Remember when I joked that school probably wouldn’t start until February as opposed to January? Well, as I suspected, it’s no longer a joke. It’s February and school is just beginning. My school is taking its time getting back into the swing of the school year and all the duties and responsibilities that come along with it.
The first week of school consisted of cleaning-up. Well, the students cleaned up, and most teachers hung out and rested. It was very comical to observe and take it all in. These children, ages eight to eighteen were sweeping, and landscaping with sharp machete blades which they used to cut each piece of grass on the school grounds. I'd see boys up in the trees cutting large branches with these machetes. There's something about seeing adults hand these sharp blades to small children that is incredible...our American kids just could not cut it.
During the first week I also attended faculty meetings- now these have been very interesting and have introduced me to a whole other degree of 'taimi fakatonga' (Tongan time/island time). I'll give you an example of what to expect if your principal announced a 12 noon meeting…First, you'd show up on time and no one would be there. Some people would slowly come in and then walk right back out. Others may come and sit but if they were men, they would not talk to you. You'd then go to the office and ask if there was a meeting and if it was in fact supposed to begin at noon. “Maybe it will start at 1pm?” The people in the office would say. At this point, you're hungry so you go home to eat, knowing that you will make it back to school before the meeting starts. You watch a movie and eat lunch then return to school. At this point it's almost 3pm. More people are sitting and waiting in the room so you decide to stay with some assurance that it must be starting soon. To your relief, the principal comes in and without an apology as to being late, things get under way. Five minutes later, the principal leaves and girls walk in with soda and loaves of bread- one for each teacher. A tasty snack you think. Why not? You begin breaking off pieces of bread while others eat out the insides and then pour their soda into the bread, letting it soak up the sugary liquid, before they bring it to their mouths. After fifteen minutes you turn to one of your co-workers and ask, 'Is he coming back? Will the meeting continue?' They respond, 'He's in another meeting.' We wait.
That is an example of what meetings can be like here in Tonga and it is rather comical. To survive it, you must practice patience- a lot of it. Have reading material or perhaps ‘Sudoku’ on you ALWAYS and most importantly, have a good sense of humor. You must remember to just enjoy yourself because it is not bothering any of the Tongans so, don’t let it bother you. This is their culture. They are so relaxed and they don't let time or responsibility rule their life, not even in the work place. You must admire them for this even if their lackadaisical work ethic seems too extreme. I am always learning from the Tongan people and situations like this remind me take a moment (or hours haha) and RELAX even if it is while at work. :)
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Good morning!
My day thus far has been incredibly productive and I am happily taking a break, eating my cereal and my vine drink I made yesterday while listening to Jurassic Five, “What's Golden” to celebrate :) I washed sheets, towels, etc. which is always the butt of laundry and hung them to dry. Laundry takes me usually an hour or two to scrub through and my wrist is always left with a rash after rubbing the clothes up against it. I also swept all the puaka (pig) poop from my yard and fetched water from the simovai to fill up all my nalogens. They're now sitting in my freezer cooling and doing that alone is productive because nothing is worse than running out of water in this heat! I also hung out with Lilio and her niece and nephew, and went to the bakery to get them some bread for their breakfast. All of this before 830am. It's been a Tongan morning :) and to top it off, my blog writing was just interrupted for a dance party with Fou leka to Flo Rider, “In the Ayer.” It's going to be a great day! In fact, I'm putting that song on repeat! Dance disco! Throw your hands up!
Puna! Puna!
Last evening a few of my neighbors stopped by my house on their way to the wharf to go for a swim. Even though I had just showered, I could not resist because the wharf is always PACKED with tons of people of all ages swimming, playing music, tossing footballs- just having a great time! Remember, Tongans prefer to go swimming when it is cloudy or raining. Around 6ish in the evening you'll hear the sounds of kids screaming as they 'puna' of the wharf and anchored boats. Puna means to 'fly' in Tongan and the kids fearlessly puna crazy dives and flips into the water. They're absolutely fearless and it is so much fun to watch them! They run one after the other and the other; not waiting for the previous jumper to come up from the water before they make their splash. You'd think people would be constantly diving into one another but no. They're Tongans. They're fine.
