로 단연 영어가 많이 향상된 점입니다. 이유는 여기 프리벌드에는 한국인유학 생이 거의 없기 때문에 한국어로 의사소통하는 경우가 거의 없었습니다. 그리고 두번째는 조금 숙스럽지만 친구들 한테 인기가 많았던 점입니다. 한국인유학생이 워낙 적다보니 한국인에 관해 많은 관심을 가져주었습니다. 그리고 세번째로 들 수 있는 것은, 필리핀이나 다른 외국과는 달리 유흥문화가 적기 때문에, 순수한 유학생활이 가능했던 점입니다. 그다음으로 피지에 유학해서 좋았던 점은 호주나 뉴질랜드처럼 백인문화가 아니다 보니, 아시아인에 대 한 인종차별같은 것은 없이 이방인을 매우 따듯하게 맞이해준 피지인들과의 만남이었습니다. 마지막으로 좋았던 점 은 피지의 아일랜드가 굉장히 아름답고 환상적이었던 것입니다. 피지에 유학해서 아위웠던 점은 들자면 한가지가 있습니다만, 그건 물가가 생각했었던 것보다 조금 비쌌다라는 것. 물론 호주나 뉴질랜드에 비하면 저렴하지만 필리 핀 물가에 비교하면 약간 비싼편이라 생각합니다. 그래도 저는 필리핀보다 피지유학을 선택했고 친구들한테 피지유 유학을 권합니다. 특히, 호주나 뉴질랜드에서 워킹 홀리데이로 체재중으로 영어가 생각보다 늘지 못해 고민하시는 분들한테는 최적의 장소라 생각합니다. 제가 그랬던것 처럼. 그리고 한국인들이 적은 곳을 선향하시는 분들 또한 영어와 일본어 일석이조로 언어공부를 하고 싶은 분들(FBI에는 무료 일본어 레슨이 있음)은 꼭 피지의 프리벌드를 방분해보세요! 짧은 2개월간의 피지유학생활이었습니다만 저에게는 굉장히 감동적이고 진한 유학생활이었습니다.