Happy Mother's Day!!! I get to be the first to say it because in Tonga, today is already Mother's Day :) As in the states, it is a very big holiday and mother's are given gifts by their husbands and their children; everyone goes to church and a special performance is put on for the mother's. After church, families usually have a big feast and eat ice cream, which is such a luxury! People of all ages, especially the adults, will kill for ice cream and if ice cream is going to be eaten, it is always for a special event. You can measure someone's wealth if they are eating ice cream- no joke! "Te ke kaileilei," Tongans will say, which means, "You will eat well."
I have one close friend in a neighboring village who is originally from Seattle, WA but came to Tonga to work and has since married a Tongan and has a child. She's my age and this is her first Mother's Day. Her husband is going to kill a pig for her, which is an honor and a very big gift to give in the Tongan culture. Her husband is so sweet! Any of you dad's out there going to roast a pig in the backyard?
At church, my youth and I put on a dance for the mothers and it made them all cry! It brought tears to my eyes seeing everyone get emotional because I missed my mom and, grandmothers, and everyone....but I try to keep things very separate when it comes to my life here and my life back home- when it comes to holidays, that is. I just think that this is their holiday and I'm experiencing it with them but I try to not dwell on the fact that this is an important holiday and tradition for me too and it's going on back home, with all the people I love, without me. It's depressing thinking like that, so for that reason, I try to keep the holidays separate.
But what helped dry the tears was the smiles I got looking at everyone in their new mother's day clothes. The mom's were wearing new scarfs and shawls. They LOVE scrafs and shawls! A new craze too are those fake hair pieces you can just clip into your hair. It's so awesome but you will honestly see older women with their dark Tongan hair or their old gray and white hair, with these hair clips of youthful, blonde and dirtyblonde shiny hair. It is just so wrong but so perfect! It's quite the sight! But they love it and it's the style. They love the 'palangi' look it gives them by wearing their hair in a way that makes it look blonde or highlighted, making it look 'palangi.' Oiaue!
Anyway, that's my mother's day thus far! This afternoon, I'm going to church again to recieve communion and then I am going to present flowered necklaces to my 'Tongan Moms' with friends. It's another tradition that they do in church where all the mothers stand in front and get presented with gifts. It should be an interesting thing to watch.
I hope you all have a wonderful mother's day! I am just thinking about the wonderful mother's day my family will be having at my Aunt Janene's house! Yummy fruit salads, cinnamon rolls, lemon blueberry cake, tastey meat and veggie egg quiches! So tastey! I wish so much to be there!
Love you all so much and Happy Mother's Day to each of you!
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Today, I had the pleasant surprise of seeing two palangi children at school, a boy and a girl ages seven and five who had just recently moved to Tonga with their parents from the states. Their parents had gone quickly to the store and they were under the supervision of a Tongan co-worker of mine.
I introduced myself and showed them where my classroom was, asking them if they wanted to color or read any of the books that I have. They were excited to see another palangi. I made connections with them about home and let them know of who I was and what I was doing there so that they no longer thought of me as a stranger (you know how we teach kids back home about strangers... and rightfully so). I wanted them to feel comfortable, and I told them that if they ever felt scared they could always come to my classroom to draw.
A little while later, I observed from the staircase the little palangi girl, walking hand-in-hand with my co-worker to the playground where Tongan boys and girls were playing. The Tongan children instantly ran over to her and held her hands. They stroked her hair, and smiled at her and led her over to the bars that they were playing on. Tears once again filled up in my eyes at witnessing such acceptance, curiosity and love.
Kids are so generous; so kind, pure and innocent. They live to smile and laugh with each other and that's all. We should all let them remind us to do just that: smile, play and laugh. That would solve a lot of our problems today. We need to be more like them. We need to be more like them.
I introduced myself and showed them where my classroom was, asking them if they wanted to color or read any of the books that I have. They were excited to see another palangi. I made connections with them about home and let them know of who I was and what I was doing there so that they no longer thought of me as a stranger (you know how we teach kids back home about strangers... and rightfully so). I wanted them to feel comfortable, and I told them that if they ever felt scared they could always come to my classroom to draw.
A little while later, I observed from the staircase the little palangi girl, walking hand-in-hand with my co-worker to the playground where Tongan boys and girls were playing. The Tongan children instantly ran over to her and held her hands. They stroked her hair, and smiled at her and led her over to the bars that they were playing on. Tears once again filled up in my eyes at witnessing such acceptance, curiosity and love.
Kids are so generous; so kind, pure and innocent. They live to smile and laugh with each other and that's all. We should all let them remind us to do just that: smile, play and laugh. That would solve a lot of our problems today. We need to be more like them. We need to be more like them.
