Journey to the South Pacific --- by Elise Koletar

Just two days after Christmas and a mere week and a half after the conclusion of fall semester finals, seven Willamette law students and one Willamette law professor met at PDX airport prepared to embark on a two-and-a-half week study abroad trip to the other side of the world. Vanuatu would for me, be the farthest away I have ever traveled. Over 6,000 miles, and 19 hours ahead from our home in Oregon, after we completed the 28 hour journey, this group of 8 unlikely friends would have time traveled and be living a day ahead of the rest of our friends and loved ones left behind in Oregon. 

From the outside, this group could not appear to be more different. Different ages, different backgrounds, different ethnicities, career backgrounds and aspirations, different styles. What this group has in common is that for 8 different reasons, they each decided to attend the Willamette College of Law, and for 8 different reasons, we each decided that traveling to a tiny island in the South Pacific to study international children's rights was an opportunity we could not pass up. So, our little group gathered together at the gate. As I looked around I took a moment to marvel at my certainty that this troop of at-best-acquainted students would be returning bonded in a life-long way that at the time I had no way of fathoming. 

"Each morning we greet the sun with joy and happiness that we are the first in the world to see the day" - Taxi driver; Nadi, Fiji

If you ever must endure a 9-hour lay over, I highly recommend you take it in Fiji! We left the airport, felt sun on our skin for the first time in several months, and enjoyed a breakfast of chips (french fries) on the beach. After the layover, we finally boarded an ATR 72-600 (aka- a rather small propeller powered plane) to make the third and final leg of our journey to Port Vila, Vanuatu. 

Our plane took a sharp u-turn and as it did the island of Vanuatu came into view. The sun was hitting the hills leaving beautiful long shadows across the jungly tropical terrain. I felt like I was landing in Jurassic park. 

Our backyard for the next two weeks. 

Our first trip into town was hysterical because it was a torrential tropical downpour. We thought we knew rain being from Oregon, but Oregon’s rainiest day doesn’t hold a candle to the power of the rain here. It’s as if someone took a bucket of the ocean and dumped it over the island. My favorite part is that the birds don’t stop chirping when it is raining, so the mix of rain, birds, and distant thunder sounds like a sleep recording people play to relax. 

From the moment we stepped off the plane the people were kind. Everyone greets you with a smile. In town we visited the Mama Market where there were tables and tables of fresh produce. Locals seem to spend a lot of time there. As we walked around I was struck by how many people were out and about spending time with one another. It felt different from home. Even on the nicest day, I don’t think I would see this many people out. Children were running around playing and people were gathered eating and playing music.  Everyone seems to know each other as well. When we take taxis, the drivers keep their window rolled down and greet nearly every person we pass as a good friend.

Andrew and his bunch of tropical flowers for under $3.

Peanuts!

That night, the boys house hosted a family dinner at their villa. We sat on their deck and talked about our experiences so far. We had our first class discussion on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, otherwise known as the CRC. Professor Buske began to explain the complexities, controversy, and contradictions of the Articles in the CRC. This discussion laid an intriguing foundation for the class and made me start to think about what I had been seeing around the island in a different light. 

Walking back to our vila under the stars, accompanied by the sound of crickets and waves I felt an excited anticipation for everything yet to learn, experience, and see.