More than a tropical paradise
The travel brochures tell you that that the Fiji Islands are white sandy beaches along a blue-green, clear ocean with a backdrop of swaying palm trees, lounge chairs, sunshine, and tropical fruit drinks.
The real story is that Fiji is a third-world country in which a worker is considered lucky to earn US $48-60 per week. A salary like that is hardly enough to feed, clothe, and house a family, as well as ensure that the children can attend school for the year.
Currently, the largest industry in Fiji is tourism, which consists mostly of Australians, New Zealanders, Europeans, and Americans flying to Fiji to stay at a resort somewhere on one of the many islands.
The Sheraton resort,with three hotels, is close to the international airport and charges a minimum of US $228 per night. The cost seems a little expensive by itself, and then considering that the employees are only paid US $48-60 per week, it seems grossly overpriced.
On a salary like that, it is unfathomable for a typical Fijian to even consider staying at any of the resorts, which would require five weeks' wages to pay for one night. Instead, an employee might live in a one- to two-room cement block or stainless steel sided house with his wife, his four to five children, and possibly one of his elderly parents. Every day the resort employees commute to work, where the guests live lifestyles of gluttony and opulence. At night, many of the employees return home to a house that has neither electricity nor running water.
The vast difference of lifestyles and financial situations of the resort guests and the resort employees is staggering to behold. It is hard to comprehend how the Fijians can tolerate watching and serving the guests in all their wealth and extravagant lifestyles. Yet they do and are striving to get jobs at the resorts, even doing the thankless jobs like laundry, pool cleaning, and shuttle driving, because it is the resorts that pay the best wages.
So, is the group of beautiful islands called Fiji worth a visit? Yes, but there is more to the islands than the beautiful beaches and resorts; there are real people who are living real lives and have real struggles, who keep the resorts running. The natural beauty of the islands is breathtaking, but the true beauty of the islands lies in its friendly, happy, generous, hospitable people.
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