After swimming I went to choir rehearsal and even though I was late, there were still Tongans walking in up until the closing prayer! I stuck around and played with some kids who were in the back of the hall watching. They were also playing checkers with an old board and pieces that they had scraped up: pebbles and tossed cigarette butts.
Then I went home and made myself a yummy dinner of eggplant Parmesan with cheese that I had bought on the main island and brought back with me. Cheese you can find here, sometimes. It depends what the boat brings in. Either way, it is so expensive so the dinner was a treat. Of course, my neighbors came over just when I was dishing it up and in good ole Tongan fashion, I served as much of it out as I could. Tongans share everything as I have mentioned before. I am constantly reminded of that and even though I don't have to- being a 'palangi,' I want to make it a habit of my own as well.
Well, time to take a cold bucket bath because this heat is once again making me feel faint!
Thanks for reading!
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
My day thus far has been incredibly productive and I am happily taking a break, eating my cereal and my vine drink I made yesterday while listening to Jurassic Five, “What's Golden” to celebrate :) I washed sheets, towels, etc. which is always the butt of laundry and hung them to dry. Laundry takes me usually an hour or two to scrub through and my wrist is always left with a rash after rubbing the clothes up against it. I also swept all the puaka (pig) poop from my yard and fetched water from the simovai to fill up all my nalogens. They're now sitting in my freezer cooling and doing that alone is productive because nothing is worse than running out of water in this heat! I also hung out with Lilio and her niece and nephew, and went to the bakery to get them some bread for their breakfast. All of this before 830am. It's been a Tongan morning :) and to top it off, my blog writing was just interrupted for a dance party with Fou leka to Flo Rider, “In the Ayer.” It's going to be a great day! In fact, I'm putting that song on repeat! Dance disco! Throw your hands up!
Puna! Puna!
Last evening a few of my neighbors stopped by my house on their way to the wharf to go for a swim. Even though I had just showered, I could not resist because the wharf is always PACKED with tons of people of all ages swimming, playing music, tossing footballs- just having a great time! Remember, Tongans prefer to go swimming when it is cloudy or raining. Around 6ish in the evening you'll hear the sounds of kids screaming as they 'puna' of the wharf and anchored boats. Puna means to 'fly' in Tongan and the kids fearlessly puna crazy dives and flips into the water. They're absolutely fearless and it is so much fun to watch them! They run one after the other and the other; not waiting for the previous jumper to come up from the water before they make their splash. You'd think people would be constantly diving into one another but no. They're Tongans. They're fine.
After swimming I went to choir rehearsal and even though I was late, there were still Tongans walking in up until the closing prayer! I stuck around and played with some kids who were in the back of the hall watching. They were also playing checkers with an old board and pieces that they had scraped up: pebbles and tossed cigarette butts.
Then I went home and made myself a yummy dinner of eggplant Parmesan with cheese that I had bought on the main island and brought back with me. Cheese you can find here, sometimes. It depends what the boat brings in. Either way, it is so expensive so the dinner was a treat. Of course, my neighbors came over just when I was dishing it up and in good ole Tongan fashion, I served as much of it out as I could. Tongans share everything as I have mentioned before. I am constantly reminded of that and even though I don't have to- being a 'palangi,' I want to make it a habit of my own as well.
Well, time to take a cold bucket bath because this heat is once again making me feel faint!
Thanks for reading!
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
I am officially in hiding.
I have blasted my music and locked my door trying my hardest to ignore the constant banging of sticks on my door and walls and its accompanying cries of, “Ashley! Ashley!” from up in the trees next to my kitchen and bedroom. I am entirely surrounded by three tireless, relentless, exhausting....
little Tongan girls.
Do you remember my blog about my adorable neighbors Foulata and Sela who come to my house to use my color pencils and pull on the ears of my dog stocking that once tugged upon plays Christmas music? Do you now also remember me contemplating hiding the stocking under my bed, pretending it had gone missing? Well, while I do not have the heart to do so, as they love to dance 'disco' to it (and I also don't want to miss out on all the laughs I get from watching them), today they have driven me so crazy that I have resorted to locking my door and playing the music so loud so as to pretend that I cannot hear their desperate crys to come in.
