Adrianne & Tevita - State side

April 2009

2009-04-30T19:12:00.005-04:00

March of Dimes Walk

Enjoying rice cereal

Mmmmmm....pears

I love my Daddy

Photo update on Vai

2009-02-14T09:05:00.002-05:00

Big Eyes

Vai has discovered how to do a few push-ups. She loves tummy time.

She is now up to around 11 lbs these days.

Our little pea pod.

Mom and baby

I Love my teddy bear

My dad sure is comfy

Happy New Year

2009-01-06T10:47:00.000-05:00

Here is a summary of 2008.
What a year!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-23T16:09:00.000-05:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

On her way

2008-12-03T16:58:00.001-05:00

This coming Friday 12/5 is Vai’s original due date. I can’t imagine still being pregnant with her. Not only would I be humungous, but also I wouldn’t have had all this time to see her develop. She is growing into an awesome little pistol that I can’t wait to get to know even better.

I’m happy to announce that we’ve got the go ahead for discharge this coming weekend. Yes, you read that right…she’s coming home in a matter of a few days (fingers crossed). We scheduled a sleep over Friday night at the hospital where we will have a trial run followed by Q & A. We then review her discharge summary and schedule a ridiculous amount of follow up appointment, but then home sweet home.

It’s difficult to explain all that I’m feeling right now because it’s been such a long journey. My mind has jumped into hyper alert with plans and detail for the next few days. Physically I have a tingly sensation in my fingers and toes along with a knot in my throat. Anticipation is getting the best of me and I’m enjoying every minute of it. This has been a long time coming. Vai has been in the hospital now for 95 days and I can’t wait for her to experience more than her tiny cubicle.

Once home we’ll be in hibernation for the winter. The doctors don’t want her going anywhere except doctor’s appointment. Visitors will be a bit restricted as well, but once settled slowly you all can meet her. We all can’t wait.

2008-10-19T17:28:00.004-04:00

Vai is now 7 weeks old and on her way to better health. I decided not to fill this page with words, but with pictures. We are eager for her to come home.

Also - here are a few pics from the Obama rally. We have to win!

Welcome to the World Vaioleti

2008-09-06T08:46:00.004-04:00

As I'm sure most of you know, we at the Ongolea household have had a world wind of events happen over the past few weeks. After 3 weeks of hospital bed rest for me, Vaioleti entered the world on August 29th at 1 lb. 14 oz. She was 26 weeks gestation and 14 in. long. She is now spending her days trying to grow bigger and gain strength so that she can come home.

We are learning the ins and outs of the NICU and have found great support and confidence in the staff. I feel like I'm on an emotional roller coaster that fluctuates when Vai has a good or bad day. We are aiming on having her home by Thanksgiving, although that may change depending on how she progresses.

She is a beautiful baby with most of her features from her Dad. I keep trying to find something that I can claim as resembling me. Maybe it will be her personality or stubbornness that will come out later in life. Here is our first family photo. She is curled up on my chest for some quality kangaroo time.

This is Vai while under the lamp.

The reunion that never was

2008-08-02T07:56:00.004-04:00

Last weekend was Tevita's family reunion in San Francisco that we never made it to. Not that we didn't try... We made it all the way to Dallas and spent a great amount of time in the airport, but never got our connecting flight.

Once we figured out that we were not going to make the reunion, we decided to enjoy the small amount of time that we had in Dallas. We made it to the 6th Floor JFK Museum and walked around the grassy knoll. The JFK assassination happened before my time, but it's still an amazing part of our history that was quite sobering. We then toured downtown on foot and enjoyed a great seafood lunch.
In the evening we went to a country bar for some live music, dancing, pool playing, and some great pork ribs. We also took in some live bull riding, not any of that mechanical stuff. We actually ended up having a great time.

Just over the past few days I have felt like someone is taking a little bull ride inside my belly. The pitter patter of little feet are beginning to catch my attention at all hours of the day and night. I'm loving every minute of it.

Shang is now begging to go out for a walk so I better oblige.

Adrianne

A Lot to Celebrate

2008-07-05T09:04:00.003-04:00

We've been keeping busy the past few weeks with a lot to celebrate. Tevita added another year to his belt so we had a little festive BBQ. Friends, family, and food - what a great combination. The same day as his party we found out that we will be having a little GIRL. Well we don't know about the "little" part, but the technician seemed pretty confident that it's a girl growing inside there. Even better news is that she looks healthy and things are progressing normally. Tevita and I couldn't be happier.

Last night we went to our neighborhood festival followed by a wonderful fireworks display. Jason, Cathy and the kids joined us and despite the rain we all had a good time.

Now it's off to Ikea...

Battle with squirrles

2008-06-14T07:01:00.002-04:00

As our vegetable garden grows, Tevita has become very concerned about the squirrels snacking on our crops. I guess he doesn't really trust Shang's protective skills so he decided to set up camp to keep an eye on things. Out came the tent with a few blankets and pillows. I managed to remain outside until about 1:00 in the morning, when Shang and I decided to head inside to the comfort of the bed. I guess it's working though because the garden is growing beautifully. We ate our first fresh salad for the season with dinner last night!

Here is just a cute picture from when I was watching my niece and nephew last weekend. Talk about angels...

I hate to feed into the stereotypical pregnant woman, but as hormones pump through my body, I have lost control. As I watch sappy movies, hear of all the flood victims in Iowa, or hear of my political informant Tim Russert's passing, tears well up in my eyes. Okay that's probably putting it lightly. Tevita has caught me uncontrollably sobbing on several occasions. Now I had heard of people being emotional when pregnant, but I though "oh come on, that's not real". I now surrender. Surrender that my body is now a vessel and I am no longer flying the ship.

News!

2008-05-31T07:03:00.003-04:00

Yes it's been awhile since I posted last. I guess the easiest way to explain it is computer burn out. I've been busy at work and once home the computer has been the last thing that I wanted to look at. But I also realize that if I have the site, I should update periodically.

In case the coconut wire is taking longer to reach you, I guess I will use this form of higher technology to let you know that Tevita and I are expecting a baby. I'm 13 weeks along now and hoping for a joyous and healthy pregnancy!

Morning sickness struck, but the past two weeks I've been feeling somewhat better. Tevita and I took this opportunity to try our hands at a little fishing. We borrowed my brothers canoe and headed for Cowan Lake about an hour north. I can't say that we were very successful, but a day on the lake was relaxing and enjoyable.

Now that Memorial weekend has come and gone, our vegetable garden is in full swing, our lawn mower purchase has the yard looking spiffy, and we're ready for another long weekend that wont come soon enough.

Adrianne & Tevita

2008-04-12T08:52:00.003-04:00

With Spring has come a new neighbor and we couldn't be happier. A dove has claimed our hanging basket for a place to raise her young. Tevita noticed two little eggs that have just recently hatched. While I stood my distance to give the family some privacy, Tevita went forth with the camera. They don't seemed bothered by us and there has been no blow ups about property lines or the like. I hope we are able to witness first flight.

I love updates on what Tevita is doing at work because it's always something different and interesting. Several weeks ago he was at the Baseball Stadium working on some bleachers. The past two weeks he's been welding a staircase for a new company. I asked him to take a few pics so I could see the progress. Check it out.

This last picture was from many weeks ago at the St. Patrick Day parade. I just thought it was cute and we all had a blast. Marin's cup of candy filled quickly.

We have a round of cold coming in this weekend. I'm hoping it's the last. My tulips are looking beautiful and I'm ready to get the rest of my yard in shape.

Snow Snow and more Snow

2008-03-08T08:45:00.005-05:00

This week I'll let the photos do the talking.

Dinah's First Birthday

Winter hits hard.

We all love the chill day.

We need the hope of Spring so we bought a tent. On a snowy day, where better to camp out than in the living room.

Shang joined us.

Winter Wonderland

2008-02-23T09:27:00.006-05:00

We all know that I'm not a big fan of the winter months. I would hibernate if I found it at all feasible. I do however enjoy curling up on the couch under a blanket and reading a great book. The past two weeks I was given that unexpected opportunity a few times.
Last Tuesday I enjoyed a snow day. I haven't been that excited since my school days. I woke up to a phone call at 5:30 in the morning stating we were closed and told to go back to bed. Well, when I found out I had the day off my mind started racing about all the things I could do and I couldn't get back to sleep. No concerns though because on a snow day you can take naps.
This past Monday was then Presidents Day, which I happily spent the day at home appreciating the Presidential change that is soon to come. Then yesterday (Friday) another call at 5:30 in the morning. YES! - another snow day. I didn't get to the phone this time and happily slept until the dog woke me up. I could get used to this three day work week. I was glad to spend the day at home because the combination of snow and freezing rain did a number on our roads. Tevita hasn't been as lucky as me. I have footage of him going to the car with lunch in hand. Thank goodness for 4-wheel drive.

Shang loves the snow, but wasn't too fond of the freezing rain. He got a bit frustrated when his legs kept sliding as he tried to do his business. We enjoyed the weather from under the awning.

I was ready for spring back in November.

What a Week

2008-02-16T07:57:00.004-05:00

I started out this week with an interesting happening. I was driving across a viaduct from the west side of town toward the central side with a client in my car. Running the opposite direction was a man with no clothes on paying no attention to the rest of the world. It was roughly 25-30 degrees outside and he wasn't even wearing any shoes. I was completely shocked to see this at 4:30 in the afternoon on a Monday. Okay - any day at any time I still would have been shocked. I just kept thinking, this is only Monday. Sorry everyone - no picture to attach. The next day was a snow day and I didn't have to go to work. I had the whole day to recover.

Now I'm going to talk about something that I never do - politics. Yes it's a topic that should be avoided amongst friends and coworkers, but I feel like going against the taboo today. While serving in Tonga I read many books in my free time. One that really struck me was by Barack Obama. I told Tevita then that I would love if this guy ran for President. Well that time is now and the race couldn't be closer. The details of why I support him could probably be picked apart by all the non-supporters, which is why politics runs so deep, but that won't change the passion that I feel when I listen to him speak. I'm officially making my pledge to Barack Obama. Too bad I'm not a Superdelegate.

Enough of the heavy talk...I'm ready for spring. I want to let my hair grow out and just sit in the sunshine.

2008

2008-01-05T07:52:00.000-05:00

I guess a Happy New Year is in order.
Yes it's just another day in the cycle of the year, but it deserves a pause. It's a point in time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the coming one.

Here is my minds reflections.

I also want to share a piece of art that Tevita is welding at work. It will be displayed at a local library. Every time I see a glimpse of what he is doing, I'm proud. I feel that being here in the US has opened the door to his creativity and talent and given him the opportunity to grow.

Enjoy the challenges and surprises of 2008!

Adrianne

Christmas in Florida

2007-12-29T09:05:00.000-05:00

After a long car ride we are back from Florida to our quiet little house in the cold. It was an amazing vacation with lots of great memories created. Instead of describing everything, which I don't have the energy to do right now, I'll post a few pics.
Enjoy. Hope your Christmas was wonderful and Have a great New Year.

Thanksgiving Fun

2007-11-24T08:22:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

We decided this year to go the mellow route.
I wasn't up for the hustle and bustle of the holiday so we decided to do it our way.

Tevita and I woke up and made egg and bacon sandwiches on a toasted muffin. Then we hopped back in bed and watched some of the Thanksgiving Day parade. We then remained in pajamas and watched a movie. Next was a shuffle to the kitchen to begin fixing our first turkey. It was actually really fun to prepare the meal. We tried some new recipes for a sweet potato dish and a green bean salad. Ifo - Delicious!

As we stared at all the advertisements for this holiday weekend Black Friday, we began to get into the spirit of it. The spirit of what? - you say. Getting a deal. Walking into a store a seeing SALE written across everything. For a thrifty person like myself, this is wonderful.

So we decided to venture out. We waited until 11:00 as not to get caught up in the pushing and shoving. As I turned off the ignition in the parking lot, Tevita turned to me with a big smile and said, "Okay, let's run for it". I held him back as we headed for the door. To my surprise, it wasn't that crowded. I mean there were people everywhere, but I was expecting mobs. We completed our shopping with no wait at the checkout. The clerk looked exhausted. I have to say I was a little disappointed though. I thought it would be fun to see all the madness in peoples eyes as they hunted for that one item that they couldn't get. But all in all it was fun. We got some good deals, breathed in the cold air, and headed back home for some hot chocolate and down time.

I'm thankful for so much this year. I feel like time has gone by so quickly. Our new home and new jobs have brought smiles to our faces. Friends and family have brought a great comfort and support. Being able to enjoy the moment is a blessing.

Love,
Adrianne

Happy Halloween

2007-11-02T22:46:00.000-04:00

Marin the Skunk

This was the most intense trick or treat evening I've ever experienced.
Decorations were finally lite and the candy was overflowing our bowls. Tevita and I were arranged on the front porch enjoying the weather and awaiting the kids dressed in imaginative costumes.
Our first Halloween in our new house! How exciting!

