Another week passes me by...

The Fundraiser for the Vava’u Youth Congress went well at the local bar last Saturday. The center pulled in about $1000.oo pa’anga – pretty impressive. Last weekend I also went to a Mormon dance, which was a new experience. I went with a few of my youth to a brightly lit hall at the church. All the men were wearing their white shirts, while us women were allowed to sport our nicest outfits. The dance put me in a time warp to an era where chivalry still exists. Men would approach the wall flowers with a slight bow and then walk towards the dance floor. No touching was permitted except for the slow dances. Once the song would end there was quick exchange of "Thank You," and then back to the wall waiting for the next suitor. I have to admit that I actually had a good time despite my previous judgmental attitude.
I have a great deal to comment about the slow progress of my home, but due to the fact that no one has worked on it this past week – you probably know what I'm going to say. I will hold my tongue at this point in time.
I have been having dinner with a different family every night, partially due to my house not being done and more importantly to get to know my community better. This has been a great opportunity to work on my language, which by the way has been improving. I'm being fed like a Tongan Princess and the families are not satisfied until I am completely stuffed. I've been drinking fresh mango juice and eating ota ika (raw fish). I am slowly figuring out who lives in which home, not that it's to important with the community raising the children. I'm starting to recognize faces and learn everyone's name, which is my goal.
I'm still practicing soccer with the men in my village, but I play on a neighboring villages women's team on Saturdays. There are not enough women in my village that want to form a team so five of us have decided to play with Utui. Maybe next year we can have enough for our own team.
I leave in a few hours to go camping with some other volunteers. We are heading out to an island about an hour away with only two houses on it. One of the families is picking us up on their boat and will return us tomorrow afternoon. I need a little get away at this point. I hope to return with a fresh attitude and full of energy.

My pictures have been updated so take a look and let me know what you think!!!

Love you all,
Adrianne

Starting My New Life

I think I’m slowly becoming an islander. Maybe Paul and Dia can relate with the slow pace of Canada, but it seems like the slightest news makes the best gossip on this little island and I’m feeding right into the mix.
The latest on my house is that it will be another two months until it is finished. I’m not quit sure how it went from two weeks to two months, but I’m trying to keep a smile on my face. I’m trying to arrange staying in a little fale until they can get my house done. My youth president has a circular building that looks similar to a barn. It's one room and I don’t think it has electricity or plumbing, but I’ll take anything at this point. My youth said they would fix it up for me (whatever that means). My first youth meeting went well the other day. I had a good turn out and they all had great ideas of some projects to pursue. My goal right now though is to get to know my youth better and to learn more of the language.
For one of my first attempts I decided to join the boys for their soccer practice. I think they were shocked when I showed up in shorts (knee length) and sneakers. The first time I played, I barely touched the ball. Now – I’m all up in the game and loving it. The field is at the most beautiful spot overlooking the water with the coconut trees in the background. We play until the sun sets and I seem to always get distracted by the awesome sky. The boys play with a variety of creative gear that always trips me out. Many of the boys play barefoot while others will wear only one shoe. If you know how much I love soccer, then you know I’m having a great time.
The next few days soccer is canceled due to a funeral in the next village. I only have to wear black for one day, but all “fun” activities are cancelled in my immediate village for three days. I attended the putu (funeral) last night which was a huge event. Picture Woodstock; people and cars everywhere, for two days - night and day, only everyone was wearing black and had on a talavala (mat) around their waist. I met up with everyone from my village and we did a great deal of waiting around and socializing. We then headed over to some tents where we were served tea and a meal. The chicken, hot dogs, eggs, and ufi were placed in front of me in a clear plastic bag. I only went to the tea tent once, but people would take three or four trips during the course of the night. I then presented gifts of tapa and cloth to the family of the deceased. The women filed one by one and placed the gifts on the floor and then we proceeded to kiss the body and file out. I'm not quit sure what to think of the whole thing. I talked to another volunteer, Lini, who also went and she said that she bent down and pretended to kiss the body, but she couldn't actually do it. I stayed until about 12:30 in the morning when my family found me perched up against a little store with my 7 year old brother asleep in my lap.
To help keep me busy in these first few months I will be volunteering in town at the library for story time. There is a huge push here in Tonga for all the school children to learn English. So - Saturday mornings I will read from 9:30 – 10:30 and then get my shopping done before the stores close at noon. I’ve also spoken with a local primary school teacher (Sione) and will soon be reading English to his class once a week. Sione has agreed to be my language instructor so I can hopefully improve my butchery of this beautiful language.
This weekend I will be helping out with a fundraiser for the Vava’u Youth Congress. The night is directed towards tourists and will be held at a local bar. The goal is to introduce the Yachties to a little Tongan culture of dance, food, and Kava, all the while taking their money. I hope we are successful.
Keep that mail coming!!! People have been asking what it is that I need. In the big picture I have it all, BUT if you really want to send me things I need a little spice in my life. I would really love little packets of spices to make a variety of foods such as taco mix, Indian spices, or even drink mixes. Be creative!!! I don’t want a huge box of spices sent to me, just one packet per letter. Your thoughts are appreciated.
Hope everyone is healthy and happy.
Love you all,
Adrianne

Back In Homestay

I've jumped right back into my old bedroom. My previous family has graciously welcomed me back into their home. With this comes some great perks:
* I'm back to cold showers and using the outhouse. I find it odd that the entire culture is so adament about covering up their entire body with appropriate clothes, yet everyone in my village walks from the bath house to their home in practically nothing.
* Sharing a home with such a large family has also brought lice back into my life. My sisters spent an afternoon picking through my hair. Once they found a bug, they put it in their mouth and bite it so as not to have it infest others heads. Once I get to my own home I will do the American treatment of shampoo. There is no point in doing anything now, but damn it itches.
* Another joy is my lack of privacy. My family was watching another Indian movie for the 7th time so I went to my room, put on my headphones and did some reading. Five times different family members and neighbors peeked their head in my window to make sure I wasn't loonley. Sweet yet tiresome. Good thing my new place will be on the second floor.