I sound cruel. I know. But you must understand that while the rest of Tonga is sleeping because remember now, it's mid-day and too hot to do anything else beside siovitio pe mohe (watch videos or sleep), the children know they can come to my 'cool-palangi' house, where they know I'm awake, and listen to music, sit by a fan, paint their nails, play with arts and crafts, etc. Now, I do get so much joy out of showing them my belongings- my map of the world, and talking about all that surrounds Tonga, and my computer and the pictures I have from Sea World on it. It's their first time seeing some of the animals in those pictures and it is so rewarding watching their faces as they look at these animals/places for the first time. I also enjoy just coloring with them and that it what we did today before I 'threw' them out.
We colored, sang and 'napped' for what of course seemed like hours haha (I swear I love kids!), before I had them leave because I wanted to shower. If I left them in my home while I was in the bathroom, my food would all be eaten and any leftover food crumbs would probably be buried in the keyboard of my thereafter broken computer. So, after about 30 minutes of trying to get them out, they finally left. My efforts very much reminded me of trying to get a fresh overtired five year old to go to bed while babysitting. Anyone feel me on that one? You see, the kids know I won't hit them like Tongans would if they were misbehaving so, I am in a difficult situation. I suppose this is a taste of future complications I'll have regarding discipline while in the classroom because I will not I my students unlike all the teachers at my school. (I'll talk about hitting in Tonga later as it deserves it's own entry alone but don't be appaulled. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's not like what you think and the kids are brought up with such discipline. They're tough kids and are used to it. They usually just laugh and I find it very ineffective of course, but...yes, anyway. I did say I'd talk about this later, huh?)
Long story short, and ten years later (I hope I haven't lost any faithful readers here...), I am stuck in my house. I am going to wait until I think they are gone to pick some 'vaine' from the vines outside my house. They're these delicious vine pockets of yummy seeds comparable to a pomegranate and it makes a very tastey lemonade-like beverage. I was going to have that and make avocado salsa :) There are avocados at the market now and they are HUGE! I also splurged and bought some tortilla chips at the 'American Store' for this meal. Now only if all the Tongan children in my neighborhood would quit holding me captive!
Again, I do love children. Oh no. There's more of them coming....I am going to have to dig an escape tunnel! Guess that's all for now! 'Ofa atu!
I have blasted my music and locked my door trying my hardest to ignore the constant banging of sticks on my door and walls and its accompanying cries of, “Ashley! Ashley!” from up in the trees next to my kitchen and bedroom. I am entirely surrounded by three tireless, relentless, exhausting....
little Tongan girls.
Do you remember my blog about my adorable neighbors Foulata and Sela who come to my house to use my color pencils and pull on the ears of my dog stocking that once tugged upon plays Christmas music? Do you now also remember me contemplating hiding the stocking under my bed, pretending it had gone missing? Well, while I do not have the heart to do so, as they love to dance 'disco' to it (and I also don't want to miss out on all the laughs I get from watching them), today they have driven me so crazy that I have resorted to locking my door and playing the music so loud so as to pretend that I cannot hear their desperate crys to come in.
I sound cruel. I know. But you must understand that while the rest of Tonga is sleeping because remember now, it's mid-day and too hot to do anything else beside siovitio pe mohe (watch videos or sleep), the children know they can come to my 'cool-palangi' house, where they know I'm awake, and listen to music, sit by a fan, paint their nails, play with arts and crafts, etc. Now, I do get so much joy out of showing them my belongings- my map of the world, and talking about all that surrounds Tonga, and my computer and the pictures I have from Sea World on it. It's their first time seeing some of the animals in those pictures and it is so rewarding watching their faces as they look at these animals/places for the first time. I also enjoy just coloring with them and that it what we did today before I 'threw' them out.