Everything started off normal with a few kids coming up to the porch saying trick-or-treat and thank you. But by quarter after six the mob began. I have never seen anything like it before. It was child after child standing in front of me with their bags open.
Oh look at the pirate...see the angel....Tevita, please get another bag of candy out of the house...What a cute cowgirl...open your bag....Candy...Bag....Candy...Bag....Trick or treat...Candy...Bag....Candy...Bag....Could you give me a hand Tevita?...Candy...Bag....Candy....Bag...Candy...Bag...Nothing
By 6:50 over 200 children had come through the line that had formed in front of our house. We were out of candy. I felt horrible. It was not even 7:00 and I was telling kids that we were out. My Mom ran over with some spare candy from her house, but it only lasted another 5 minutes while Marin helped me distribute the goods. Another 200 children passed by with only a smile to receive.
I was speechless. I had never seen such organized chaos. I'm still in shock, but looking forward to next year. I'll be better prepared.

Happy Halloween!

Adrianne

Fall is here

2007-10-20T08:07:00.000-04:00

Owning a house has brought out this fix it, do it, make it quality that I didn't know I had in me. Last weekend we rented a tiller to help plot out our vegetable garden behind our garage for next year. Okay maybe a bit premature, but like I said I feel the need to do. Tevita managed to control this piece of machinery quite well, although I skated around the back yard with a little less control. I had a great time which you can see on my face.

We also had a wonderful time at the pumpkin patch. Our weather is a bit out of whack, but we've been lucky to get some nice days. Now that we have some pumpkins on our porch, we look a little more festive. Our neighborhood has set very high standards in the decoration department so I'm a little worried about Christmas. Creative yet tasteful is what I'm going for. When it comes to Halloween, the house with the best candy always wins so I better head to SAMS.

Watching Jeopardy last night, one of the answers was - The capital of this South Pacific country is Nuku'alofa.

Well, I finally got a question right!!! - What is Tonga?

I might add that the three "smart" people on the show didn't have a clue.

Enjoy the weather.

Adrianne

Camping

2007-10-06T08:35:00.000-04:00

Camping with Jason & Cathy on a trip to the Paw Paw Festival was wonderful. I hadn't been camping in a while and I forgot the splendid smell of firewood burning. And although I don't drink coffee, a nice cup of hot chocolate did the trick in the morning. While I had a great time, Tevita had an amazing time. He went hiking through the poison ivy to get firewood, but it didn't even seem to phase him. He feels totally at home in nature. So we are now trying to find another weekend to get back to the woods before the cold comes our way.

A few nights ago we had friends over for a BBQ. It's nice having a home now that actually fits people if you want to entertain. A good friend came in town from Seattle so it was wonderful to catch up. Although we all have taken our separate paths in life, it's nice to know that we are still connected.

My time is short. I'm off to a health fair to promote good eye care. I will be running a booth, which I guess is in my blood.

Enjoy.

Adrianne

Anniversary

2007-09-15T08:50:00.001-04:00

So the last few weeks have been a little busy in the O family. Thirty years of life haven't slowed us down.

Tevita and I have both started new jobs.
I've had three weeks of training on topics related to the blind and visually impaired and am just on the verge of getting my outreach started. This job feels like a perfect match for me. We've also gotten a new car for me to drive to and from all my appointments. This is the car from my fathers tales of last weekend. Thank you Jason and Dad for picking it up for us. Ebay is amazing.

Tevita has been in full force with welding. He's been thrown into his first project of making a fence and I'm amazed at his progress. He's also taking class once a week to work up to getting his certificate.

Yesterday we celebrated our One Year Anniversary!!!
Amazing how fast time buzzes past. I can't believe we've accomplished all these things within a one year time frame. Hopefully our next year will be just as exciting.

Now it's off on a camping excursion for the weekend.

Enjoy this cool weather.

Love,
Adrianne

Full Circle

2007-08-17T22:54:00.000-04:00

I feel like I've come full circle.
Okay - full circle with a twist.
Meaning that I originally had my goals set on social work for my future career. Then I caught the travel bug and needed to experience life from another point of view. After what seemed like a long readjustment period, I'm now back on my path. In a week I will begin an outreach social work position working with the blind community. I am beyond excited about this opportunity. The twist to this coming full circle is that obviously you can't return to that original point of view. It's impossible. And as I'm approaching the big 3 0, I realize that I wouldn't want to go back. I'm loving these moments right now.

In addition to my new opportunity, Tevita is ridding his own wave these days. He accepted a position working for a welding company and will also begin classes to attain his welding certificate. I'm excited for his artistic ability to be released and for him to be doing something that he enjoys. Somehow this move into a new home has brought about a positive change for the both of us.

Okay so I'm posting this picture from my time in Tonga where I was tediously washing all my clothes by hand. This is to follow the full circle theme with stating that we just purchased a new washer/dryer for the house. I found a washer that clearly states HAND WASH CYCLE. As I did my first load and pushed the simple button I remembered my days of past. Once again - I wouldn't want to go back in time.

Smile for the sake of it.

Love,
Adrianne

"I Love Your House"

2007-08-04T08:21:00.000-04:00

Our back door is a little tricky and somehow the key wasn't working when Tevita returned from work at 6:30 this morning so I was awakened by a little knock on the window. Our front door is now our main entrance until we can make our fifth trip to Home Depot. Shang needed his morning release so Tevita and I were both standing on the front porch talking. A gentleman jogging by caught us by surprise by suddenly yelling up to us, "I Love Your House." My initial thought was that of enthusiasm and "So Do I," but I responded with a simple thank you. He continued with his praise for Sears Roebuck houses and his amazement about the idea of catalog housing. It's wonderful to know that our joy of this home is shared with so many others.

So to say the least, Tevita and I are thrilled with our new home. The move went smoother than I thought was possible. Our furniture fits perfectly in this new space, which makes me realize it was stuffed into our old apartment. There are still a few boxes that need to be unpacked and pictures that need to be hung on the wall, but we are almost there. Thank you to everyone who gave a helping hand. We are so grateful.

Last night we took a short walk to the local Dairy Queen for an ice cream. I wore a new shirt that my Mother bought me showing my support for the neighborhood.

Congratulations to Heather & Gene!
Another Adriana in this world is a good thing.

Love,
Adrianne

Veggies

2007-07-20T22:59:00.000-04:00

The upcoming move has me in a bit of a fast pace mentality with little time to focus on a long post. So my compromise is a few pictures to share that speak for themselves.
Vegetables are in abundance.
Marin is loving his new snorkel set.
And our house is in disarray. (Picture not necessary)

Adrianne & Tevita

100

2007-07-08T09:02:00.000-04:00

This is my 100th post!
I can't believe I've actually kept up with this. Okay - there have been moments of writers block with my creativity down, but here you are with number One Hundred.

A week and a half ago Tevita reached his own significant mark by turning the big THREE ZERO (30). We celebrated with a family dinner at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. We enjoyed an elegant meal of finger licking BBQ Ribs with a side of duck. As you can see by our smiles - it was excellent. Then on July 4th we went to a Reds game to enjoy this amazing weather we've been having, only to have it rained out in the 8th inning with the tornado sirens blaring. Still had a great time.

I've realized this upcoming move is happening at the perfect time. We've only lived here nine months, but our apartment has gotten a little out of control. We returned to the US with three bags adding to the futon and desk that were stored at my parents. Somehow we've accumulated large pieces of furniture and odds and ends that have made our place look a little cramped (to put it nicely). So with this move it not only gives us more space to spread the material goods throughout a larger area, but it's forcing me to organize and simplify. I'm actually excited to pack and sift through all the necessary and unnecessary items. So you know where to find me the next three weeks.

Love,
Adrianne

The Avalon

2007-06-22T22:23:00.000-04:00

Our house....
In the middle of our street.
Our house....

So we've finally taken the plunge.
After taking one walk through the house we knew this was it. (Okay I said that after every house, but this was a deep down feeling that really felt right). We're buying a Sears Roebuck Catalog house that was originally sold for $2,520. Our model is called the Avalon, which is a small bungalow. Since our offer was accepted I've been placing furniture in my mind and picturing Shang sleeping in the backyard. It's difficult to concentrate and focus on other things. However, if you were to talk to Tevita you would have a whole different picture. Although he loves the house, he's much more relaxed about the upcoming plunge. I think I need to take some lessons from him since we have over a month before the move.

I thought I'd share a few photos from last weekends Father's Day pool excursion. The point was to relax and enjoy each others company, which Dad definitely did with his laptop in hand. Marin and Dinah are growing so fast.

Music of Life

2007-06-16T09:12:00.001-04:00

Music is entering my life again.
I go through phases where I totally enjoy silence when doing activities such as driving, cleaning, walking Shang and cooking. It gives me time to relax and sit with my thoughts. But recentely I listened to the song "Seasons of Love" from the Broadway Show Rent and I've been thrown back into accompanying my time with tunes. This has put a bounce back in my step and encouraged me to become more active. Funny how music can do that.

Last weekend Tevita and I decided to take a walk across our famous Purple People Bridge, I'm still not fond of that name. Maybe I need to come up with my own creative name, but then no one would know what I was talking about. Anyway, we went to an Italian Festival in Newport where we enjoyed wonderful food and music.

Wednesday I woke up to a complaining Tevita who was holding his jaw. A pain in his tooth caused a normally pleasant person to become agitated and not someone that I wanted to be around. So Thursday, bright and early, he was off to the dentist to get a cracked wisdom tooth pulled. After a bit of medication we are now both happier.

Happy Father's Day DAD!!!
Thanks for the support, trust and guidance.
I wouldn't be who I am without your example.

Love,
Adrianne

Enjoying Life

2007-06-02T07:00:00.000-04:00

Our calender is slowly filling and there are more and more enjoyable activities to partake in on the weekends. Last week was a friends wedding celebration and our famous Taste of Cincinnati Festival.

The Taste has a wide array of local restaurants that display samples of their famous dishes. One of our top picks was Montgomery Inn's fall off the bone ribs. Spectacularly, why was I ever a vegetarian, good. We also ran into The Naked Cowboy who was busy pleasing the crowd. I didn't want to get too close and be cast under his dizzying spell.

Last night we were joined for dinner by some Peace Corps friends, Dan and Katrina, in town for the weekend. Although I don't see them often, it's always a blast reminiscing and getting updated on life State side. I also want to wish my friend Joel, who happened to be playing last night, an amazing birthday.

There's nowhere else I'd rather be.

Adrianne

Mother's Day

2007-05-19T09:38:00.000-04:00

So I don't have the consistency of my father...
Sorry for the delay in posting.

With the sunshine blazing daily we have found ourselves outside enjoying it. From Reds games to farm trips I'm discovering why I missed Cincinnati (because all winter long I had trouble realizing it).

Tevita's head is healing well following the second split. We've (I've) decided rugby is not a sport that we will endorse, for this or future generations. I will however happily watch a game on television with my husband sitting next to me on the couch.

From my stint in Tonga I grew an affection and respect for gardening. Although I'm still in the beginning stages of discovery, Tevita has helped to spruce up our vegetable garden. My face lights up every day as I can see progress, growth, and beauty come from such small seeds. I'll soon share pictures as the garden becomes more lush and fruitful.

Now off to Findley Market - until our own plants are plentiful.
Here are a few pictures from last weekends Mother's Day farm trip.

Enjoy the weather.

Adrianne

Taking a Hit

2007-04-14T16:32:00.000-04:00

Just when things get a little ordinary,
life happens.
This is a shot taken during the first half of the game when we had to take Tevita to the Urgent Care. We all heard a large crack during the game which was apperently head to head contact. After I freaked out (while Tevita remained calm and cool) he received 13 staples in his head.

I'm not sure I like rugby anymore.

Adrianne

A Step in the Right Direction

2007-03-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

Arriving in a new country can be filled with anxiety and stress. I remember my first days in Tonga, thinking 'How am I going to make this life my own'. Some how I did and I met an amazing man in the process. Now that he is in the US with me, he is facing that same question.

I'm beginning to see his efforts come into play. He made the decision to start attending church where we have met some great people. Then a few weeks ago he joined a rugby team where he gets the chance to show his talents and strength. I'm a little weary since he has already come home with cuts and bruises. He also started a new job that has him coming home with a smile on his face. He's developing his own circle and making a life that I'm proud of him for.

So my challenge to myself and to you - is to step out from your comfort zone and take a step in a new direction. Take a look around the corner and see if there is anything of interest that is worth a leap.

Love,
A & T

Welcome Dinah

2007-03-03T20:07:00.000-05:00

Our love goes out to our expanding family.
We want to welcome and introduce to the world - Miss Dinah Miriam, who was born on March 3rd.

Here are a few pictures to show how adorable she is.

Love,
Adrianne & Tevita

Appreciating the Sun

2007-02-21T19:54:00.000-05:00

It’s been a long time since I’ve reported my thoughts to the masses.
So here it goes:

Health – nothing more important.
Physical health is directly connected to mental health. When one is failing – the other takes a big hit. I’m getting back on track with both and finding my smile that had been lost.