Life is always busy here at my little dot on the map. My village is hard at work trying to get my housing done. I laugh when I think of all the little oddities of life here.
My little seven year old brother drove up to the house in the family station wagon all by himself. I didn't even think that his feet reached the pedals.
My 13 year old brother is a fakalati (boy that acts like a girl) and dances around the living room to Indian music.
I served Kava for a Kalapo (Fund Raiser) for the youth of our village. We raised $360 pa'anga which was great for the community.

Time is running out. Due to budget cuts, here at the Peace Corps office in Vava'u we are loosing our access to the internet. I will be using an internet cafe, which adds up the costs. My goal is to post once a week.

I love you all and miss you greatly.
Adrianne

Patience and Flexibility

My shopping is complete (all the basics).
I have enough to cook a simple meal, wash some clothes, take a bucket bath, iron my clothes for church, and ride to work (including my helmet). All the rest will come with time. My boxes are loaded on the boat and hopefully I will see them at the other end. I'm taking my important documents such as letters from home and pictures on the plane ride with me. That way if the boat sinks, at least I have my most important things. The plane leaves bright and early tomorrow morning. If it is anything like the last hopper flight, I'll be in for a rough landing. Good thing I warmed up on the roller coasters at Kings Island before leaving Cincinnati.

When I signed up for the Peace Corps, I was told I need to be patient and flexible. That is surely being tested these days. Tongans are famous for their lack of punctuality and slight twist upon the truth in order to make you happy. These two qualities have caused me to run in circles and smack into walls. The story on my housing has changed daily and I am slowly learning to adjust and go with the flow. This morning I sat upon my pile of bags waiting for three hours past the assigned pick up time. This is only the tip of the icebergs of life here in Tonga. Soon I too will begin to keep people waiting and telling tall tales to make others happy. I am determined to adapt to this culture if takes everything I have. I have been told by other volunteers that it is possible to adapt, but Do Not try and understand.

Once in Vava'u, I will have limited access to the internet. Currently I am allotted 1/2 hour a week of access. I will try to write posts in Word and cut and paste quickly. If I get desperate I can always pay at an internet cafe, but they tend to be rather pricey. The point is, that I will continue to update you all of my adventures or lack there of.

I've added the links to some of my fellow volunteers' blogs. Please have a look when you have the time.

Love you all,
Adrianne / 'Ateliana

It's Official

*Check out my new pictures from my swearing in ceremony.
Click on Photo Album on the right.

I am now a Peace Corps Volunteer!!!

After two months of intensive training, banging my head against a wall, eating massive amounts of food, late night studying, parties, and serving kava; I have made it. With all this under my belt, I have only just begun. I fly on Wednesday to Vava'u where I will be doing homestay for an undetermined amount of time. This is due to the Tongan Way of slow pace life that has led to my house not being completed. I was expecting this to some degree so I'm not too disappointed. I am hoping that I will be able to move into my house in about two weeks to a month. I'm not sure if I'm setting my sights to high, but I am eager to unpack my bags.

The swearing in ceremony was lovely and I hope to have a few pictures up shortly. We listened to prayers, wonderful speeches, and then more prayers before eating a delicious meal of Tongan delights. The food is growing on me although I can't wait to start cooking for myself. We as trainees had to raise our right hand and swear an official oath. We were then presented a certificate and a Peace Corps pin. I heard that with the humidity here that the pins fall apart pretty quickly. The night ended with a slide show of pictures from training and some music and dancing entertainment. We had a Noble in attendance to welcome us to work in Tonga and I was shocked at how many rules there are in regards to being in his presence. I know I will make many cultural mistakes over these two years.

It started pouring rain in the middle of the night. As I left the guest house, that I'm presently staying in, this morning the streets were flooded. I had to circle around several extra blocks to get to the Peace Corps office. I then got splashed from a huge puddle by a passing truck. I made it to the office soaking wet and laughing at myself.

Love you all,
Adrianne

End of Training

I took a hot shower today!!!!!
It was my first in two months.
The joy I am feeling right now can't be put into words.

Training is coming to an end. I will miss my group, but I can't wait to move ahead. I have a lot to do before the big move. I keep putting shopping off, thinking that I have all the time in the world. Items here are so expensive so I need to decide what I need right now and what can wait a few months to purchase. My parents are pushing me to get a cell phone because my village only has one phone in the center of town. But I keep thinking - I'm in the Peace Corps, I shouldn't have a cell phone. I guess times are changing faster than I like to admit. I get tested today on my language skills. I'm not sure if my late night cram last night did me any good. I want a tutor anyway because I have a long way to go in my skills. The town officer in my village doesn't speak English and I would like to be able to communicate with him at some point.

Thanks to everyone for sending me birthday cards and presents. The positive vibes also made it all the way across the ocean. I am lucky to have you all in my life.

Love,
Adrianne