From picking rubbish and cleaning parks in Auckland, New Zealand to flying on the world’s award-winning airline – Qatar Airways flight attendant, Fereti Toribau has lived it all.
Born and raised in Fiji he left for New Zealand when he turned 18 in pursuit of opportunities, possibilities and education.
It was during those three years in New Zealand that he was tried in fire.
He went through the lows of life before he could fly higher.
“During my three years there, I had studied and worked part time jobs as a cleaner, cleaning rooms and washing clothes at a nursing home for senior citizens,” Mr Toribau said in a statement.
“I worked in a supermarket in Avondale, worked in construction in the city and also worked under a sub-contractor for the Auckland City Council, picking rubbish, cleaning parks and hanging from the back of a dump truck collecting garbage bags through Auckland City streets.
“During those years, I remember a few times when I used to be soaked wet in the rain, hanging at the back of a rubbish truck and feeling inadequate.”
Despite his struggles, Mr Toribau continued to be thankful to God for the lifelong friendships he made through the form of church, youth groups, university friends and the members of the Fijian community in Auckland.
It was in April 2018 when he finally made the bold choice to come back to Fiji.
“A part of me already wanted to go home due to some events back home and a part of me was still in doubt.
“That night I remember thinking “fine then, you got it, I’m taking the first step now, now your move”.
“I booked my ticket, called my boss and told her that I’d be heading back home in two days time, said bye to some of the most amazing people and came Tuesday night, April 8, 2018, I was back in Fiji.”
Being back home made no difference as he continued to face obstacles upon obstacles.
“Two years of closed doors, rejected job interviews with local companies, rejected visas, one of which was approved but then somehow things still didn’t line up.
“Two years of hearing talk from family and some “friends”.
“Those two years, during the day, I used to put on a smile, do dropoffs and pickups for the more useful people in the family and just helped at home, a greenhouse was built and small vegetable farming was done to kill time.
“At nights I’d either be watching movies, having tea with friends or sleeping on depression-soaked pillows feeling lost.”
A breakthrough finally came in the form of a police recruitment drive in 2020 where he applied and got through.
“Becoming a police officer might be a dream to some, for me it really wasn’t but it got addictive, I loved it.
“Something about helping people, comforting the vulnerable and just being the sponge that soaked up people’s cry for help.
“I was honoured to have met a whole lot of great people, great colleagues and such understanding superiors who had lovely families.”
After a while another opportunity presented itself and off he went to apply for the Qatar Airways flight attendant recruitment in Suva.
Today, Mr Toribau is now a flight attendant with Qatar Airways and has been places he never dreamt he’d been to before.
“Every path, job, waiting time, “failure”, emotions, tears that you go through is preparing you for your win, the devil is liar.
“Hope this encourages someone going through their waiting time, carry on nothing great comes easy.”