This smile is continuing through the unstable weather here in the Tri-State.
Tevita and I were walking the dog along our street last week, enjoying the ice crystals, when two loud cracks knocked out all the electricity for the bottom half of our street. Apparently a tree and a transformer had a collision that ended up taking several days to repair. Tevita and I remained in the house for one night thinking, “We lived in Tonga. We can handle life with no electricity”. But once it went below 40 degrees we headed straight for my parents. Thanks for letting us crash and take nice hot showers.

We’re now appreciating the sun that has decided to shine and thaw out our city.

I’m also in search of The Secret.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Happy Birthday Derek & Dad!!!!

Adrianne

Snow Day

2007-01-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tevita's first REAL snow came yesterday.
After a few tough weeks it was nice to have snow impede the city.
This meant sleeping in an extra hour then taking Shang to the park for a romp in the snow. I showed Tevita how to make snow angels as he attempted a snowman. Back at the house I went in to warm up, but Tevita thought it would be fun to shovel the walk and clean off the car. More power to him.
After a movie in bed we then got suited up for sled riding at Mt. Storm Park with some friends. We spun down backwards and rode tandem until our toes were too cold to continue. We then thawed out by enjoying a crock pot stew and great conversation.
We ended the evening with a great night of football.
Go Indianapolis!!!!!

Age doesn’t matter - Snow days are just as fun as when I was a kid.

Adrianne & Tevita

Holiday Greetings

2006-12-30T08:58:00.000-05:00

Over the river and through the woods with not a drop of snow in sight.
Dad drove the Trooper, while Mom complained in a stupor
and Tevita and I yelled Hey Hey.
Once in the warmth and surrounded by family all became okay.
Christmas was a delight and so very bright with laughter that will last until May.

Once back in Cincinnati a gathering did occur at Adrianne and Tevita’s abode.
The celebration didn’t end with Marin searching for packages with M
and delicious food a fire.
The joy of family makes Christmas a treat to everyone that share in its belief.
So good wishes to all during this holiday season and I hope your spirits are higher.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Cyclones

2006-12-16T09:53:00.000-05:00

I’m totally enjoying this holiday season.
Normally I hear much criticism about how the holiday music starts earlier and earlier every year and about the headaches caused by the pressure of gift giving, but I’m just taking it all in with a smile on my face.
I’ve realized it’s all perspective and self-inflicted pressure so I’ve vowed to chill this season and enjoy time with family.

The cold however has been a bit of a challenge for me, so I’m lucky it’s been mild this winter. But if the wind is going to blow and freeze my thighs when walking then we might as well have the snow to help decorate the landscape. Mother nature is doing her thing and I will continue to wait patiently until spring.

Tuesday we spent the evening at the Cyclones hockey game. Although the crowd was minimal we had a blast taking in the atmosphere. I think Tevita has found a new sport that he loves. It’s fast paced and skilled with a touch of violence – perfect for the rugby loving man.

By the way – Shang is healthy and happy.
This week he turns 10 years old!!!

Enjoy the week.

Adrianne

Beginning of Traditions

2006-12-05T08:53:00.000-05:00

Years past and living alone I was not keen on getting a Christmas tree. It just seemed like a lot of work and effort for only myself. Now being married I decided I wanted to start a new tradition with Tevita so we went and cut down our own Christmas tree. To us the perfect tree had to have a little character so we decided on a little Charlie Brown tree.

Dad completed his fatherly duty by strapping the tree to the roof (Or - first trying and then asking someone else to do it). But as you can see the results were first-rate as we drove home.

My little guy is sick this week after having a large abscess removed on Monday. We are waiting for test results and hoping for the best. He is my heart.

Adrianne

Thanksgiving

2006-11-24T21:44:00.000-05:00

Food, family, friends, and laughter...
A perfect holiday weekend.
Instead of me trying to describe all the fun here are a few pictures.

This picture is pre-feast. Eyes are closed yet can't get the computer out of his grip!!!

Light up Fountain Square

Enjoying the lights and fireworks

Marin with chopsticks (although he decided it worked better with his hands)

Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was amazing.

'Ofa 'atu,

Tevita & Adrianne

A Sad Day for the Kingdom

2006-11-18T08:57:00.000-05:00

I answered the phone Thursday morning at 7:30 hearing a faint ‘Male’ (hello) on the other end. Tevita’s sister in Tonga called to inform us of all the devastation going on in the capital city of Tonga, Nuku’alofa. It was late at night there and they were all sitting at home listening to the radio to keep updated on the latest.

Apparently pro-democracy supporters were upset about the lack of change within Parliament and directed their anger towards the business district downtown. Fires, destruction, and looting overcame the rioting crowd. Eight people have been reported as dead.

I’m trying to keep my opinion to a minimum, but to say the very least I am disappointed by the participants in this riot. For a country that has the reputation as being ‘The Friendly Islands,’ this is devastating. Not only were lives lost, but the entire business district is in shambles. Who will rebuild these stores? Where will the money come from to support reconstruction?
Will a soft smile, a hand out, and a slight nod of the head be enough this time?

Adrianne

Vote

2006-11-08T20:19:00.000-05:00

A routine is developing in our new household. After living numerous years alone I am surprised by the ease of this transition. I am the early riser, feeding and walking the dog while Tevita is more of a late bird doing his best thinking in the evening. We have found our equilibrium and it feels great.

So after a long day at work yesterday I raced home to make it to the voting booth in time to cast my ballot. After a detour to the wrong precinct, my vote was counted along with all the other Ohioans.
Long live the King….

Perspective

2006-10-25T14:50:00.000-04:00

Is it possible to balance your perspective so that life isn’t too fictional and so we can remain grounded?

I’m in search of this balance. In Tonga there was no question. You live basic so that life is grounded and all the small nuances become a source of laughter. Here in the States we have the luxury of choice... too much sometimes. In a place full of potential activities I find myself bored. So I’m deciding this balance or perspective that I’m searching for is possible. I think it comes on a daily basis through interactions with family and friends. I think when I take my dog for a walk I can huddle in my coat, take a deep breath of cold air, and laugh at the drool running down his mouth. I just need to escape the advertisements and superficial matters while focusing more on simple smiles and soft voices.

So here is a photo of what makes me happy.
Both of them keep me grounded.

Adrianne

Halloween festivities

2006-10-17T10:30:00.000-04:00

I want to give a warm thank you to everyone who shared in our wedding celebration here in the States. We wish we had more time with everyone, but now that we live here hopefully we’ll be raking in the quality time.

With Halloween festivities in full swing, Tevita and I thought we would explore some of the traditions of this gruesome season. We met up with some friends for a scary evening on a local haunted boat. Now I tend to be a bit wimpish closing my eyes and clinching onto all recognizable people around me for the entire duration of the panic filled adventure. This matched well with Tevita’s (first ever scare fest) laid-back attitude and hysterical outcries of laughter directed at us less brave folks. The evening ended up being a blast as you can tell by our faces.

I have to say I am totally indulging in some of the simple pleasures of being back in the good old USA.
*Hot showers two times a day
*Washing clothes with the touch of a button.
*Drying clothes and putting them on directly after I take them out.
*Reliable Internet access
*Driving on the right side of the road.
*Eating lunch at an amazing local Mexican restaurant.
*Walking my dog and no one asking where I’m going.

Love to you all,

Adrianne

2006-10-14T18:13:00.000-04:00

So now that I am back in the States with Tevita, we have a whole new adventure in front of us. I'm not sure our posts will be as exciting, but we'll try.
Here is our wedding photo. Enjoy!

Nofo 'i Kolo - Staying in Town

2006-08-15T20:05:00.000-04:00

My stay in town at the guesthouse has been its own mini-adventure. I’ve experienced a different side of Tonga especially during this busy tourist season. I’ve met travelers from all corners of the world that have come to Vava’u to swim with the whales (an exploit that I want to try for my birthday next week). Moving has been a good transition for wrapping up projects and cleaning house. I unloaded my whole kitchen and bedroom belongings to neighbors and friends. I now have one box and a few bags of clothes that I continue to rifle through to bestow things upon others as a way to minimize my load for traveling home.

The disability group that I run here has been growing in terms of recognition. We received a local donation of $1,200 and also were awarded a grant to help pay for materials and resources. I even got my picture in the ‘Taimi Tonga’ Newspaper! It’s a good feeling to know that the program has funding to carry on after I leave. I was also surprised by a local business owner who invited the group to attend the opening of his restaurant. He asked that they be the guests of honor and a little article was written in the paper. Awareness is growing here in Vava’u…but there is still so much more to learn.

Not much to report on the perpetrator for my house burglary. The investigator said he is swamped with work so he is progressing slowly. I’ve let go of being angry because it is only material things that were taken, but I am still disappointed in the kids that did it. No, officially I don’t know who it is, but this is a small island where people enjoy talking.

Wedding plans are progressing nicely and wrapping up all my loose ends here is filling my days. I’m starting to become more and more eager to see everyone back home.

Love,
Adrianne

Ta'ahine Pele

2006-07-26T20:26:00.000-04:00

I’ve had a bit of a bumpy road the past few days, but mixed in where some amusing moments that make me love this beautiful country of Tonga.

I left my house the other night and was gone approximately 1 ½ hours. Upon my return I noticed things were in disarray and stuff was missing. Yes, my house was broken into and things taken, one of them being my digital camera. So no more photos on my posts – sorry.

My neighbor told me to go to the police and report it right away so I had Tevita give me a lift to his home. After much casual conversation and much persuasion the officer agreed to come to my house and check things out. He then informed me that he had no gas in the police car so he hopped into Tevita’s van to travel to Okoa to do his investigation. This “investigation” turned out to be a stroll around my house with a flashlight accompanied by some more casual conversation, but I was told not to worry because he was the best. After twenty minutes we dropped the police officer off back at his house a few villages over. He seemed to be a bit exhausted by all the hard work.

The next morning my neighbor insisted I go to the ta’ahine pele (woman with the cards). I wasn’t sure what the neighbor was talking about, but I jumped in the car anyway and made the trip to the other side of the island. We arrived to a hall made of tin where a group of women were weaving. I was told to shuffle the cards according to the number of letters in my name. Then the reader placed them in a specific arrangement and gave me the details of the burglary. I was told it was two boys who broke into my house, one being the brother of a good girlfriend. She said the boys were scared right now and the truth would come out soon. I was also told they will come to apologize to me in two days.

Upon my return to the village everyone wanted to hear about what the cards ‘said.’ Some people had full faith in the cards while others were interested, but not true believers. I’m in the category of a 'not a true believer', but somehow I find myself leaning towards accepting the statements as genuine.

In the village rumors have spread as to the identity of the person(s), but no arrests as to date. I’m still waiting for the apology.

Due to all this commotion the Peace Corps has decided to move me out of my village and into a guest house near town, there to spend the remainder of my short time here. I have mixed feelings because of the suddenness of the move. It was hard to say goodbye to neighbors and friends, but I told then all that I would come over and see them often until I leave in just over a month. So now – I’m a city girl. Well, maybe semi-city.

Stay safe.
Love,
Adrianne

Kai Lelei

2006-07-14T19:38:00.000-04:00

Last week was Saineha High School’s reunion. This happened to be where Tevita went to school, so we joined in the festivities. We made it to a couple feasts and went to a couple of dances, and I have never seen anything like this celebration. Many of the alumni currently live overseas and came back to see family and enjoy the celebrating. The thing that was amazing is what they brought back with them – which was a great deal of money. During every afternoon of feasting was a performance from various villages and groups. Many of the alumni would go up to the performing group and throw money into the air as well as tuck money in every single person’s pocket. I was astounded to see so much generosity. It was also quit amusing to see people running around in an attempt to catch the falling bills. Not only was money donated to these performers, but also large contributions made to the school.

I also spent the later part of last week in bed sick. The temperature dropped quit a bit for the South Pacific and I seemed to have caught something. I wasn’t nearly as bad as Tevita who was down for the count with a fever. As I seemed to have recovered nicely, Tevita is still wearing his winter hat around and a nice warm sweater.

My countdown is now exactly 8 weeks, which is unreal. The excitement of seeing everyone is starting to become overwhelming. I have to admit it is getting hard to even sit down and write these posts. Hope everyone is well.

Love you all,
Adrianne

Ta'eoli 'uha (Sick of the rain)

2006-07-02T21:40:00.000-04:00

The rains came down and the sun came up.
The rains came down and the sun came up.
The rains came down and the sun came up
and the house on the sand went splat.

That is the feeling I had this past week with all the rain. My house became a mud bath and the water decided to creep inside. All my clothes got soaked and acquired that musty. moldy smell. After some massive clean up and hand washing of laundry I’m now okay. It took three days to dry my clothes (hanging them inside) and the sun finally came to help out. I’m not sure which I hate more – A bad snow storm or a horrendous rain storm?

So now it is time for a big shout out to my elder sister Kirstin. Congratulations for bringing Kellen into the world. With my upcoming marriage and Kellen’s birth, I am excited to see my family growing larger.

The countdown is now at less than nine weeks. This is a long time, but all the sudden the pace is picking up. The paperwork is waiting patiently while wedding plans have moved forward. Youth activity is at a crawl, but I remain ‘busy’ within my village.