Okay. I'm going to start taking the time to write about some of the wonderful things that have been happening over the past few months- things I have been wanting to share for so long but up until now have not had the time to do so. I also know that in sharing these experiences, I will grow fond again of all things 'fakatonga.'
This past week I had two very touching moments happen to me at school and so moved was I that my eyes filled up with tears both times. The first, happened in my classroom. As a reminder, I teach English reading to forms 1, 2, and 3 (grades 5-8ish in US standards). My students suffer tremendously in reading, both in English and in Tongan and this is in large part to the fact that most students have no books at home nor access to them aside from the few, 'odd-end' books I have in my classroom.
I was having such a hard time with them in their reading that I decided that what they really needed was just to pick a book and explore it on their own- go through the pages at their own pace, pronounce the words when they felt comfortable to do so, and have the opportunity to look through the books' illustrations. So, I decided to bring D.E.A.R. to my school. Do you remember that?
D.E.A.R. stands for 'Drop Everything and Read' and it was a program that I remember doing in middle school. The kids come into my classroom and immediately walk to the shelf to find a book of their own, which they can read for ten minutes before I begin class. It's great because the class gets very calm and quiet, which provides a great transition for when they need to start learning and paying attention. It also allows me time to finish any notes or reorganize myself from my last class. The best part however, is when I get to walk around and observe them reading. This is the moment that I was talking about- the one that makes me want to cry with happiness.
I see these children who- for some, have never held a book on their own, or attempted to read one on their own; sounding out the letters of words. They're asking me questions about how to pronounce things or what things mean in Tongan. They look at the illustrations and point to pictures that they have never seen before and ask me what they are. Sometimes they get so excited about looking at the illustrations that I see them raise the pages of a book in the air and scream out to a friend on the other side of the room to have them just look at what new cool picture they have found. Of course, this is a distraction, but it is such an amazing one. They are so excited to learn about the world and I had no idea how much it would mean to them to have this time to read to themselves and look through books.
The value books have is irreplaceable and although the internet is opening up the world to children with endless opportunities to access corners both far and wide in a more convenient, efficient, and timely way, the sight of seeing the excitement on my kids faces when they open a book and flip through its pages is so much more personal and moving for me. I will never underestimate the power that books have ever again. The moment I see my children explore their way through a book, all the hard work that I put into teaching instantly becomes justified. That moment makes everything worth it. It reminds me of why I am here and it reminds me that my kids want to be here. They want so much to learn.
Yep.
Those ten minutes of D.E.A.R., at the beginning of each class, tell me that I'm doing something right in teaching them and that feels good.
This past week I had two very touching moments happen to me at school and so moved was I that my eyes filled up with tears both times. The first, happened in my classroom. As a reminder, I teach English reading to forms 1, 2, and 3 (grades 5-8ish in US standards). My students suffer tremendously in reading, both in English and in Tongan and this is in large part to the fact that most students have no books at home nor access to them aside from the few, 'odd-end' books I have in my classroom.
I was having such a hard time with them in their reading that I decided that what they really needed was just to pick a book and explore it on their own- go through the pages at their own pace, pronounce the words when they felt comfortable to do so, and have the opportunity to look through the books' illustrations. So, I decided to bring D.E.A.R. to my school. Do you remember that?
D.E.A.R. stands for 'Drop Everything and Read' and it was a program that I remember doing in middle school. The kids come into my classroom and immediately walk to the shelf to find a book of their own, which they can read for ten minutes before I begin class. It's great because the class gets very calm and quiet, which provides a great transition for when they need to start learning and paying attention. It also allows me time to finish any notes or reorganize myself from my last class. The best part however, is when I get to walk around and observe them reading. This is the moment that I was talking about- the one that makes me want to cry with happiness.
I see these children who- for some, have never held a book on their own, or attempted to read one on their own; sounding out the letters of words. They're asking me questions about how to pronounce things or what things mean in Tongan. They look at the illustrations and point to pictures that they have never seen before and ask me what they are. Sometimes they get so excited about looking at the illustrations that I see them raise the pages of a book in the air and scream out to a friend on the other side of the room to have them just look at what new cool picture they have found. Of course, this is a distraction, but it is such an amazing one. They are so excited to learn about the world and I had no idea how much it would mean to them to have this time to read to themselves and look through books.
The value books have is irreplaceable and although the internet is opening up the world to children with endless opportunities to access corners both far and wide in a more convenient, efficient, and timely way, the sight of seeing the excitement on my kids faces when they open a book and flip through its pages is so much more personal and moving for me. I will never underestimate the power that books have ever again. The moment I see my children explore their way through a book, all the hard work that I put into teaching instantly becomes justified. That moment makes everything worth it. It reminds me of why I am here and it reminds me that my kids want to be here. They want so much to learn.