We colored, sang and 'napped' for what of course seemed like hours haha (I swear I love kids!), before I had them leave because I wanted to shower. If I left them in my home while I was in the bathroom, my food would all be eaten and any leftover food crumbs would probably be buried in the keyboard of my thereafter broken computer. So, after about 30 minutes of trying to get them out, they finally left. My efforts very much reminded me of trying to get a fresh overtired five year old to go to bed while babysitting. Anyone feel me on that one? You see, the kids know I won't hit them like Tongans would if they were misbehaving so, I am in a difficult situation. I suppose this is a taste of future complications I'll have regarding discipline while in the classroom because I will not I my students unlike all the teachers at my school. (I'll talk about hitting in Tonga later as it deserves it's own entry alone but don't be appaulled. I can't believe I'm saying this, but it's not like what you think and the kids are brought up with such discipline. They're tough kids and are used to it. They usually just laugh and I find it very ineffective of course, but...yes, anyway. I did say I'd talk about this later, huh?)
Long story short, and ten years later (I hope I haven't lost any faithful readers here...), I am stuck in my house. I am going to wait until I think they are gone to pick some 'vaine' from the vines outside my house. They're these delicious vine pockets of yummy seeds comparable to a pomegranate and it makes a very tastey lemonade-like beverage. I was going to have that and make avocado salsa :) There are avocados at the market now and they are HUGE! I also splurged and bought some tortilla chips at the 'American Store' for this meal. Now only if all the Tongan children in my neighborhood would quit holding me captive!
Again, I do love children. Oh no. There's more of them coming....I am going to have to dig an escape tunnel! Guess that's all for now! 'Ofa atu!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sapate Ako
Today was Education Sunday in Tonga (Sapate Ako). The youth choir, which I have just recently joined, sang a few songs and some children shared scripture readings. There was also a special sermon, intended to get the children enthusiastic about the upcoming school year but even more importantly, it was to encourage them to go to school. This part of the message was just as much for the parents as it was for their children. You see, many kids do not attend school regularly and there are those that have never gone to school because they are busy working in the bush with their fathers or weaving/doing housework with their mothers. Fortunately, children staying home to work is not common where I now live however, this was true for many children in Ha'apai, where I lived for two months before getting to site. My little brother and older sister where never in school but there would come the rare occasion when I would see them in their school uniform. It was, at the time, final exams and the kids were awaiting school break so I figured I was misunderstanding when they had exams or if they had already completed the school year. However, my instincts were correct, in that, for the most part, they were skipping school. My older sister, Laveni, did a lot of the housework while my host-mom did her weaving and my brother went to the uta (the bush) with my host-dad. He is five years old.
With that said, I was relieved to learn about 'Education Sunday,' and the message that it brings to the Tongan people. My neighbor and counterpart, Foulata, was speaking on the behalf of our school, at a village a twenty or so minute car ride away. She asked me to go with her so that she could introduce me as one of the new teachers at the school, Mailefihi College. I agreed as for one, I really enjoy spending time with Foulata and two, I knew she would appreciate my support. In addition, I LOVE the village that we were going to, Lea matu'a. The people there are incredibly friendly.
Before the service I was a doua which, if I have not mentioned it before, is the woman who serves kava to a circle of men at community events/churches/weddings/parties, etc. really, whenever they want kava, men drink kava. Most Tongan men drink it every day here and it is a real treat to have a doua. For most woman this is more like a 'coming out' if you will and typically, the man sitting to her left would be her 'date'. In the past, most marriages were arranged at these kava circles but for now, they just enjoyed having me (a palangi) there. To clarify for just a moment, kava is a type of plant which when mixed with water makes a Tongan drink that serves as a relaxant and gives a high much like the equivalent of marijuana. Most female Peace Corps volunteers find it very beneficial to be a doua at least once during their time in Tonga because it gives them an opportunity to meet the men in their community. Otherwise, they really do not have much opportunity to do so as male and female interaction is not like it is in the states. I have found that being a doua before or after church is the best time as conversation is kept appropriate (because it's Sunday), and you are surrounded by some of the most respected men in the community, including the faifakau (the church minister).
Sorry for the long tangent but it occurred to me that I might not have mentioned kava before and it is a very important element of the Tongan culture.