I hope everyone is healthy and happy.

Love,
Adrianne

COS Conference

2006-06-23T21:54:00.000-04:00

A short flight to the capital and I met up with my fellow group 67 members to attend our Close of Service Conference. After reviewing all the requirements and logistics for completing our service, I did some major work on my resume. After being away from the academic world for two years it took a day just to find the right words to describe my service here in Tonga. So now comes the challenging part of entering back into the mainstream of American society. I’m in the beginning stages of my search for a satisfying, stimulating, and productive career, although the real hunt will begin in a month. This transition has me spinning in a hundred different directions, but I know I will land on my feet.

I’m starting to get sentimental as I look at the calendar and realize I only have 10 weeks left of service. I’m going to miss this place. I’m not sure I made humongous changes in the lives of the Tongan people, but I do know that I am leaving a different person from when I arrived. I happier person.

Love,
Adrianne

official COUNTDOWN

2006-06-08T21:21:00.000-04:00

I was living in my little bubble and didn’t have the focus to write – sorry for the delay.

My monthly youth competitions have been a real highlight for me as well as the youth. The latest was several races followed by a blindfold ball search. It feels great to free your body and let yourself laugh uncontrollably, which is what the youth have taught me to do.

Now that only three months remain, I have begun the process of mentally trying to wrap up projects. Now this is different from actually wrapping up things, which is something that I’m not sure will happen. I have a strong feeling my youth group will sever its connections directly following my leave. I’ve decided this is not a bad thing considering they only started it on my behalf anyway. They also have a variety of other activities to participate in over the course of a year where they don’t require a youth group in order to be empowered or active. The only issue I have is that I have a few computers that have been acquired for them and I’m not sure there will be a positive solution for sharing them, maybe a donation to the local primary school.

My next concern is the weekly disability program. I have just found a new teacher and so the training will soon begin. Everything here is so tentative, but I have faith that this program is worthwhile and will continue because of people’s generous hearts.

Yesterday the island of Vava’u received a visit from the Princess for a local competition of “cleanest village”. Not only do people cut the grass and trim the bushes, but they decorate their houses (Tongan style). Red and white flags lined the streets and people hung tapa, mats, and decorative blankets all over fences and porches. Here is a photo of my next door neighbor, who was proud beyond belief to pose for this shot. I’m still waiting on the results of the competition.

As for me, I head down to Tongatapu next week to participate in my Close of Service Conference. This will be my administrative paperwork wrap-up and time to start the official COUNTDOWN to September 9th. As with most life changing experiences, I move toward this date with mixed feelings of excitement and sadness.

Love to you all,

Adrianne

Mofuike

2006-05-15T19:03:00.000-04:00

What was meant to be a little vacation on a short trip to Ha’apai (another island group) turned into a real adventure. This was mostly due to what everyone has by now already heard about, the 8.0 earthquake (mofuike). I got off the boat at midnight and quickly passed out on the floor with 10 people in my Tongan family’s relative’s home. At 4:30 in the morning started incredible shaking. I was exhausted, but sat up franticly trying to figure out where to go and what to do. I’m not a fan of rollercoaster and this felt about equal in thrust and movement. After dishes broke and things settled down we all realized the electricity was out. Then the loud clatter began of neighboring kids banging sticks on tin to scare away the earthquake. My whole week in Ha’apai was a series of aftershocks that became a source of amusement and conversation.

My real purpose for traveling to Ha’apai was to attend the Tongan Church Conference. Well not really the Conference, but the feasts that surrounded the week long meetings. I ate rounds of lobster, crab, and roasted pig. I stuffed bags to capacity with food and candy to share and eat later. I’ve really grown to love these events that seem to have captured a piece of Tonga generosity.

Now back in Vava’u, I have this overwhelming thirst for everything American. I think I’m getting the ‘I’m out of here’ bug. Not that I’m unhappy, but the mindset of being in transition and thinking about my next step has taken over to influence daydreams of Skyline Chili and long walks with my dog. It is beyond my control. I haven’t started an actual countdown yet – I’m trying to postpone that so I won’t get to worked up.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom!!!!

Love,
Adrianne

Learning Life

2006-05-01T18:51:00.000-04:00

Top meal of the week.
- Found a can of Indian Spiced Stewed Tomatoes. Add a little white rice and zap…I’m in another country.

I feel like I’m learning life over again. My water is now running, which is literally weight off my shoulders. What a beautiful sight to have the tap filling my little red bucket. I’m learning that even thought the water is on there are 10 hour periods each day that the pump fills the tank. Which means that it is always a good idea to fill an extra bucket whenever possible.

My first 18 months I had the wonderful conveyance of electricity. I was used to having my small refrigerator, electric teapot, radio, lights, and yes even a rice cooker. Now I find myself living in the dark and mostly silence. I’m not complaining about the change, just acknowledging what it has done to my life.
- I fall asleep much earlier than I probably need to. For some reason reading by candlelight has that effect.
- I’m learning to cook much smaller portions. I now totally understand why Tongans are so giving when it comes to food. With no refrigeration, leftovers can give off quite a bad smell by morning.
- I now know that butter does not last long in this climate. This heat is intense.
- I’ve learned to keep matches in a plastic bag because when it rains they are no good to light the lantern when coming home.

So through all this learning life over, I feel like I’m living life fuller.

Love,
Adrianne

Fale 'afa

2006-04-20T19:09:00.000-04:00

A wave of change has happened in the matter of a week. The move across the bridge to the other side of the village was a success. My new house is what the locals call a fale 'afa (hurricane house). Identical houses were built across Tonga after the last huge hurricane to replace damaged homes. It is basic and sturdy and I couldn’t be happier. The catch, because there is always a catch, is that I have no electricity or water. I’m getting used to no electricity by just using a lantern and candles although the youth talk about hooking it up any day now. The water is a bigger deal to me because of the pain in hauling it back to my house. I have a pipe that runs to an outdoor tap, but I’ve had a bit of a challenge getting the ‘water committee’ to turn it on. In the meantime, the rain has been a saving grace by filling my buckets with fresh, clean gold.

Here is my new shower (right) and toilet (left).

My largest struggle while living in a small village has been the flow of gossip. I’m finally learning how to play the game. Feed some information to some kids, turn to others for support, shed some tears, crack a joke, and come out looking like a rose. I’m not sure what kind of marketable skill this will be back in the States, but its doing wonders for me here.

Love to you all,

Adrianne

PS - Check out the addition to my photo album with Mom's visit to Tonga

Polopolo

2006-04-07T18:35:00.000-04:00

Mom's trip ended with some relaxation and some amazing meals that will last me until September. Reflecting over the 3 weeks I have only humerous and enjoyable memories. Mom's last weekend we spent a day in the bush for the polopolo (harvesting of crops). A piece of land on which the village share crops was filled with families for the day. While the men dug out the root crops, the women cooked food in an umu (earth oven). Mom and I had the luxury of resting under a mango tree and strolling around to check out various families' crops before eating a delicious umu meal. I think Mom got a real taste of Tongan life.

Now, although life in Tonga is slow, it is never boring. I came here to get away from drama, but I always find myself mixed in the middle of it. The latest is that I'm getting the boot from my current house. As I've stated before, my neighbor and I are not the best of friends. Well, he is getting married next month and wants to live in my house. Since it belongs to his family I have no real say in the situation. So I've put feelers out among the community and have found a new house. The family that lives there is out of town for a few months so I will take up residency there until the end of my service in September. I'm viewing this change as positive although it is causing a rift between the village. He said - she said - this church treats her like this - that one acts like that. I'm just happy to finally have amy own shower and toilet. The move will take place in the next week so I hope all goes smooth.

Mom - thanks for the adventure.

Love to all,
Adrianne

Finding a Fresh Perspective

2006-04-01T19:54:00.000-05:00

I was looking for a fresh perspective on Tonga through Mom's visit and that is exactly what I got. Something as simple as cooking has become a creative adventure of scouring the market and stores for lost items. We spent a morning hunting for eggs only to turn up at a chicken farm that had sold/killed all their stock.
I was also awakened to Tonga's cash based society while witnessing Mom swear while unable to purchase a carton of cigarettes on credit card. A VISA / Mastercard sign in a window is exactly that...a sign. There should be no presumption that the piece of plastic holds any value here, but Western Union sure makes a killing.
The other day I had a small grin on my face when after spending an evening at my house Mom asked if I lived at Grand Central Station. It made me realize that all the social visits of small village life have become woven into my core that I no longer regard it as intrusive. It's actually comforting.
Mom's favorite adventure was a boat trip around the outer islands that was energy draining, but renewed my spirit. Visually it is all so breathtaking that I can't help but be amazed. Mom seemed to have gotten a few too many sun rays and circled the island three times before she was able to spot the boat. The only mishap was lack of sunscreen on Mom's winter white feet.

Mom and I have somehow managed to get along this whole time although I’m tired of hearing - 'This is just like Canada at Paul's cabin.' No Mom. You are on an island in the middle of the South Pacific. This is not Cummings Lake.
But really all is well here.

All our love, A & M

'Eva mai 'eku fa'e - Mom's visit

2006-03-20T20:35:00.000-05:00

After waiting weeks and weeks, Mom finally arrives and exits the airplane in a hot pink outfit. I then thought to myself – this will be a great vacation.

To keep all the rambling to a minimum here are a few of the highlights up to date:
Snorkeled off the cement dock below Mom’s bungalow. The water is perfect and it is so nice to be able to cool off in a private close location.

We attended the Free Tongan Church service on Sunday followed by and amazing umu meal. Mom was a little overwhelmed with the powerful voices of the female members of the church. She was catered to by women fanning her during the entire service. Mom was also able to see the whole preparation process for the umu (detailed on video) and really enjoyed the feast.

Saturday morning was spent at the highly hectic market. We bought enough food to fill the fridge and sat to enjoy an ice cream.
Mom spent this morning helping out with the Disability program. It was great to have an extra helper and we enjoyed the mask making art project.
Tonight we fit Mom with a mat to prepare for the putu she will be attending tomorrow. I’m sure she will have some great stories.

I know some of this might not sound very exciting, but we are having a great time and staying busy (Tongan style).
Hope all is well.

Love,

‘Ateliana & Malisia
(Adrianne & Marcia)

hodge-podge of thoughts

2006-03-13T21:06:00.000-05:00

No vegetables are available right now in the market. My youth group has the monopoly, but I have long since realized that the demand is much higher than our supply. I have since moved to supplements. I read a Newsweek article from a few months ago that detailed the importance of various vitamins and I realized that I am plentiful in some, but lacking in most. With my current diet of starch root crops and fried meat, my body is suffering. I’ve decided to make a change by adding a multi-vitamin.

The heat has got me going crazy. After being here a year and 8 months I still manage to get sunburned. You would think I had learned something and knew how to manage myself, but I still turn bright pink when I step outside to do laundry. I feel a definite lull during mid-day, but a burst of energy always comes around sunset. Sunrise and sunset are the most perfect times for me.

I reviewed with a staff member the other day my ‘accomplishments’ since being here in Tonga. We came up with a very hearty list that made me feel a great sense of joy. On most days it is difficult to see any outcomes to the tedious effort put into projects. But in times of reflection my heart swells with pride. I still question the overall purpose of my Peace Corps experience, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.

SO, the countdown is on. My Mom will be here in a matter of days. I feel like I’ve lived in a bubble from all my friends and family at home, so I am completely excited to finally be able to share it with someone. I can’t wait to hear her perspective on things that have become so normal to me. The first year here everything is so new, but I have definitely moved to the stage of normalcy. My Mom will sure throw a twist into things.

That’s all for my hodge-podge of thoughts. I think the heat really is affecting my brain.

Love you all,
Adrianne

Fai 'aho - Birthdays

2006-02-27T16:43:00.000-05:00

The past week was a chance to celebrate life. Not only was it Derek and Dad’s birthdays, but two new babies were born in my village. The 22^nd was also one of my favorite little guy’s 1^st birthday. Tongans are typically not big on celebrating birthdays except for the 1^st. I spent the day at the family’s home to help with food preparation because a party really just means a big feast. Okay – they really didn’t let me help with the food, but I was the nanny for the day, which was help in its own way. The amount of food was amazing. I ate during the first round with elders and kids (I took my plastic bag for leftovers). Round two came the men, followed by the women cleaning plates so that nothing was left.

Along with all this celebrating I have felt a definite shift in my mood. Maybe it’s because I’ve started exercising again. Maybe because Mom is coming soon. Maybe because I’m amazed that I’ve been here long enough to see children born, grow, walk, and even talk. Maybe because on many days this place feels like home.

Love you all,

Adrianne

2006-02-20T17:45:00.000-05:00

So I guess an update is needed.

I have been in a bit of a lull trying to push ahead in work. The combination of many events as of recent has got me straying. Following all the funeral events, related meetings, and the hurricane scare I have been in need of some down time. I would think that living in Tonga down time would be in excess, but not in my village. Curiosity from children and neighbors about the death of Tessa accumulated with current village gossip has left me no respite.

