Settling In

Developing a routine for my daily life has been an interesting challenge. I can’t believe how spoiled I’ve been and how it is easy to take the small things for granted. My house is wonderful and I’m loving the trial and error process of figuring out how to clean and take care of my little abode.
I made my broom this week. Yes – Made. I had one of the guys climb a coconut tree and collect the leaves. Then I peeled the leaves so that only the center “switch” remains. I then took a stick and peeled off the bark. I duck taped the bristles to the stick and POOF I have a broom. It looks like the perfect witches flying broom and my floor looks fantastic.
It has been a bit of a struggle to figure out the most efficient way to do my dishes. I started off carrying the dirty dishes to the other side of my neighbors house to a little spigot. I brought one bucket for washing and one for rinsing. My 70 year old neighbor saw me struggling and attempted to help me. We had a twenty minute conversation and I understood about three things. She was telling me to use to rain water tank and do my dishes in my house. Through the actions of charades I now have a system. I use my water jug to then fill up my garbage can (now my water storage). I keep this in my house to use for dishes, drinking water, laundry, washing my face, and brushing my teeth. This makes everything a little easier.
My house has become community central. If my doors are open then my house is free game for visitors. Consider that it is hot here and my doors need to stay open for a nice breeze. Youth (ages 15-35) just come in, sit down on my floor and chill. It doesn’t seem to matter if I’m sleeping, reading, or doing my dishes. They just seem to want to keep me company. I think it is kind of sweet actually. My village is not used to women living alone and they don’t want me to be lonely. I’m getting used to having people in my house. At least I have some time alone.
Everything else seems to be going well. I’m busy doing workshops and relaxing and the beach. Life is good.
Thank you all for the letters and packages. It means so much to me to hear from everyone. Keep them coming.
Love,
Adrianne

I Have a Place to Call my Own

My house project was actually successful. To update you again, my house is a brown oval wood building with two small rooms inside. It has two doors that are directly across from each other for the best cross wind effect and it has four windows. The youth showed up at about 7:30 in the morning and we got to work We emptied out all the garbage that had accumulated over the years and lit a huge bon fire in my front yard. There is no efficient way of disposing of trash here so the best answer that the Tongans have come up with is to burn it. Now environmentally speaking this is probably not the best way, but it sure is fun to watch suitcases and mildewed books turn into smoke.

The youth worked for several days and my house is definitely livable. It's actually pretty cute. My main room is painted blue (the top half is light blue and the bottom half is dark blue). This living room/kitchen has a mini-stove and mini-fridge for my cooking needs. I bought a little metal book shelf for odds and ends and I have a woven mat in the middle of the floor. I have no running water so I use my neighbor's sima vai (cement rain water tank) for drinking water. I also use my neighbor's outhouse and shower house, which is on the other side of their house (a decent little walk in the middle of the night). Those both have running water, as long as the main water pump is running. I haven’t figured out a schedule, but the water pump gets turned off at least once a day for several hours. When that happens I just take a bucket bath.

My bedroom is quaint. I have yellow walls and a huge wooden (bootleg) bed that my youth worked so hard to make. I have a "mattress" that does not quite fit the frame and a mosquito net that reminds me that I'm in the Pacific Islands. I have a rope strung between my walls for my clothes on hangers and another metal shelf for the rest of my clothes. I have yet to see the pig fence be built, but I'm in no immediate danger. I have tamed them with my scrap food.
Overall it is the perfect little Tongan house.

Other news:
I went spear fishing. Basically I went out snorkeling with a spear and attempted to catch anything I could get the blade into. I was unsuccessful, but had a great time trying. The guys I was with were a bit more experienced so we had a great picnic on the beach.

At one of my feasts in Okoa, I ate something that did not quit settle too well in my stomach. It was either the raw fish or the roasted pig, but I spent my first night in my new home on my hands and knees over a bucket. I also had to make a mad dash across my yard and over a pig fence to make it to my neighbor's bathroom just in time. I ended up making a "MOM, I'm sick" call that freaked my parents out a little. Sorry about that guys.