So after the kava circle, we went to church and after listening intently to my counterpart, trying to understand as much of her Tongan as I could, I was surprised to interpret that she wanted me to come up and introduce myself in front of the congregation as one of the new teachers, and to explain my upcoming duties and responsibilities at Mailefihi College. In Tongan, mind you. Which, I don't mean to brag, but my Tongan is rather good. Though my ego was crushed when I mistakingly said to everyone, “Give me children” instead of, “bring your children...” Everyone started laughing and out of ignorance I began to laugh as well. It wasn't until after I had returned to my pew, and was reviewing my speech in my head, when I realized my mistake. I felt ridiculous but was not longly wounded. You have to just laugh when such things happen. That's why I love language barriers. There are always more smiles and laughter in the beginning than there are words!
After, I went back to doua again as the men drink kava following church as well. I was showered with flower necklaces made from the women in the village and was presented with a taovala, which is a woven grass skirt. It it the most respectful piece of 'clothing' that a Tongan can wear and while I have been borrowing my neighbors, I had not yet had my own until now. It takes a Tongan woman at least six months to weave one of these and it was given to me all to express their gratitude of having me teach their children for the next couple of years. What astounds me is that my presence to their village was not known before my arrival yet when I got there, I was treated like a princess and it was as if they had been planning my visit for weeks. I was so grateful and am anxious to return to that village.
I look forward to when I start 'planning week' with my Tongan staff. I have only met a few but supposedly they are putting on a big feast for my 'Welcoming Party.' In Tonga, you should not expect anything less. These people are always ready to feast and host parties where they can sing, dance, and most importantly, LAUGH!
Hope you all are having a wonderful day and ask yourself, 'How many times did I laugh today?”
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
Today was Education Sunday in Tonga (Sapate Ako). The youth choir, which I have just recently joined, sang a few songs and some children shared scripture readings. There was also a special sermon, intended to get the children enthusiastic about the upcoming school year but even more importantly, it was to encourage them to go to school. This part of the message was just as much for the parents as it was for their children. You see, many kids do not attend school regularly and there are those that have never gone to school because they are busy working in the bush with their fathers or weaving/doing housework with their mothers. Fortunately, children staying home to work is not common where I now live however, this was true for many children in Ha'apai, where I lived for two months before getting to site. My little brother and older sister where never in school but there would come the rare occasion when I would see them in their school uniform. It was, at the time, final exams and the kids were awaiting school break so I figured I was misunderstanding when they had exams or if they had already completed the school year. However, my instincts were correct, in that, for the most part, they were skipping school. My older sister, Laveni, did a lot of the housework while my host-mom did her weaving and my brother went to the uta (the bush) with my host-dad. He is five years old.
With that said, I was relieved to learn about 'Education Sunday,' and the message that it brings to the Tongan people. My neighbor and counterpart, Foulata, was speaking on the behalf of our school, at a village a twenty or so minute car ride away. She asked me to go with her so that she could introduce me as one of the new teachers at the school, Mailefihi College. I agreed as for one, I really enjoy spending time with Foulata and two, I knew she would appreciate my support. In addition, I LOVE the village that we were going to, Lea matu'a. The people there are incredibly friendly.
Before the service I was a doua which, if I have not mentioned it before, is the woman who serves kava to a circle of men at community events/churches/weddings/parties, etc. really, whenever they want kava, men drink kava. Most Tongan men drink it every day here and it is a real treat to have a doua. For most woman this is more like a 'coming out' if you will and typically, the man sitting to her left would be her 'date'. In the past, most marriages were arranged at these kava circles but for now, they just enjoyed having me (a palangi) there. To clarify for just a moment, kava is a type of plant which when mixed with water makes a Tongan drink that serves as a relaxant and gives a high much like the equivalent of marijuana. Most female Peace Corps volunteers find it very beneficial to be a doua at least once during their time in Tonga because it gives them an opportunity to meet the men in their community. Otherwise, they really do not have much opportunity to do so as male and female interaction is not like it is in the states. I have found that being a doua before or after church is the best time as conversation is kept appropriate (because it's Sunday), and you are surrounded by some of the most respected men in the community, including the faifakau (the church minister).
Sorry for the long tangent but it occurred to me that I might not have mentioned kava before and it is a very important element of the Tongan culture.
