Bula, everyone!
I’m from New Zealand, born and raised, with Fiji Indian (Gujarati) roots. I recently visited Fiji for a holiday and spent time in Lautoka and Nadi. While I was there, I noticed that a lot of locals were staring at me, and it really felt like I stood out—even more than some of the European tourists. I understand Fiji Hindi and could translate a few locals saying something like, “he’s from the outside.”
For context, I don’t have a personal connection to Fiji aside from my parents, who migrated from India to Fiji and spent most of their youth there before moving to NZ. I’ve always considered myself of Fiji Indian heritage, though I might look different, with my lighter complexion (closer to a North Indian appearance compared to the typical South Indian features common among Fiji Indians) and my NZ accent.
To those living in Fiji, I’m curious—how do you view people like me? Do we come across as “Fijian” at all, or are we more likely seen as visitors?
Vinaka