I'm keeping busy and loving my new freedom.
Hope everyone is doing the same.
Love,
Adrianne

cookies, smiles, and Otai

Mango season is almost here and I've already got a hold of a few ripe ones. Delicious. There is also a drink that I enjoy here called Otai, which is a mixture of coconut milk, watermelon, and mango. All the flesh of the fruits make is taste like a mouth-watering dessert. I have adjusted to the diet here, but I still miss American cooking. The availability of American food is very random. There is not one big grocery store, so I find myself traveling to about five or six searching for the best price and availability. There are also four falekaloas (mini-stores) in my village. They carry the basics and it's also a good place for socializing.

I've been in a better mind frame the past few days. Some days I hold onto my disappointments and other days I just let go. Intellectually I realize that I have control over this, but emotions are pretty powerful. Letting go has helped my relationship with my family, helped my productivity at work, and helped me to smile more often.

Tomorrow is supposedly going to be a productive day. I read to the kids at the library in the morning and then quickly head to the soccer field for a game. Tomorrow is also the big work day on my temporary house. In one day the youth plan on repairing the house and building a fence to protect me from the pigs. I have my fingers crossed. So after soccer I will come and encourage them with my smile and some cookies. We then have another night of fundraising in which I might get to sit on the sidelines for once (which would be wonderful). I normally have to serve Kava until around 1 or 2 AM and be "sexually harassed" by a group of drunk men. It sounds awful but it can be entertaining (depending on who is in your Kava circle). I'm just a little burnt out because we have done so much fundraising the past few weeks, so a night off is just what I need.

Time to hit the road and hitchhike home. I got a ride to work this morning so my bike is at home. No worries.
Love you all,
Adrianne

D R A M A

An enjoyable yet dramatic few days kept things interesting this past weekend. It began with a night of gossip and pure fun with about eight of my youth. We sat outside of town hall on some mats in the middle of the street from 8 until 1AM. I learned Tongan songs, learned Tongan dance, showed them a few of my own moves to hip hop on the radio, and laughed until I almost wet my pants. My youth then proceeded to perform a mini drama for my benefit. They pretended to be wind up toys and created an entire story line. They made me join in the performance and I was on the street almost in tears. I'm learning so much everyday and having a great time in the process. The night ended with my mother yelling from the house that my sisters and I needed to come home. It was already late so I thought nothing of it and went home. My sisters on the other hand thought this would upset me because they know I've been struggling with freedom and privacy. Once we got to the house an argument broke out. I proceeded to my room and listened as best I could. One of my sisters "got beat" for voicing her opinion (not uncommon at all in Tonga). I don't know how to react when that situation arises as I have encountered it several times. My sister then ran out of the house screaming around 1:30 and went and hid in the bush. The village went out looking for her. When I say the village I truly mean most of the village. Tongans don't seem to get solid sleep. They like to be woken up and notified of situations. The drama continued outside and I stayed in my room. My other sister came to my window and told me that she understood if I wanted to stay with another family. I felt horrible. I'm not the only one stressed out here because my family is feeling it as well.
I feel like a rebellious teenager. I find myself leaving the house earlier and staying at work longer. I sleep more and don't spend as much time with my family. I keep feeling like this will end when I get my house, but I don't know if that is the case. My father tried to tell me this morning that my home stay mother will come to my new house everyday to clean and check up on me. He said she would also sleep at my house when I get sick. I told him that was not necessary, but I don't feel I was heard.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Thank you. I needed to vent.

Okay – positive thoughts.
Work is going well. I helped out with the voting for Youth Parliament. This is a program in all of Tonga that lets the youth address a chosen issue facing the youth in Tonga. Youth run campaigns for the office of Prime Minister, Minister, Noble, and People's Representatives. I was parked in a village for several hours with ballots so that the youth could vote. Town officers practically dragged youth from their houses just to vote. This will take place all week and those elected will travel to Tongatapu for Youth Parliament during November.
A few new participants have joined my Alunga (disabilities) group. One of their mothers attended class and cried the entire first half because she was so happy. This was the first time her 10 year old son has attended "school." I need to take some pictures to send home because they are such a great group. I would love for you all to see them.
I'm working on strengthening my youth group in Okoa. We held our first executive meeting the other day. Although I spoke practically the entire time I was happy they all showed up. I told them that it order to have a strong youth group we needed strong leaders. I told them that the youth will look to them with questions and they need to be prepared. Youth here in Tonga are generally not encouraged to voice their opinions in school or to use critical thinking skills. This makes communication difficult, but we need to start somewhere.