So after the kava circle, we went to church and after listening intently to my counterpart, trying to understand as much of her Tongan as I could, I was surprised to interpret that she wanted me to come up and introduce myself in front of the congregation as one of the new teachers, and to explain my upcoming duties and responsibilities at Mailefihi College. In Tongan, mind you. Which, I don't mean to brag, but my Tongan is rather good. Though my ego was crushed when I mistakingly said to everyone, “Give me children” instead of, “bring your children...” Everyone started laughing and out of ignorance I began to laugh as well. It wasn't until after I had returned to my pew, and was reviewing my speech in my head, when I realized my mistake. I felt ridiculous but was not longly wounded. You have to just laugh when such things happen. That's why I love language barriers. There are always more smiles and laughter in the beginning than there are words!
After, I went back to doua again as the men drink kava following church as well. I was showered with flower necklaces made from the women in the village and was presented with a taovala, which is a woven grass skirt. It it the most respectful piece of 'clothing' that a Tongan can wear and while I have been borrowing my neighbors, I had not yet had my own until now. It takes a Tongan woman at least six months to weave one of these and it was given to me all to express their gratitude of having me teach their children for the next couple of years. What astounds me is that my presence to their village was not known before my arrival yet when I got there, I was treated like a princess and it was as if they had been planning my visit for weeks. I was so grateful and am anxious to return to that village.
I look forward to when I start 'planning week' with my Tongan staff. I have only met a few but supposedly they are putting on a big feast for my 'Welcoming Party.' In Tonga, you should not expect anything less. These people are always ready to feast and host parties where they can sing, dance, and most importantly, LAUGH!
Hope you all are having a wonderful day and ask yourself, 'How many times did I laugh today?”
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
Malo e lelei!
I hope everyone is doing well! I'd like to say thank you to those who sent Christmas wishes, cards, and presents! I know it's a hassle sending them down to the pacific but I appreciated it more than anything and thanks for just not forgetting about me during the holidays as I now live in Tonga, which remember, in Portuguese, means 'in the middle of nowhere.' :)
I just got back from a workshop in Tongatapu. I love traveling so getting on a plane again was very exciting! I stayed at Sela's Guesthouse which has been my home each time I've stayed in Tonga. After thinking about it, I have actually spent more time at Sela's than I have in my own home in Vava'u. Peace Corps has been staying there for years and Sela is very warm and hospitable. She even baked us cakes on our last visit for the Christmas holiday. This time, she had two new kittens which were awfully fun to play with though I cannot say the same for the other new creature at the house- a molokau. These are centipede-like creatures whose bite is INCREDIBLY painful. They say it's inevitable that you'll get bitten by one during your two years tour but I'm almost four months in and happy to report no such monster has bit me! Still, I check under my sheets each night before I go to bed ;)
In Tonga, I got the opportunity to see fellow volunteers from my group whose sites are in Tongatapu. It was fun to catch up and share stories about getting settled into our communities, making friends, the recent holidays, etc. I ended up eating out almost every meal and didn't pocket a penny of the per diem money we got for the trip. I also dipped into my savings from last month to buy a guitar :) Though, contrary to some of your thoughts, this was not an impulse buy! I want to learn how to play the guitar during my free time on this island- and Lord knows, I'll have a lot of free time! I even picked up a 'How to play the Guitar for Beginners' book off the 'Free-table' at the Peace Corps office.
All in all it was a wonderful visit and the work part of it was quite enjoyable as well haha The workshop was for all Emergency Coordinators throughout the kingdom. There is an EC on each respective island group to represent all the volunteers. I am the EC for the Vava'u island group and thus have to be trained on my duties and responsibilities as an EC in the event of a natural disaster. It is cyclone season now, but it's never to late to get trained on such preparedness.