Yep.
Those ten minutes of D.E.A.R., at the beginning of each class, tell me that I'm doing something right in teaching them and that feels good.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Hey friends and family!
As many of you know, I have been quite stressed from all my different commitments to my Tongan community and to Peace Corps. I have not had any time to myself nor any ‘palangi’ time for that matter. I have been 100% absorbed into my work, my Tongan friends, my secondary projects and my community activities. I have been living everything in the Tongan way of life… just doing as the Tongans do…..
In the end, it has driven me CRAZY! I just need a break as all of you guys already understand from my constant venting via email and late night phone calls. For all of that, I am SO sorry and I want to thank you all for being such good listeners and helping me out during this time of culture shock…more like time of loosing it! Thanks for all your great advice and I promise to take more time for myself and more time to do ‘palangi things’ with my palangi friends. I also really enjoy writing in this blog and I plan to do so more often now that I will make time for myself to do so! So, stay tuned for some cool updates and thanks again for all your endless love and support!
‘Ofa atu!
Ashley
As many of you know, I have been quite stressed from all my different commitments to my Tongan community and to Peace Corps. I have not had any time to myself nor any ‘palangi’ time for that matter. I have been 100% absorbed into my work, my Tongan friends, my secondary projects and my community activities. I have been living everything in the Tongan way of life… just doing as the Tongans do…..
In the end, it has driven me CRAZY! I just need a break as all of you guys already understand from my constant venting via email and late night phone calls. For all of that, I am SO sorry and I want to thank you all for being such good listeners and helping me out during this time of culture shock…more like time of loosing it! Thanks for all your great advice and I promise to take more time for myself and more time to do ‘palangi things’ with my palangi friends. I also really enjoy writing in this blog and I plan to do so more often now that I will make time for myself to do so! So, stay tuned for some cool updates and thanks again for all your endless love and support!
‘Ofa atu!
Ashley
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Hey, hey!
I hope everyone enjoyed the pictures that I uploaded yesterday and today. My dog Nash is getting so big! The other dog in the picture is her best friend, Scobby, who is my principal's dog across the way. They're together all the time! Always chasing each other in and out of my house.
At the moment, I am locked inside my school. This is the second time that this has happened to me. It is now 7:52pm and I quite possibly may be sleeping here. Just kidding! But no more phone credit and people cannot hear me from outside. My only hope is that the students who will come to night school will see me and get help. haha. Oh, another day...
Things have been going great on the island. Yesterday, my friends and I had a picnic on the beach. We drove out to the far North side of the island and planted ourselves under some coconut trees. We stayed until ten o'clock just snorkeling, hiking the cliffs around us, walking the beach, playing our guitars and bbqing. We picked up some chicken and put them on garlic and herb seasoned skewers that I got from the 'Free Table' at the Peace Corps office, and threw them on top of a sheet of medal we found nestled between some rocks. Then, we started our fire, which was very difficult because of the heavy rain from the night before. What we ended up with was what you see in the picture below, which looks like things we're out of our control, but we had chicken to eat and I am happy to report I am still alive and did not die of food poisoning.
When night fell, my friend and I played our guitars. Well, a guitar and a ukulele...I must say we sound quite good playing together. Than we all watched the stars, which are indescribable here. You can always see the Milky Way and it's breathtaking. Listening to the guitar and hearing the water crash against the sand put me to sleep. Island life, man. Island life.
I wish I could be there but right now I have to go to my night class!
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
I hope everyone enjoyed the pictures that I uploaded yesterday and today. My dog Nash is getting so big! The other dog in the picture is her best friend, Scobby, who is my principal's dog across the way. They're together all the time! Always chasing each other in and out of my house.
At the moment, I am locked inside my school. This is the second time that this has happened to me. It is now 7:52pm and I quite possibly may be sleeping here. Just kidding! But no more phone credit and people cannot hear me from outside. My only hope is that the students who will come to night school will see me and get help. haha. Oh, another day...
Things have been going great on the island. Yesterday, my friends and I had a picnic on the beach. We drove out to the far North side of the island and planted ourselves under some coconut trees. We stayed until ten o'clock just snorkeling, hiking the cliffs around us, walking the beach, playing our guitars and bbqing. We picked up some chicken and put them on garlic and herb seasoned skewers that I got from the 'Free Table' at the Peace Corps office, and threw them on top of a sheet of medal we found nestled between some rocks. Then, we started our fire, which was very difficult because of the heavy rain from the night before. What we ended up with was what you see in the picture below, which looks like things we're out of our control, but we had chicken to eat and I am happy to report I am still alive and did not die of food poisoning.