Enough said for now.
Love,
Adrianne

Mind and Body

I continue to battle with being sick (Bronchitis). I haven't posted about it because I didn't feel it was a big deal, but I know Mom and Dad want an update. This past week I was having trouble breathing after coughing fits. Yes - I've been going to the doctor and Yes - I will be fine. I've been on an anti-biotic and I'm starting to see an improvement. It only happens maybe twice a day now.

Emotional ups and downs have begun. I get frustrated some times when I can't get my thoughts out. It's nice once in a while to just speak english. I'm trying to manage, but once in a while I just want to scream. I'm trying to get used to the loss of some of my freedoms. I'm used to going when and where I want - not the case here. But - so is life.

I ventured out with a woman from the governors office, Ofa, to begin a survey of disabilities in Vava'u. The goal is to first identify needs and then progress to meeting those needs. My language barrier is tremendous so I was so glad that Ofa was there to lead the way. We visited twelve homes on our first day. I can't tell you how fortunate I feel in my life. Some of these homes were absolutely filthy and run down with holes in the roofs, walls, and floors. No one in Tonga is starving, but the standard of living is appalling. On the other side of my experience touring the villages, I met some of the most wonderful people. There is a woman along my bike route to work that is Deaf and Mute, who is able to lip read. She was the happiest lady with a bright smile and I told her that I would make it a point to stop by and visit with her. I met a man who worked with the Tongan Defense that has traveled many times to America. Now he suffers from a mental disorder and babbles in both Tongan and English. I met a woman with diabetes who is unable to use her legs. She crawls around her home to the bathroom and washroom and never leaves her home. I think we can get her a wheelchair to at least begin to improve things in her life. Anyway – this was a taste of my day. I just wanted to share and let you all know that I feel like I'm doing some good work here.

'Oku ou ofa lahi atu. 'Oku ou faka'amu 'oku mou sai.
I miss you all greatly. Hope everyone is well.
Love you all,
Adrianne

Sanity Returns - A Campout and a Picnic

The camping trip accomplished what it was meant to help with – my sanity has returned. Twelve of us traveled out to a little private island called Nuku, which is about an hours boat ride away from the main island. The family that owns the island was very generous on letting us stay there and using some of their facilities. We ate chicken, hot dogs, fish, papaya, home made cookies, and drank coconut milk - and I loved every minute of it. I slept in my hammock under the stars and the coconut trees while others took to the tents. On the ride home the following day we stopped at swallows cave, where we swam and snorkeled. I'm in love with these islands.

I'm attending a different church in my village every week. This week was the Free Tongan church, which happens to be the smallest one in my village. We sat on mats on the floor and my neighbors sang beautiful hymns. I have never felt so relaxed during a service. Church is my time to zone out and just relax because I can't understand anything that is being said. I just stand when everyone else stands and bow my head when everyone else bows. It seems that cultural adaptation is basically "follow the leader." Following church I had a wonderful talk with my parents. This cell phone is definitely coming in handy.

Monday my youth wanted to take me on a picnic over on the next island. I'm thinking – Great a picnic!!!! Okay, not the picture that pops in most of your heads, but better. Ten of us waded across the water carrying sacks of "stuff" to a small deserted island. Once we get there everyone takes off in separate directions to start prepping for the picnic. Some grabbed snorkel gear and spears and head to the water. Others headed into the bush to climb the coconut trees for drinks. One guy was on fire duty and dug an umu to cook the ufi (root). I took an empty bottle with some fishing wire around it and attempted to add my donation to the meal. I failed, but no one seemed to care since I brought the cake. I can't begin to describe the efficiency in which everyone worked. Once the food was cooking we played games of tag and sand fights on the beach. I didn't think that at 27 I would still be enjoying such elementary games, but I guess you're never too old. I tried some new delicacies during this little picnic. I ate the heart of a blowfish, I tried eel, and ate vana (which is a black shellfish covered in spikes). Delicious!!

Housing – what can I say about my house. I've had a meeting with Peace Corps and my youth president in Okoa. In this discussion we established that my youth group does not have enough money to fix up my temporary house. We agreed that I would spend the next week doing more fundraising and then I would go purchase the needed materials. The goal: I will be in my new home in three weeks. Remember this is not my original home – this is my temporary housing. My original home won't be completed until around December. Okay, enough said for now.

Adrianne