So let me try and refocus. The vegetables from the youth project are outstanding and are selling well. We will soon start to replant to continue with this income generating scheme. Alonga disability program is currently on hold due to funding, but before long I expect it to blossom. A prospect for new leadership and expanding participants has given me a sense of hope. I guess time will tell, as the saying goes.

So for now, I look to the coming weeks when my Mom will join me. I’m hoping that seeing this beautiful country through new eyes will rekindle the affection that I once had.

Love,

Adrianne

Loss of a friend

2006-02-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

Tessa Horan

1982 - 2006

Hi all,
I don't really feel like doing a post under the circumstances.

For those of you who do not know - a Peace Corps Volunteer from here in Vava'u passed away two days ago from a shark attack. Tessa was new here, but was totally at home in her village. She will be missed.

It's been really difficult here lately as I'm sure you all can imagine. All the volunteers up here (13 of us) met at the hospital to pay our respect before she was placed in the morgue. My initial feelings were of course shock and sadness. I can't help but continue to think about her family. I think it is every parents worst thought that when they send their child off to another country - they might not return. This then leads me to think of all of you back home. You are missed and loved.

After returning from the hospital around 11:30 at night, I gave Mom and Dad a call. I just needed to hear their voices and for everyone to know that I'm okay. Here in Vava'u we continued with Tongan forms of mourning which meant going to the hospital at 5 in the morning for prayer. We continued to wait for the afternoon plane which would ship her down to the capital. My day was filled with prayer, singing, viewings and cleaning out her home. We then rode to the airport with her body followed by a huge line of cars. Her village was amazing in decorating and taking care of proceedings with mats, tapa, and flowers.

The youth from her village lined the road to the airport by sitting on the ground in the rain with their respectful black clothes and dress funeral mats. I'm in awe of the out-pouring of support from the people here.

Everyone here is dealing with things in their own way, but we are trying to plan a few things for her village and family. I believe we are all going to attend church in her village this Sunday and send letters and pictures to her family. I'm still kind of unsure about what to do next. I have a meeting in an hour that I don't really feel like attending. I guess I can do the Tongan thing and just not go. Or I can start back to work and slowly grasp life again.

On a side note - I don't think I'll be doing anymore diving while I'm here. I'm actually going to stay away from the water altogether for a while. Everything takes time. I'm excited my Mom is coming in March and I'll figure out some other things we can do.

I love you all, and please keep Tessa's family in your prayers.
Adrianne

Vakapuna, Vaka, mo e me’alele

2006-01-18T22:24:00.000-05:00

Vakapuna, Vaka, mo e me’alele
(My means of transportation)

Planes, Boats, and Automobiles got me home safe and sound. The flight from LA was pure heaven for Tevita and myself. Four seats for the two of us made sleep actually possible. We were fed often and enjoyed a few movies at our leisure. Compare this to the 16 (turn 19) hour boat ride from the capital to Vava’u. Around 5pm I happily laid my mat and air mattress on the ground to claim my area for the duration of the ride. Night came and so did the rains. This meant that every inch of my space was now taken by a foot, an arm, or an elbow. The expression ‘packed like a sardine’ doesn’t give how I felt justice. I remember sitting up, looking around, and saying, “this sucks,” then laying down and going back to sleep. Around 5am was a stop in the Ha’apai island group. The stop cleared the boat of half the people and the last 8 hours were pleasant. No sickness. Safe journey.

Arriving home meant getting back to the simple life. I had to leave the part of me that enjoys luxury back on the plane in Fiji. I’m back in a world where watching me read a book is pure entertainment for children. Once at home I was swarmed with little helpers that assisted me in cleaning all the mouse poop from my shelves. I also found a nest of spiders that had taken up residency in a purse. My bug free food storage container had a large family of roaches (including cute babies) that will be tackled this evening after grocery shopping. I enjoy living alone and I’m trying to keep it that way.

The heat is incredible here. I’m not sure which I despise more – extreme heat or extreme cold. There must be a place that is perfect for me.

So now it is time to get back to work. I have 8 months left and I want to feel that at least one of my projects will be sustainable after I leave. I also need to enjoy a little bit more of this beautiful country before time runs out.

Thank you all for your hospitality, interest, generosity, and love. I couldn’t have asked for a better holiday season.

Love,
Adrianne

Umu in America

2006-01-09T22:59:00.000-05:00

I have had an amazing trip home, one that words just don't give justice.

This is a picture of a "traditional" Tongan Sunday Umu.
At least it is an American version of the delicious meal.
Tevita and I prepared a variety of foods that my family so graciously praised.

I'm happy to return to Tonga, but not looking forward to the journey.
I'll do a detailed post after my return.
It has been amazing spending precious time with family and friends. September will be here before I know it.

Love,
Adrianne

Foki ki Cincinnati

2005-12-21T22:46:00.000-05:00

Foki ki Cincinnati
Return to Cincinnati

Being back in Cincinnati has been wonderful. I've returned with a new perspective that has me appreciating so many of lifes pleasures. Family and friends being on the top of the list with food being a close second. (My Mom's cooking has been amazing).
I've made the trip from Tonga with Tevita and he seems to be adjusting well to all the differences. It's amazing to witness all the simple joys of life through fresh eyes. It has made this trip even more enjoyable.

Love as always,
Adrianne

Pulupaki

2005-12-08T16:52:00.000-05:00

So the first portion of my trip is over. As you can see in the picture the boat ride on the Pulupaki was lovely. I enjoyed a delicious meal of peanut butter and crackers while swaying on the cargo ship. The ride took 16 hours with two stops along the way. I think the sleeping pills did their job, because I managed to not get sick. A woman came aboard on the last stop and layed down two spots away from me. She did not do so well and I had to listen to vommitting for ten hours.

I'm here in Tongatapu for two days and them off to Fiji. I'll be home before you know it.

The morning I left my home in Vava'u, I woke up and noticed all my underwear was gone off my clothes line. I then noticed a couple of shirts and a pair of shorts were gone too. I can't believe someone had the nerve to steal my underwear. I raised a fuss, but soon realized I wasn't going to find the thief that day. I'm learning to let things go. If they needed a pair of underwear, they should have just asked. I'm hoping the thief was a girl.

More stories to come when I see you all face to face.

Love you,
Adrianne

Fakamolemole - Sorry

2005-11-27T15:08:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay in posting. I’ve been trying to wrap up all my loose ends before I head back for Christmas. So, where to begin?

The Okoa Youth Group’s vegetable garden is moving forward. In my work here I often feel like a Girl Scout trying to earn my next badge. It’s a half acre of land and we don’t quite have a good watering system figured out yet so I spend a great deal of time hauling water. I’m about to start doing rain dances in as extra effort to support this project.

A while ago I was pushing to get available funding from the Governors office to repair my village’s desolate Town Hall. I talked with everyone at the Governors office and in my village to assist in getting the plan moving. Even though it was a simple plan I was basically given the brush off because the village didn’t want to do the work and they said it wasn’t a realistic goal for the village at the time. Well suddenly a local comes up with the exact same plan and it seems like this “brand new idea” is just peachy. So our Town Hall is looking great with it’s new makeover. There are times to just keep your mouth shut and be happy that action is taking place.

I had a frustrating moment after doing my laundry the other day. I was at my neighbor’s house when some kids came by and told me that my laundry line had fallen. I raced home to find not only my clothes on the ground, but to see pigs deciding to share their love of mud with the bright colors on my clothes. I can tell I’ve been here over a year because my reaction was to just calmly shoo away the animals, grab a bucket, add soap, and the clothes, and let it soak for the afternoon.

So the plan for my travels:

I’m taking a 16 hour boat ride to the capital. Not the most pleasant part of the trip. After a few days there I’ll be on a flight to Fiji. Spend 4 days enjoying the countryside of Fiji then hop on a plane to LA. After almost a full day layover I’ll be on the redeye to home sweet Cincinnati. No doubt this will be a great trip.

I’m excited beyond word to see everyone.

See you all soon.

Love,

Adrianne

Halouini - Halloween

2005-11-01T19:45:00.000-05:00

The house that I am living in is my neighbor’s property. They gave permission to the youth group to fix up the house and make it “livable” for me. With this verbal agreement in place I have felt very comfortable in my home. So you can imagine my surprise when my neighbor’s older brother (who currently lives in another village) came up to me and told me ONE WEEK. I sat in my house making tortillas and stared at this man. In his broken English he tried to explain to me that I had one week to move out and find another home. I have had difficulty with this family in the past, but I thought all issues had been cleared up – meaning I would not date their son. The guy was not being the typical Tongan from the “Friendly Islands,” so I decided I would be a little stubborn myself. I told him I was not going anywhere until we had a formal meeting with Peace Corps. He left in a bit of a tiff.

Ten minutes later my neighbor came over and apologized for his brother. He informed me that they called the Mother, who is currently staying in New Zealand, and her cries saying that she loved me convinced them that I should be allowed to stay. The eldest brother (a minister on an outer island) gave me permission to stay until May, when the Mother will return. Although everything seems to be somewhat settled, I am feeling unsettled about the whole situation. But as my Dad recently reminded me – These situations are just making me stronger.

On Monday the 31st, I brought Halloween to Tonga. It was a chance to mix some fun and some cross cultural experiences for the kids at the local primary school. It didn’t run as smooth as I would have liked, but it turned out to be a blast. Most of the difficulty was trying to explain Halloween to the teachers and kids. They looked at me like I was crazy when I told them to dress up like the tevolo (devil/ghost). After convincing them I was serious, I had about 30 out of 120 actual get dressed in a costume. They looked amazing. We had a “best costume” competition followed by the games pin the wart on the witch and bobbing for mangos. I had a couple youth come and do face painting, which added some color to the kids that didn’t have a costume. I passed out loads of candy as they sat down to watch a movie (Son of the Mask). I’m hoping this party becomes a tradition at the school. By the kids’ reaction to the event, I think it might just happen.

The survey on disabilities here in Vava’u has gotten to a good start, although the downpour of rain has not been helpful. Hopefully all will be complete within a week and a half. I’ve been frustrated because the weekly disability program, Alonga, has not been going very well for the past two months. I’ve had a severe lack of commitment from the volunteer teacher. Over the next few weeks I would like to attempt to secure some funding (which we are lacking greatly) and include a stipend for the teacher. If money does help with commitment then it might be time to find someone else with more time.
I’ve also been asked to prepare an event for World AIDS Day which is coming up at the beginning of December. I need to let the creative juices flow to come up with a few new ideas.
I’m heading down to Tongatapu for the weekend because I was chosen as the Emergency Contact person for my island group in the event of an “urgent situation.” We are going to do a brief training, but I have a feeling it will be a waste of time. Oh well, I heard they just opened up a movie theatre with popcorn and fountain drinks.

With all this going on I have a feeling the next 5 weeks until I come home for vacation are going to fly by quickly.

Love you all,
Adrianne

P.S. Another encounter with two molokaus. This time I didn’t scream for help. I sat waiting to attack wearing my gardening gloves with a broom in one hand and a shoe in the other. I jabbed with the handle end of the broom and killed them both.

Kovi mo e Lelei

2005-10-23T16:30:00.000-04:00

Kovi mo e Lelei - The Bad and the Good

I’ll start off with the bad news:
A little boy in my village was shot two nights ago. The whole incident was an accident. An old man was playing with a gun and pretending to shoot some little kids. The kids would run and scatter while laughing hysterically. The man didn’t know the gun was loaded (which is no excuse in my book). The bullet went through a wall and struck the 4 year old in the stomach and arm. After staying at the hospital here in Vava’u for one night, he was flown to Tongatapu to hopefully get better medical treatment.

Shootings have not been an issue here in Vava’u. Guns are mostly used for purposes of killing large pigs and cows. I hope this accident awakens people to the issue of gun safety. I know all the kids in my village are pretty scared.

Now a little good news:
I’ve booked my flight to come home for Christmas. I’ll be home for almost a month!!! Although I love it here, I’m excited to see everyone back home. It will be just the refresher I need to come back renewed and full of enthusiasm to finish off my last 8 months.

When I joined Peace Corps I signed up for the World Wise School Program, which is keeping correspondence with an assigned classroom. After a year. I finally have my match and will now begin communications with a geography class in Indiana. Not many people have ever heard of Tonga, so it feels good to educate people about this beautiful country.

The Youth Vegetable Plot is moving right along. We have been working on clearing the land, which is a bigger project than I had initially thought. The guys have been chopping down trees and I have been raking up trash. I guess people have been using this land to dump cans and glass bottles for many years. A few more days of clearing and we will be ready for the plow to come. We already started a little vegetable bed for the tomatoes, cabbage, and green peppers. The carrots and beans will be planted later. The rains have been coming down so everything is growing fast. My garden has been unsuccessful, but I have a better feeling about this one.

Hope everyone is healthy and happy.

