Written by Jennifer Vehia Wheeler Tahiti Nui is known for it's sparkling crystal blue waters as far as the eye can see, the lazy palm trees rustling in the wind and the white, fine sand that can be found beneath one's toes. And when you arrive on the island of Tahiti, these picturesque scenes truly live up to their reputation. As someone whose coming from Hawai'i and who's been to Tahiti several times, each time I arrive there, I am taken away by the beauty. The bright and flowery scenery around you is one-of-a-kind. Studying abroad in Tahiti for 6 months was partly motivated by this desire to be surrounded by this beautiful scenery, and take in the landscape, enjoy the towering mountains and the beautiful crystal clear water, but another motivation was due to my familial roots in the islands.
I studied at the Université de la Polynésie Française, located on Tahiti island, for 6 months during Fall 2017. Being that long in Tahiti was an opportunity for someone who grew up in Hawai'i, a chance to go back to where my mother is from, for an extended period of time. Growing up in Hawai'i was great and I was surrounded by Tahitian and Hawaiian culture, among the broad range of worldly cultures that make up "local" in Hawai'i, all the time. I was able to experience my Tahitian culture here through family, food, parties and Heivas (dance competitions), to say the least. But being so connected to my Tahitian culture here drove me to understand what is a connection to Tahitian culture there, in the islands. There was a personal need to create stronger bonds with the place that I was connected to and knew, but had never the priviledge to know it beyond short family vacations. My experience in Tahiti was a mix of opportunity as I got to understand Tahiti on different levels than previously. Not only was I able to spend time with my family for an these months and deepen our relationships through our time spent together, but I was able to attend the University there, and understand what it's like to live the mundane life in Tahiti - going to class, shopping for food, catching the bus, etc. I was able to make friends outside of my family, and experience a nightlife I knew nothing about - learning new music of the area and dances that everyone knew. And one of the most important factors of my experience was that I was able to learn more about my culture and language at a deeper level than ever before. This was through my family, friends and also classes that I was able to attend through the University. While I feel like my identity and connection to this place was already strong, in studying abroad there, I was able to expand my relationship with this place, open my mind to contemporary lives and realities of people there and give me new perspectives on general life in Tahiti. I'm grateful for this opportunity, as I learned so much and grew as a person. My understandings of myself and the Pacific have been broadened in taking these 6 months to explore myself and my other island home.
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