The contrast between Pacific and U.S. public culture and personal lives shows very clearly the problems of contemporary culture and anthropology ideals. Professor Leavitt defined a typical Western life cycle as an accumulation of knowledge and experiences. Success is measured on an individual level and everyone is responsible for his or her own future. On the other hand, this notion of the socio-centric self does not exist in Fiji, where public values and a person's communal performance role determine his or her socital standing.
Destiny is decided by each community's notion of the ideal man and woman for a certain age group.
Professor Brison explained the reasoning behind the department's choice of Fiji as the ideal anthropological site for their culture study. The island is a modern example of the peaceful co-existence of two distinct social groups. Fiji has a strong post-colonial environment, and a strong cultural history that is still practiced amongst the locals. The islanders have made a conscious choice to value their community and preserve their history. However, during Fiji's colonial era, mass labor groups settled this small Pacific island, constituting an impressive total of forty-four percent of the population.