Love,
Adrianne

Ta e Puaka

2005-10-11T20:49:00.000-04:00

So I attended the Putu (funeral) for the Nobel in Makave. I’ve truly grow to enjoy putus. This one was similar to others I’ve seen except on a grander scale. Several differences were that the general public was not allowed in the home to kiss the body. I was okay with this aspect. Although this meant that I could also not see the Princess because she was also inside the home. I ate really well and took my mila mila (plastic bag) full of food home with me. I slept for a few hours and went back in the morning for the burial. Primary kids in their uniforms lined the whole walkway from the house to the church. A high school band lead the march followed by the whole police force (20 total) who carried the body on a platform. Then several Nobles followed by the family strolled by and the crowd gathered at the rear. The church service was nice and long. This was the first putu I attended where there was an actual service in a church. The burial was directly behind the church and I sat under a tent for that portion of the occasion. After the burial I thought we would all get a mila mila of food and head off home. I was mistaken.

There was a formal kava ceremony which I had never seen before. I have to say that I truly enjoyed this part of the day. Twenty men sat in a huge circle with about six feet between each of them. I’m not sure that I understand all of what was going on, but it was enjoyable just to see. My Nobel, Fakatoufifita, sat at the head of the circle while the man next to him directed the ceremony. The respected men yelled orders and five men entered the center of the circle and answered to the commands. It seemed like a well orchestrated performance. After 15 minutes the five men were ordered to pick up a large pig and bring it in front of Fakatoufifita. They sat there and chopped it into sections. I was standing outside the fence watching when I heard, “Pisi Koa mei Okoa – Peace Corps from Okoa” – ME!!! I looked around with not a clue what was going on. They told me to go to the edge of the circle and sit down. I was then told that my Nobel had requested that I “Ta e puaka – slap the pig.” I walked through the center of the circle towards the large hind portion of the pig. As directed, I gave the left butt cheek one good slap and then turned around and walked out. Two woman from my village had followed me and carried the hind and the heart of the pig, which was a gift to me from my Nobel. The ceremony continued with more distribution of meat and drinking of kava, but I didn’t see much of it because I was in such a state of excitement. It was all over by 2:00 in the afternoon.

I decided to have an umu (earth oven) for the youth. In trade for them working hard on preparing the Youth Vegetable Garden and planting seeds, they got to eat pig. I though it was a good trade.

During this past week the Governor of Vava’u (my island group) passed away. I’m not sure what is in the water these days, but it means I need to do more laundry because I’m out of black clothes.

Hope all is well with everyone.

Love,
Adrianne

Tongatapu

2005-10-03T23:16:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the delay in updates. I wasn’t really feeling inspired to write. I'm trying to get back into the groove.
Anyway, I spent a week down in Tongatapu for my mid service meeting. Mid-Service meaning half way through my volunteer experience!!! I now feel like an old timer. Tongatapu was a nice chance to get to see everyone from my group. It’s great comparing stories and getting project ideas. It also made me realize how different an experience each one of us is getting. Mainly the City folk / Village Life variation. Both are definite Peace Corps experiences, but I’m quite fond of living the village life (even with all my complaints).
There have been some definite changes in the Peace Corps community here in Vava’u. We have four new volunteers joining my island group and they seem to be adjusting well. I feel like I’ve moved from being the curious child full of Why Questions - to the wise grandparent that seems to have an answer for everything. The cycle of life here in Peace Corps is an organism all of itself.

Work is on an up swing so I’m taking advantage of the opportunity. I am organizing a small business workshop for the week of the 17th. This is a program that has been successful in the past so I’m excited to keep it going. I will then be participating in a survey of individuals with disabilities in Vava’u. I’m excited because this was a topic I had attempted to work on last year, but momentum was slow. This time around I have greater hope because the push is from the Red Cross program in Tongatapu. My final goal for this month is to have a Halloween party at the primary school where I teach. This is a holiday that is not celebrated here in Tonga, but I feel like it could be a chance for some fun.

I was standing in my doorway brushing my teeth this morning and heard the news rumbling around that the Nobel from the next village, Makave, had passed away during the night. The rumor is that the Princess and possibly the King might be attending the funeral. I’ll keep my eyes peeled.

That is all for now.

Love,
Adrianne

Molokau

2005-09-08T22:11:00.000-04:00

Everyone is afraid of something in this world. This past week I have discovered a new fear. Exhibit A: Molokau.
I was lying in bed continuing my obsession with Harry Potter when I heard a noise that was different from what I was used to hearing. I’m familiar with the pitter patter of mice, the croaks from the little lizards, and the shuffle from the large roaches, but this caught me off guard. Out of a hole in the ceiling crawled a Molokau (pronounced molocow). It plummeted from the ceiling onto my bed where I proceeded to attempt to destroy it with a charm from my book. Thank goodness my mosquito net was somewhat covering my bed. When it scurried onto the floor I quickly tucked in all the edges of my netting. Before I finished another one took a nose dive from my ceiling onto the other edge of my bed. I was in a state of panic. If they get a bite out of you with their pinchers, I heard it’s horribly painful as well as causing huge swelling. I called to my neighbor and stood in the middle of my living room floor until he dealt with the situation. I was hyperventilating with tears in my eyes while he found and killed one. I’m embarrassed to reveal that certain things can bring out that uncontrollable child-like behavior. I’ve grown accustomed to the mice so maybe this will also become something I will learn to just brush off my shoulder.

This past week was another encounter with a girl being puke fakatevolo (sick with the devil). I’ve witnessed it from a distance before, but this up-close experience made me question and really sympathize with the girl and her family. Her house was surrounded by about 20 people all staring in through the window. I would have previously though this rude, but after being here for a year I decided to go take a look myself. The 19 year old girl was lying in the middle of the floor with her head in her husbands lap. Her family was surrounding her and holding her down. After peeking from outside for about twenty minutes the family invited me in. I sat in the corner of a room full of 20 people and watched with curiosity and confusion. A medicine man from another village was summoned to extract the deceased person from her body. The spirit (devil) was believed to be a relative relaying a message. Leaves were chopped up and rubbed all over her body. They were also shoved up her nose and into her ears. This was difficult to watch because the girl was crying and flailing about. Her eyes had such a look of fear in them while drool spilled out of her mouth. Fits would occur every few minutes and it took five people to hold her down. Towards the end of the evening a root was crushed and the juice poured into her mouth and on her chest. After the girl puked for five minutes everything seemed to be all right. The show was over and everyone went home.
Many people here say that women fake being sick. That was my initial thought when I’ve seen it in the past. Though seeing it up close and knowing the girl well made me think it is something more than just needing a little attention. I asked lots of questions, but that just made me more confused. Given that this culture is so religious and that I am here to learn about traditions and customs, I have just decided to accept the fact that the girl was possessed.

Enjoy your week.

Love,
Adrianne

Fehu'i - Questions

2005-08-31T21:50:00.000-04:00

My birthday was as great as ever. As the years pass by I continue to feel blessed. I live in an amazing country and have met wonderful people. I ate awesome Mexican food (a treat here in Tonga) and saw a whale breach right here in the harbor. In current circumstances with the Government strike I have not received mail in 6 weeks – but I got a package from my family on my actual birthday. Simple delights.

Question: How do you maintain a youth group when the youth are always spending months at a time on holiday in other villages?

I can’t seem to figure this one out. The nature of living in this generous culture is that individuals can just stay with relatives for extended periods of time at no cost. This makes scheduling events or retaining plans almost impossible. This has led to me getting sucked into Harry Potter lately. A friend just received #6 so I feel this distraction will continue.

Question: How do you motivate youth?

I’ve struggled with this for my whole first year. I’ve tried food (too expensive), movie nights (attracts more kids than youth), personal invitations to events (thrown in the trash), and begging/pleading (just makes me look bad). None of it has been effective. I would like more participation in meetings and events, but maybe I’m setting my standard too high. Maybe this is about training myself to redefine participation. Is one youth enough or two? Am I here to change a village or to give a couple of youth some opportunity to grow?

How do you make a yard grow into a beautiful garden?

You’ve heard me complain before about my lack of gardening skills. I recently broke down and asked for help. I was sitting in my yard reading and realized that although I had made several attempts at planting, it looked plain and boring. After five youth and eight kids came through in a frenzy, I now have a little color in my yard. I even have a tire filled with flowering creeping plants. So my solution was to stick with what I know – Ask other people to do it for me.

Until next week.

Love,
Adrianne

Samoa

2005-08-15T21:00:00.000-04:00

Sitting at the airport for six hours hoping that the plane flying above would actually land, I thought to myself – where is the Frequent Flyer Room? Where is the complimentary drink and internet connection that my Dad always talks about? After being informed that the plane could not land due to weather I was told that another plane (that could land) had taken my bag. After a few deep breaths I realized another week in Tonga was not the worst thing in the world.

Two weeks of delays was worth it once I finally arrived in Samoa. I played pool, stayed in a hut on the beach, snorkeled, ate amazing food, shopped in the markets, slid down a waterfall, hiked through the hills, and didn’t see a soul that I knew. Total Bliss.
When you live on a small island and there is a play by play description of you r every move, it is joyous to be anonymous.

Refreshed and renewed I came home to a continuation of the Government strike. Still no school and no mail, but life goes. As Peace Corps Volunteers we are told not to participate in any movements or protests and to keep our opinions to a minimum. So off the record - this is a good step for the people of this country. For individuals that typically don’t give their opinion, to take a stand on something they feel is important – is huge.

Once home I also got to participate in a retreat for the new training group. It was a chance for us old folks to share our wisdom with the new group and enjoy some perks of living in the South Pacific as well. We ventured out to a little resort island, Mala. After enjoying volleyball on the beach and stuffing ourselves with a wonderful Tongan lunch, we were invited up to the lodge for a drink by the New Zealand High Commissioner, who happened to be spending the weekend. He was totally split, which made our conversation about whale watching and volunteering all the more enjoyable. I’ve been feeling like a bit of a lush taking great pleasure in having the US Government pay for our lunch and boat ride, the New Zealand Government pay for our drinks, and I was looking for a representative of Australia to try and get dinner out of the whole deal. It was a wonderful day and it was great to get to spend time with the new group.

At the close of the week I was able to see two of my youth get married. Well actually they had run away during the week and gotten married but this was their first Sunday in church (which is huge here). There is lots of gossip running around because the couple are actually first cousins. Blood lines run close here in Okoa, but this is not typical and is prohibited by law. The mother of the groom is now claiming that the father is not the true father in order to prevent shame upon the family. I thought it was a little too late for that, but apparently after the first Sunday of the marriage all is forgiven. The gossip continues to soar and I’m just basking in it because it is not about me.

Love,
Adrianne

Fangota

2005-07-21T17:34:00.000-04:00

Where to start?

AIDS Day was an utter success with over 500 youth coming to watch the drama presentations. Six youth groups performed their own creative work pertaining to HIV/AIDS. I just had to sit behind a table and present a slide show on the overhead while throwing candy into the audience. I was quickly corrected not to throw candy because it could poke someone’s eye out - this in a country where children play with knives. The groups put on a wonderful show and I’m relieved that it’s over.

Another part of the week was a bazaar festival, where youth groups were encouraged to participate. My youth decided to prepare traditional Sunday food (umu) and sell it for $20 a basket. Not only was our fundraising successful, but the preparation was an awesome sight to see. It started by some of the youth, me included, going fangota (collecting clams) at the sea. We spent about three hours there and I collected about five to everyone else’s 40. I feel so inferior when it comes to working with nature. I’m used to picking between peeled or unpeeled shrimp at the supermarket. Then the umu process began. The youth dug a pit and started a fire. Everything they used was from nature. The combination of onions and lamb was packaged in leaves from taro plants. Coconut milk was added to give some flavor to the clams and wrapped in more leaves. The root crop and the packaged food were then placed in the pit and covered for a few hours of cooking. The youth worked with such precision that I stayed out of the way and watched. Small baskets were then woven from coconut leaves and the food was placed inside for sale. The process can be long, but the Tongans have it down to a science. I feel so fortunate just as an observer. The bazaar finished up with my youth doing face painting. That part wasn’t a huge money maker, but it sure was fun. I have lots of pictures to prove it.

Aside from all the fundraising, I’m trying to work behind the scenes at getting my Youth Center together. I found out that Parliament was having meetings here in Vava’u, which meant that my Noble was on the island. He took me and my Youth President out to breakfast on Saturday to discuss some ideas. That was then followed up with presenting him a pig and umu the following evening for good graces. He then agreed to come to our youth meeting on Tuesday night, which impressed the village. Many issues came up so he decided a village meeting would be a good idea for Thursday. He is a wonderful guy and has been instrumental in gaining support. We have each other’s cell phone numbers now so I’m hoping we can keep a flow of communication.

My Samoa trip is delayed because the planes aren't running. There is a government strike which has caused a complete mess. I am flying Polynesian Air (which isn't a government airline), but no one is working at the airport. God I love this country. I was told to listen to the radio and they would announce when the next flight leaves. I hope it is soon.