The most interesting thing that I took away from the workshop was our discussion on riots and political unrest in Tonga, which although is not a natural disaster, is still very important for an EC to be trained on as such an event could result in the evacuation of volunteers from the island(s). One volunteer shared her account of the most recent and most intense riot Tonga has ever witnessed. It happened just a few years ago in the country's capital Nuku'alofa. There was a peaceful pro-democratic demonstration going on down the main street of the city when a few very animated demonstrators left the rally and broke into a Molisi store (which is a grocery chain in Tongatapu). They started taking cases of beer and passing them out to the demonstrators/onlookers and in consequence, activity intensified. People began to break into more stores and set fires, targeting most importantly, the ever prominent Chinese-run falekoloas (store in Tongan). (Side note- The Chinese had a contract with Tonga to open these popular falekoloas which sell lots of goods from overseas. These Chinese-run stores are absolutely EVERYWHERE in Tonga and are taking away business and business opportunities from the Tongan people and thus, lies the animosity that Tongans have against the Chinese here in Tonga. Their contract expired a couple of years ago still, their stores remain and Tongans continue to suffer from the draining economic opportunities).
Apparently there are decent video clips of the demonstration and riots. Over 1/3 of the city burnt down and this was merely a few years ago- 2006 I believe. I am still learning. But I encourage you to look up the information and videos online, including YOUTUBE. The police here used this private video footage as a means to prosecute people. Though the police's involvement during this time was questioned as such footage shows Tongan police inactive in executing law enforcement. Though nothing like this had ever happened and in their defense, the Tongan police had never been trained on handling such a situation. Unfortunately, in addition to this lack of knowledge, there were speculations that the police were taking cases of beer and other goods, and loading them onto their private vehicles.
Hopefully, such a situation will not reoccur as unprecedented political elections are to come in the fall (I think the fall...). The Kingdom of Tonga is a constitutional monarchy (the last in the Pacific), but, much like the United Kingdom, the power will soon be turning primarily to the people rather than the king in this upcoming election. Many people are very excited about this progression but there are those who do not see the need for such change and there are those who are also weary about its consequence. Such opposition is always present during such a political evolution but Tonga seems ready for the challenge.
I, particularly, am very excited to witness the political change first-hand. Especially, because one of my favorite college courses studied the democratic change of countries like Germany, Argentina and South Africa. I find the social, economic, and political affects of such a change fascinating and it's very interesting to talk with my neighbors and those in the community about the election.
Entirely unrelated, I must share some exciting, exciting, exciting news!!! My future puppy was born just yesterday! :) You see, two of my fellow volunteers, Chad and Katie, have a dog, Si'si who gave birth to seven puppies! They promised me one of them and I cannot wait to visit them! They live in a village about an hour or so hitchhike away but I'll try to get up there soon. It works out wonderfully because come March (when the puppy will be old enough to take away from Si'si), I will have already started school and gotten myself acquainted to the schedule/flow of the school and its attending students.
My mom already sent me some dog toys and I purchased a collar at Molisi.I am so excited! Though a dog having toys is unheard of here and people will probably think I'm crazy, and I've been told that people steal the dog collars and wear them as fashion necklaces. Whatever. I'll give it a try anyway. They'll get used to the palangi-ways of dog companionship and ownership :)
Anywayzzz I am going to do a little reading before choir practice.
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
I hope everyone is doing well! I'd like to say thank you to those who sent Christmas wishes, cards, and presents! I know it's a hassle sending them down to the pacific but I appreciated it more than anything and thanks for just not forgetting about me during the holidays as I now live in Tonga, which remember, in Portuguese, means 'in the middle of nowhere.' :)
I just got back from a workshop in Tongatapu. I love traveling so getting on a plane again was very exciting! I stayed at Sela's Guesthouse which has been my home each time I've stayed in Tonga. After thinking about it, I have actually spent more time at Sela's than I have in my own home in Vava'u. Peace Corps has been staying there for years and Sela is very warm and hospitable. She even baked us cakes on our last visit for the Christmas holiday. This time, she had two new kittens which were awfully fun to play with though I cannot say the same for the other new creature at the house- a molokau. These are centipede-like creatures whose bite is INCREDIBLY painful. They say it's inevitable that you'll get bitten by one during your two years tour but I'm almost four months in and happy to report no such monster has bit me! Still, I check under my sheets each night before I go to bed ;)
In Tonga, I got the opportunity to see fellow volunteers from my group whose sites are in Tongatapu. It was fun to catch up and share stories about getting settled into our communities, making friends, the recent holidays, etc. I ended up eating out almost every meal and didn't pocket a penny of the per diem money we got for the trip. I also dipped into my savings from last month to buy a guitar :) Though, contrary to some of your thoughts, this was not an impulse buy! I want to learn how to play the guitar during my free time on this island- and Lord knows, I'll have a lot of free time! I even picked up a 'How to play the Guitar for Beginners' book off the 'Free-table' at the Peace Corps office.