When night fell, my friend and I played our guitars. Well, a guitar and a ukulele...I must say we sound quite good playing together. Than we all watched the stars, which are indescribable here. You can always see the Milky Way and it's breathtaking. Listening to the guitar and hearing the water crash against the sand put me to sleep. Island life, man. Island life.
I wish I could be there but right now I have to go to my night class!
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
Sunday, April 11, 2010
'Life has become easier, flexible, and more comfortable.' I read this from a student's paper of a Form 6 level. This is a Tongan student, in high school, writing in her second language, summarizing our modern world today in the most accurate and simple way one could ever describe it. She's right. Our inventions today are making things easier but where's the excitment in that? .... I was going to go on a long philosophical stream of conscious rant here but the crew's going out for pizza. I'll get back to you about this later. :)
Peace!
Peace!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Hey, Hey!
I know it has been way too long since my last blog entry! I have just recently renovated my blog page so, for all of you who are reading this entry via your email account, please go to my actual blog page to finish reading! I just added new pics and such and I am really happy with how the page looks now :) I also added a list of all the projects that I have started at my site and a description of each of them so you have the 411 if you'd like to be involved in any way!
A belated Happy Easter to each of you! I was thinking of everyone as I was celebrating my Easter in the village of Leimatu'a with a friend and her family. I missed going to church, finding my Easter basket in the morning, having eggs' benedict, eating Cadbury eggs and taking part in the family Easter egg hunt! I missed all of it and each of you very, very much. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!
As of now, I'm on the main island of Tongatapu. I just finished In-Service Training (IST), which is the 1/4 service mark of my commitment here in Tonga. It's pretty insane how fast time has flown! So much has happened since my last entry to you and it's a bit overwhelming thinking of where to start but perhaps to give you just a snapshot...
-I was the girl's track coach for the sports season which just ended and some of my girls made it to nationals. Very cool.
-My dog, Nash, has successfully learned to sit, stay, and go. (I have to write this. I'm a proud Mom.)
-I sing in my church choir a few nights a week and sometimes sing in village-wide night concerts.
-I started my dance studio, and I love making new dance routines for my girls.
-Overall, I feel totally successful in my community integration and that's a really, really good feeling.
Two other successes for the day...
1. I planted the seed to Mom and Dad about Nash coming home with me after my service and
2. I have a plan for what I am going to do when I return home to the states after PC. Alyssa and I are hiking the Appalachian trail northbound, then biking from Maine to Washington, to then hike south down the Pacific Coast Trail only to then hitchhike to the Mississippi River so we can there build a canoe to row back to New Hampshire. Anyone in?
To New Adventures!
Cheers!
I know it has been way too long since my last blog entry! I have just recently renovated my blog page so, for all of you who are reading this entry via your email account, please go to my actual blog page to finish reading! I just added new pics and such and I am really happy with how the page looks now :) I also added a list of all the projects that I have started at my site and a description of each of them so you have the 411 if you'd like to be involved in any way!
A belated Happy Easter to each of you! I was thinking of everyone as I was celebrating my Easter in the village of Leimatu'a with a friend and her family. I missed going to church, finding my Easter basket in the morning, having eggs' benedict, eating Cadbury eggs and taking part in the family Easter egg hunt! I missed all of it and each of you very, very much. I hope you all had a wonderful holiday!
As of now, I'm on the main island of Tongatapu. I just finished In-Service Training (IST), which is the 1/4 service mark of my commitment here in Tonga. It's pretty insane how fast time has flown! So much has happened since my last entry to you and it's a bit overwhelming thinking of where to start but perhaps to give you just a snapshot...
-I was the girl's track coach for the sports season which just ended and some of my girls made it to nationals. Very cool.
-My dog, Nash, has successfully learned to sit, stay, and go. (I have to write this. I'm a proud Mom.)
-I sing in my church choir a few nights a week and sometimes sing in village-wide night concerts.
-I started my dance studio, and I love making new dance routines for my girls.
-Overall, I feel totally successful in my community integration and that's a really, really good feeling.
Two other successes for the day...
1. I planted the seed to Mom and Dad about Nash coming home with me after my service and
2. I have a plan for what I am going to do when I return home to the states after PC. Alyssa and I are hiking the Appalachian trail northbound, then biking from Maine to Washington, to then hike south down the Pacific Coast Trail only to then hitchhike to the Mississippi River so we can there build a canoe to row back to New Hampshire. Anyone in?
To New Adventures!
Cheers!
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