Love you all,
Adrianne

Another Putu

2005-07-10T20:34:00.000-04:00

July 4th in the States is celebration of our independence. Here in Tonga, it is celebration for the Kings Birthday. The big party actually happens down in Tongatapu, the capital, but we had our own little celebration here in Vava’u. A few of us volunteers went out to a little resort island, Mala, and had a private party. An enjoyable part of the evening was blaring music of our choice while jumping on a trampoline embedded in a sand pit. The owner is known for being very generous to Peace Corps Volunteers so we stayed in a few rooms complimentary. Right now the King is staying at that same resort. He is having a weekend with 40 of his closest college buddies. I’m sure he’s getting his room complimentary as well.

My HIV/AIDS Grant has received approval with little time to spare. The money will be sent Western Union to me Today (Monday) and all the action takes place on Wednesday. The day will be full of radio spots, drama presentations and information overload all pertaining to AIDS education. It is part of an activity full Youth Week that will be a blast.

Now for the other news that is twisting things up in my little island in the South Pacific. My Town Officer died. I feel like my village has been in perpetual mourning. I put on my black clothes and went to the hospital the other night for a prayer service. I saw the freezer where they keep the bodies and I stood there with both curiosity and bewilderment. The freezer is in a room with a surgery table and the room has a door to outside where all the people sit in the grass. The family covers the table with tapa and mats and then the body is displayed (while still wrapped in white cloth). I was not a huge fan of the Town Officer, but seeing all his children crying definitely puts things in perspective. It was quite a sight to see all the people load on the bus with their mats filling up all the space. The immediate family rides in a pick up truck because they wear the huge mats from head to toe. I’m now comfortable with the funerals here and I enjoy all the tradition (not so much kissing the body). I went to the cemetery for the burial, which was a nice service with tons of people. On the way back to my house I passed a huge truck, where a gentleman handed me a 2 kilo plastic bag of raw meat. This was apparently a hot commodity because everyone was trying to scam bags and bags. I later found out it contained horse, pig, and lamb. Needless to say I gave mine to my neighbor to cook and I ate a little in a Sunday umu.

Happy Birthday Marin!!!!
I wish I was there to witness your growth, but at least I know you’re surrounded by a pack of people who love you.

Love,
Adrianne

Faka’ofa

2005-06-30T17:57:00.000-04:00

Success with the fundraising last weekend has got me feeling pretty good.
$200 for our Koniseti
$183 for our Kalapu.
And it doesn’t stop there. My youth voted to keep the ball rolling so my weekends are looking a little busier. Everything seems to be on the upswing.

My major project in my village has been to rebuild our Town Hall and include a computer center in the process. This has been a huge sore in my side, but with the start of fundraising it may actually happen before my 2 years are finished. This week I submitted a grant to attempt to get my village a few nice computers and a printer. My fingers were crossed when I emailed the proposal and faxed the invoices. Now I wait.

On a personal note, my vegetable garden is pretty sad. I found little bugs infecting my seeds that have refused to sprout. I just want to grow some squash, how hard is that? Where is my brother with his green thumb anyway? Well - I’m not giving up. I’m starting round two with vengeance.

When my neighbors left town for a month, they moved all their baby pigs to another house for care. The mother pig was left to fend for herself. I have come to take pity on this pig, therefore naming her Faka’ofa (sad, pitiful). I have been giving it scraps of food which has led to a decent rapport between us. The other day I came home with a bag of good smelling food. As I was stepping into my house, Faka’ofa jumps my fence to come get her portion. I was under the impression that my fence was pig proof so I became a little short tempered with the beast. I got my broom and chased her around my yard until she figured her best option was to exit quickly by jumping over the fence again. My other neighbors were highly amused by the whole situation.
This morning - Faka’ofa stood outside the fence and grunted until I gave her a scrap of food. Pigs can be trained quickly or maybe it’s humans- I don’t know which.

Love,
Adrianne

Uike mamalie

2005-06-23T19:46:00.000-04:00

Uike mamalie means slow week.
Not much has gone on, but it's about to pick up speed.

This is a big weekend for my fundraising efforts in Okoa. Due to past cancellations, all the events are scheduled this weekend. Tonight (Friday) is the fundraising concert, which I’m hoping will be a blast. The whole village is suppose to turn up because we are working towards repairing the Village Town Hall. I have my fingers crossed for no last minute cancellations. On Saturday we are having a Kalapu, men contribute money for a night of drinking kava. My youth are also going to be preparing large baskets of food for the men to buy. I somehow was elected the cake baker, but I’m happy to do my part. At least I don’t have to serve the kava, which I hate. I’m hoping this all goes over smoothly.
I’m just happy my youth are working so hard.

I went on an adventure trip to the hospital the other day to visit my homestay Aunt, Mele, who has some heart problems. I’m so glad we have a Peace Corps Medical Officer to turn to in times of sickness. That hospital is a little scary. I hope I never have an emergency and need to be taken there. I’ve noticed that my cuts and scrapes don’t heal as well here as they did back home. I’m going to have a lot more scars when I return home. They will just add to the memories.

I’m planning a trip to Samoa next month because it is time for some mental relaxation. Besides that nothing much is new.

‘Ofa atu,
Adrianne

Ikai - NO

2005-06-16T21:00:00.000-04:00

The rumor that the King had died is false.
I was on pins and needles for a little while thinking that all the gossip was true. Not only would it be devastating for the country because the Crown Prince is known as a less than desirable leader, but also for my work. When the King does pass away the country will officially mourn for a year. This means that everyone will wear black, music will stop (except church songs), dancing will cease, and many events will be cancelled. I don’t believe this will really last a year in this day and age, but I know that all my youth activities will be affected in some ways. Announcements were made on the radio clearing the rumors, because on an island this size word of mouth travels fast.

I felt my first earthquake the other day (5.7).
The ground shook and I grabbed onto the doorway that I happened to be standing in. It was a small one only lasting 5 seconds or so, but it made me think. I’m on a little island in the middle of the South Pacific. Am I safe? Then I realized that natural disasters can hit anywhere, just in different forms. So I think again - I’m on a small island in the South Pacific; this is exactly where I want to be.

I’m having difficulty with the word NO (Ikai). Not that I don’t know what it means, but I don’t understand why people here have trouble saying it. Instead of my youth organizing a Koniseti (fund raising concert) and canceling it at the last minute, my Town Officer could have said NO. He could have said it was a bad week and that next week would be better. Instead he told us that it was fine and then literally minutes before it was to begin, he said “Rest tonight.” My youth took it in stride, while I vented in private. This type of thing happens frequently here. I found a girl hiding in the back of a car instead of saying that she didn’t want the youth group to use her stereo for an event. I find all this odd, but I’m not quite sure how to handle it all. Any ideas?

That’s the news for now.
Love you,
Adrianne

Lata pe

2005-06-09T16:33:00.000-04:00

Lata pe
Feeling at home

I began having a conversation with my 70+ year old neighbor, Lupe, about traveling the world. The conversation then shifted to my home in Cincinnati. I showed her a book of pictures that illustrated all the sights in Cincinnati so she could get a better understanding of what I was talking about. She expressed delight in the simplest of things: the huge trees; the lights on all the buildings; the water pouring out of a fountain; and the inside of a church. She told me that it was all so beautiful, but she was lata pe in Tonga. She likes growing her own food, taking naps in the day, weaving mats and going to church. She doesn’t want all the hustle and bustle that seem to fill up the days back in the States. She is happy living a simple life in Tonga.
I admire her. I admire that she recognizes what makes her happy. I’m thankful there is variety in the world. I’m thankful I have had the opportunity to witness a different side of “life.” Given that I’ve grown up in a city with many outlets for activities, I don’t know if I could live out the rest of my life here. I will at least take away the skill of being able to totally and completely relax.

Lately I have been feeling lata pe here in Tonga. A huge shift has occurred in my language ability. Every night I share a synopsis of my day in Tongan to my neighbor. I’m not only able to give the basic errands of the day, but actual feelings and some complex thoughts. I know that I still have so far to go, but I feel that my path is somehow easier.

I think my body has totally adjusted to the warm climate. Now that the temperature is dropping a little, I’m wearing sweatshirts and socks like it’s 32 degrees. Now understand that I’m not complaining because I know that I have no right to do such a thing. I’m enjoying snuggling under a blanket and boiling water for a nice shower. I just keep thinking that Christmas is going to be a bear.

The pace of things has actually picked up around here. Shocking – I know.
• A new youth President has been elected and I couldn’t be happier. Ideas have been sparking so I’m trying to run with the motivation while we’ve got it.
• A putu (funeral) in a neighboring village (with many relatives in my village) has caused for activities to go on hold for another week. This hasn’t seemed to stub the enthusiasm of my youth group.
• It’s high season for many tests so I’ve been requested to start some night classes with the primary kids. Headaches aside – it’s really a good time.
• I somehow got roped into planning an AIDS day during our islands “Youth Week” activities in July. The initial preparations are in place and I just finished the grant proposal. I was told “on the down low” that I could get some guaranteed funding, so hopefully that will all come together quickly. My grant writing skills have increased dramatically since being here. That’s positive for my resume, but I don’t agree that the Tongan view of a “good” volunteer is weighted on how much funding I can real in. - But that’s a whole other post.

Love as always,
Adrianne

Kakau o’ fakafepaki’i ‘a e ‘au

2005-06-02T20:51:00.000-04:00

Swimming against the current:
Kakau o’ fakafepaki’i ‘a e ‘au:

Literally – I went diving this past week and it was amazing. The current was intense but it made the dive even more enjoyable. I swam down this chimney-like rock that brought me to a depth of 26.5 meters (87.5 feet). The fish and the coral were beautiful. I’m lucky to be in such an amazing environment that allows me to experience such exquisite splendor.

Figuratively – Battling with my village about moving forward in a semi productive state has been difficult. I came to a point last week where I felt defeated. I’m satisfied with the disabilities program and helping at the primary school, but my youth group sure lacks energy. I’ve been pushing and pushing while only receiving blank stares (I know my language isn’t that bad).

I think the current is shifting...

I sat down and had a talk with my youth president. I detailed my disappointment (Tongans don’t like any type of confrontation) because I need change to happen. I threatened to leave Okoa and work in another village. The talk and threat seemed to have done the trick – at least for the time being. My youth President is stepping down and we will have new leadership next week. We also have begun the necessary fund raising to get working on rebuilding our town hall. There are many details that still need to be worked out, but I’m now happily swimming along.

Along with the whole water theme was a trip to the beach with my disabilities group. It was nice to have fun in a new environment. We enjoyed lunch and some sporting events with a beach ball. I get so much satisfaction out of that once a week program. I hope our participants feel the same.

Big news!!!!!
My pig fence is officially effective. Previously I had fencing, but it did not fully encircle my home. With the additional wood hurdle to get to the toilet, I now have a pig free residence. Talks of banana trees, papaya trees, and a vegetable garden are in the works.

Happy Birthday Joel!!! You are missed greatly.

Love to you all,
Adrianne

'Oku tupulaki eku mo'ui

2005-05-19T21:53:00.000-04:00

Life moves on ...
'Oku tupulaki eku mo'ui...

Well, not for everyone. My home stay grandfather at the age of 95 passed away last weekend. Another evening of buttering bread, singing, and little sleep for the putu. Every time there is a death I am learning more and more about the family circles within the village. He had six children that live in Okoa and six that live in other villages. With people having such large families, no wonder I get confused with names and relationships all the time. It was a sad yet reflective time for Okoa.

A mouse stands alone in his battle for territory. He has eaten poison, yet survives. He has earned my respect and we are on better terms now. I still jump on my bed when I see him, but I no longer scream or throw tings in his direction. He climbs along the tapa that hangs next to my bed during the night, but as long as he refrains from actually coming onto my bed then I am okay with the whole situation.

The second konifelenisi continues and I’ve made out pretty well. I’ve learned which foods to eat and which foods to take home. I find myself examining the tables waiting for prayer to end so I can get a hold of the best stuff. I also now know to bring my plastic grocery bag as a means to “fit in” here in Tonga.

The past few weeks my stomach was going through a few loops during the digestion stage. I had many a bout with my good friend diarrhea. I finally discovered that I had been drinking mosquito larva from my rain water tank, which was causing mad dashes to the rest room. Since I’ve been here I haven’t needed to boil my water, but I guess I must change with the circumstances. It is an extra little pain, but I have the time.

Next weekend COS (Close of Service) will be happening here in Vava’u for group 65 (I’m group 67). They will be filling out paperwork, getting medical check ups and hopefully gaining some closure on this whole experience. I was also informed that the new group (69) will be coming in July and having their training in Vava’u. Vava’u seems to be where it’s at!!! This is all just a little awakening for me about the circle of Peace Corps. Seeing old friends off and welcoming new ones. It makes this whole experience seem like it is flying by so quickly.

Thanks for all the updates and keeping my spirits high.

Love,
Adrianne

Konifelenisi

2005-05-11T22:33:00.000-04:00

Two mice dead – 1 more to go.
I thought there was just one little rodent causing havoc in my home, but I’ve come to realize there were several. I found one when I woke up the other day just lying by the foot of my bed. I had a neighbor come and remove it because I don’t handle things like that very well. I found another one dead while walking outside to the bathroom. I guess the keke kuma did the trick. I’m buying some more keke kuma today so hopefully my house will be clear in about a week.