All in all it was a wonderful visit and the work part of it was quite enjoyable as well haha The workshop was for all Emergency Coordinators throughout the kingdom. There is an EC on each respective island group to represent all the volunteers. I am the EC for the Vava'u island group and thus have to be trained on my duties and responsibilities as an EC in the event of a natural disaster. It is cyclone season now, but it's never to late to get trained on such preparedness.
The most interesting thing that I took away from the workshop was our discussion on riots and political unrest in Tonga, which although is not a natural disaster, is still very important for an EC to be trained on as such an event could result in the evacuation of volunteers from the island(s). One volunteer shared her account of the most recent and most intense riot Tonga has ever witnessed. It happened just a few years ago in the country's capital Nuku'alofa. There was a peaceful pro-democratic demonstration going on down the main street of the city when a few very animated demonstrators left the rally and broke into a Molisi store (which is a grocery chain in Tongatapu). They started taking cases of beer and passing them out to the demonstrators/onlookers and in consequence, activity intensified. People began to break into more stores and set fires, targeting most importantly, the ever prominent Chinese-run falekoloas (store in Tongan). (Side note- The Chinese had a contract with Tonga to open these popular falekoloas which sell lots of goods from overseas. These Chinese-run stores are absolutely EVERYWHERE in Tonga and are taking away business and business opportunities from the Tongan people and thus, lies the animosity that Tongans have against the Chinese here in Tonga. Their contract expired a couple of years ago still, their stores remain and Tongans continue to suffer from the draining economic opportunities).
Apparently there are decent video clips of the demonstration and riots. Over 1/3 of the city burnt down and this was merely a few years ago- 2006 I believe. I am still learning. But I encourage you to look up the information and videos online, including YOUTUBE. The police here used this private video footage as a means to prosecute people. Though the police's involvement during this time was questioned as such footage shows Tongan police inactive in executing law enforcement. Though nothing like this had ever happened and in their defense, the Tongan police had never been trained on handling such a situation. Unfortunately, in addition to this lack of knowledge, there were speculations that the police were taking cases of beer and other goods, and loading them onto their private vehicles.
Hopefully, such a situation will not reoccur as unprecedented political elections are to come in the fall (I think the fall...). The Kingdom of Tonga is a constitutional monarchy (the last in the Pacific), but, much like the United Kingdom, the power will soon be turning primarily to the people rather than the king in this upcoming election. Many people are very excited about this progression but there are those who do not see the need for such change and there are those who are also weary about its consequence. Such opposition is always present during such a political evolution but Tonga seems ready for the challenge.
I, particularly, am very excited to witness the political change first-hand. Especially, because one of my favorite college courses studied the democratic change of countries like Germany, Argentina and South Africa. I find the social, economic, and political affects of such a change fascinating and it's very interesting to talk with my neighbors and those in the community about the election.
Entirely unrelated, I must share some exciting, exciting, exciting news!!! My future puppy was born just yesterday! :) You see, two of my fellow volunteers, Chad and Katie, have a dog, Si'si who gave birth to seven puppies! They promised me one of them and I cannot wait to visit them! They live in a village about an hour or so hitchhike away but I'll try to get up there soon. It works out wonderfully because come March (when the puppy will be old enough to take away from Si'si), I will have already started school and gotten myself acquainted to the schedule/flow of the school and its attending students.
My mom already sent me some dog toys and I purchased a collar at Molisi.I am so excited! Though a dog having toys is unheard of here and people will probably think I'm crazy, and I've been told that people steal the dog collars and wear them as fashion necklaces. Whatever. I'll give it a try anyway. They'll get used to the palangi-ways of dog companionship and ownership :)
Anywayzzz I am going to do a little reading before choir practice.
'Ofa atu!
Ashley
Sunday, January 10, 2010
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