A temporary move to Fiji turned into a chance to star on the small screen for Squamish's Jay and Steph Deo.
The young parents of a two-year-old quit their city jobs, sold their home and relocated to Fiji in February to fulfill a dream to live abroad while spending quality time with their son.
When they arrived, Steph saw a posting on an online expats forum that ended up being a chance to be on the HGTV Canada reality show, which matches people looking for accommodations in exotic locales and realtors who help them check out properties.
The couple wanted a furnished place in the beautiful Coral Coast community, located on the coastline between Sigatoka and Suva, on the island of Viti Levu, in Fiji.
"We wanted something that was turnkey, and ready to go," Jay said.
Finding rental properties is different in Fiji, he explained. Housing is found through word of mouth, not through online postings or newspaper advertisements.
The couple can't say too much about the episode, due to restrictions put on them by the show, but Jay said it was an enjoyable process that took about a week to film.
While some of the show is well known for being contrived, what the couple said on screen was not scripted, he said.
Finding someone to watch their young son while they filmed was a bit stressful, but their aunt, who lives in a community an hour away from Coral Coast stepped up and the show helped pay for any extra costs the family incurred.
In Squamish this week after 10 months in Fiji, the pair looks back with fondness on their time abroad and of being on the show.
"Now we are back we have to deal with the reality of finding jobs and restarting," Jay said with a laugh. "But we definitely don't regret it. We were very emotional leaving."
Watch the listings at www.hgtv.ca/shows/house-hunters-international/ for the Deo's episode.