Konifelenisi is translated as Conference.
This is a weeklong gathering of church officials and members from all over the region to attend meetings. What seems to get the most attention though are the feasts that encompass this week. Every day for the whole week there is a feast for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Each village is assigned a day and meal to cater. Within each village, a family that attends that church must provide the meal for a 30 ft table. I’ve heard that over the years the tables have been getting more elaborate. I attended the conference both as a guest and as a caterer so I was able to see it from both perspectives.

As a guest I was seated in front of huge portions of food loaded onto the table. Each table container all the traditional Tongan food such as pig, root crop, chop suey, raw fish, and lu was piled high, but also extra items were added to make each table stand out from the other. It is expected that you take home food, drinks and candy at the end of the meal. I was criticized for not bringing a plastic grocery bag to the feast in order to bring everything home, but luckily someone found one for me. I took home fruits, bottles of juice, and wafer cookies. I was feeling a little strange, but go with the flow was my motto.

I helped bake cakes for Okoa’s night at the feast. I spent the day slaving in my kitchen and I only burnt one. We started setting up at 2:00 for the feast at 5:00. The woman were dancing crazy while everyone was decorating their tables. It seemed like the more body fat that the women had to shake, the more cheering they got. I saw one woman from my village dump a huge can of fruit cocktail all over herself. I ran so that I wouldn’t get caught in the display. The feast finally started at 7:00 (late) and I ended up eating at this one too. As soon as the prayer was over, the woman next to grabbed everything (huge juice containers, sparkling juice, bowl of fruit, and a pig) and stored it under the table. She then ate some food and packaged everything up to take home. I sat there in shock. I ended up taking home a small bag of fruit and lobster. These feast are definitely a sight to see.
Next week is a different church’s konifelenisi. I guess I’ll be doing some more baking.

That’s about it from here in Vava’u. Friday night I’ll be hanging out at another volunteers house for Mexican night. Weathers been better. Can’t complain.

Hope everyone well.
Love,
Adrianne

Keke Kuma

2005-05-05T17:52:00.000-04:00

Day 1 – Come home in the evening to find a bold kuma (mouse) climbing around the kitchen. He made daring leaps from the radio over to the fridge. The broom that came flying down made him scurry, but did not change his determination. After he ran out the door, he peeked back in for a glance at his new home.

Day 2 – A purchase of keke kuma (rat cake = rat poison) was made at the local store with a guarantee that these are powerful and will do the trick. After returning from the store, the kuma was spotted again dashing about the house. The keke was placed in two prime locations. During the night loud crashes were heard along with pitter-patter footsteps.

Day 3 – The keke was gone in the morning. I thought the entire escapade was over until I saw the kuma scatter into my bedroom just as I was getting ready to go to sleep.

Day 4 – I’m tired. I hate mice. I’m deciding on more drastic measures.

The business workshop was a success and now I’m attending a Future Farmers Workshop to support a neighboring youth group. It addresses new farming techniques and some basic principles for expanding local farming into a business that produces a profit. The workshop is wonderful for the people who are attending. Too bad the youth I am supposed to be helping haven’t made it a priority to make it there. They’ve continually been a pain in the rear, but I keep trying.

My youth group has been moving slowly, but I feel like we are on the verge of some enthusiasm. I’ve been pushing and pushing and am now trying to get the Town Officer involved to push my Youth President a little more. In my opinion they all need a little shove. I’m probably going to need one here eventually myself.

Next week is the huge Tongan Church Conference. This means people from all over Tonga will be coming to Vava’u to eat. Overseas families send containers full of food to help in the process. I’ve already been given canned food, potatoes, noodles, and a 12 pack of toilet paper. They also send tons of money, which gets a little out of control. The amount of money that gets transferred is ridiculous. I’m kind of excited to get to witness this event. I should have some good stories later.

Stay well.
Love,
Adrianne

Viviku katoa pe i Vava'u

2005-04-20T23:15:00.000-04:00

Rain Rain Go Away – Come Again Another Day
Viviku katoa pe i Vava'u means that it is all wet in Vava’u.

I’ve had it up to HERE with this weather. I love a nice little rain shower as much as the next person, but this continual downpour is ridiculous. I need a moment to complain.
My house has a leak. This means I came home one day to bed that was soaking wet. Since the rain has not stopped down-pouring since last Friday my bed won’t dry. My thermarest has gotten some good use although the mold and dampness has made it difficult to get a decent night sleep. I’m running out of clean clothes – nothing will dry and everything smells. The mud is outrageous, but I feel like I’ve complained about that before. Thanks for lending your ears.

I have found a bright side to things by keeping very busy. The torch from the Small Business Workshop has been passed from soon-to-be-leaving volunteers to myself. I was in charge of all the details for the weeklong event. We teach basic business skills that are meant to support youth interested in beginning their own company. It’s been fun watching them soak up (that's a pun) the information, although I think the section on bookkeeping bored them to death. I invited some local business owners to share their knowledge and overall it has been a success. I’m not sure why a person who got her Masters in Social Work is now teaching business concepts, but I like the challenge.

I’ve been thinking about the changes that I observe in myself since I’ve been here:
· I eat almost everything with my hands.
· I inhale food at record speed.
· I raise my eyebrows instead of saying “Yes”
· I don’t mind being stared at when reading a book
· I’ve become a pro at shooing animals away by uttering “chhhhhh” & “kkkkkk”
· I can call people fat and it’s a compliment
· I laugh when people fall and hurt themselves
· My hair has a mind of it’s own
· I’ve accepted the fact that my feet will never be the same again

Happy Birthday to my Bro JASON. The fact that you are now 30 makes me realize I’m not far behind. I wish I were there to celebrate with you.

Love,
Adrianne

Faka'ofa

2005-04-08T16:45:00.000-04:00

I finally got pictures posted from my kayaking trip in December. So click Photo Album on the right and take a look.

Putus (funerals) are awkward events to attend. I never quite know how to act considering cultural differences, so I’ve decided my gut instinct is the best route. This putu was different than any I’ve attended before. I actually knew the person and I was involved in all the aspects of the 3 day event. Faka'ofa is what you say when something is really sad. You can say it as a way of giving condolences or just to express your grief.

A little 3 year old girl named Ana passed away from Pneumonia. She was a sweet little angel and her family was devastated, as I’m sure you could imagine. She passed away on Tuesday and due to intense rain the putu was delayed to Thursday. I’ve tried to describe the magnitude of these events before, but it compares to nothing I can relate to in the States. I’ll go ahead and detail some of the activities I participated in, but keep the picture of a see-through plastic bag full of chicken, root crop, boiled eggs, and lamb in your mind because that accompanies every part of the grieving/remembrance process. Although grieving is definitely part of a putu, there is also much laughing and joy that surround the three day event.
Thursday:
I found out the putu would be held in the volleyball field directly outside my house. I thought okay – no sleep for three nights. I went to the tent where all the woman were helping with the food. We sliced over 1000 loaves of bread (no exaggeration). I was in the line of spreading a mixture of butter and jam onto these 1000 loaves. Tedious, but the socializing was nice. I then went to the hospital around 6 PM in a caravan of cars to accompany the body home. As we passed by a cousin’s home all the sisters stood outside crying, holding a sign that said, “We miss you Ana. See you in heaven.” That is when I lost it. I wore my black clothes, my ta’ovala (large mat around my waist) and headed off to the funeral. People from all over the island bring mats, tapa, material and bread to donate to the family. They enter the home and place the donations next to the body, kiss the body then exit the home. They proceed to the food tents. That is where I worked with other youth in my village. I served the bags of food, cleaned dishes, served tea, cleaned tables, and prepared more bags for the people that continue to come over the course of the whole night. I think this is the hardest labor I have done in Tonga and I was whipped. I skipped out early (being totally exhausted) and hit my pillow with a crash. I was thinking that I wouldn’t be able to sleep because of all the people and the singing that continues until the morning. But once my eyes closed, they did not open until the morning.
Friday:
Burial in the early morning hours was followed by singing, singing, and more vocal reverberation. I delicious bag of chicken, lamb, and other tasty delights came afterwards. I was then able to catch up on a little sleep.
Saturday:
All the material and gifts that were presented to the family were then separated and redistributed to the community at a formal ceremony. The family has first dibs on what they would like to keep. Woman elders in the community sit in lines while piles of clothes are brought out for distribution. I sat in the back and ate the candies they handed out. I received a tapa cloth and a piece of material for being supportive during the funeral. The siblings were marched into the tent area and a certain family member cut pieces of their hair. This is then braided to make the rope that holds up the mat worn around at funerals. This ceremony was then followed by more food. Families sometimes go into huge debts because they need to feed the populous.
The men drink kava for the duration of the three days. Actually they have continued drinking. I don’t understand how these people’s bodies can handle it all.

All things considered I’m still in a really good mood these days. The weather is hot, but the evenings are getting cool. Rugby seasons starts soon and Okoa is putting together their team. My shower has been acting kind of crazy, but thanks to Jason and Cathy’s solar shower I’m still clean.
The packages have been excellent and I feel like a queen.
Thanks for everything.

Love,
Adrianne

Easter

2005-03-28T21:12:00.000-05:00

The whales have left Okoa. Before they left I a took a ride out in a little row boat and got an up close and personal view. The three of them came right up to the boat and were playing. Since then, apparently, someone hooked each whale with a rope, put it in a truck and drove it to an area where the whale would have direct access to the sea. Now I did not see anyone rope the whale or drag it into a car, but this is the story that is traveling through the village. I typically do not believe village stories, but I don’t know what else would have happened to these whales. Maybe they were eaten and everyone was too afraid to tell me the truth. I really do believe that they were set free and that they will die of natural causes in a few weeks in the wide open waters. They are beautiful creatures.

There were many choices for how to spend this Easter weekend here in Tonga. I tried to take part in a little bit of everything.
I dyed eggs with my disabilities group. I then hid candy in little foil packets and had them go on an Easter Egg hunt. The Easter bunny is a symbol that means absolutely nothing here. I felt pretty stupid trying to explain all these traditions to people that truly spend the entire weekend in church and celebrating the resurrection. I’m like – “Hey look, dunk this egg is some colors and make it look pretty. Eat candy that a little bunny hid for you to find.” They just don’t get it.

I went to a Mormon girls retreat. It was meant to be a sleepover of about 100 girls at the beach, but I left before I started talking to Joseph Smith in my sleep. I ate a picnic-like dinner with the girls and then watched some of the men try to assemble a huge area tent. A couple girls gave a few prayers then it was time for a movie. Two men came out of the dark carrying a TV and VCR. They sat everything on a chair and handed cords up into a tree to a man who tried connecting a whole loudspeaker contraption. The youth group waited patiently. The attachment speakers weren’t working so they worked with what they had and we listened with little sound. This lack of preparedness is typical here in Tonga. The movie was the story of Joseph Smith and his role within the Mormon Church. Everyone then separated into discussion groups to discuss a movie that was in English. Once the program was finished the girls were told to get ready for bed and read their Bibles in small groups. This is when I used my awesome cell phone to make my escape.

My next adventure was with the Wesleyan (Methodist) church. The kids from 13 to 18 also had a sleepover. The boys slept in the church and the girls slept in the minister’s house right across the street. I graciously declined that part of the event due to a need to keep my sanity. I did however attend church with the kids on Sunday and had a feast with them following the service.

The Catholics did a reenactment of Passion of the Christ on the streets in town. Someone was actually strapped to the cross and carried around. This was an activity that I did not participate in, although I did watch the movie Sunday night.

Now – My real holiday weekend. I took a nap on the beach a couple days in a row. I’ve been on a John Irving kick these days so I’m reading the third book of his in a row. I went snorkeling and did some hiking to give myself a little exercise. I then had a nice potluck with the other volunteers and watched the bootleg sequel to Meet the Parents; Meet the Fokkers. Overall, a great long weekend.

While I’m typing this very post, I just received a phone call from my student loan company. They are wondering why I have not made my loan payments that are supposedly overdue. My amazing Dad is helping me to straighten this whole thing out, but it is getting a little old. I’m in the Peace Corps, and have no money, all of which is qualification for a deferment. I can’t believe they are calling me here in Tonga to harass me. Those people will go to no end to get their money back.

I’ve been getting so much great support from everyone back home that I just wanted to say thank you. The packages, letters, and phone calls help to keep me motivated at the times when I just need a taste of home.

Love,
Adrianne

Tofua'a

2005-03-15T20:48:00.000-05:00

Check out my new pictures.
Click PICTURES on the right to view.

Thursday and Friday of last week I was a little sick. I’m unsure if I ate something bad or got a little something from someone, but it was no fun. Since I was to be locked up in my house for a few days, my friend brought over his families TV and VCR. There are no actual TV Stations here in Vava’u, but it’s great if you just want to watch a video. I borrowed the Star Wars trilogy from another volunteer to make it through the day. I watched two of the movies before it was discovered that the TV was at my house. Once the news was out, my house was full of children. If you look at the pictures of my house then you would notice that it is quite small. I had about 13 children inside with a number of kids outside. I laid in the middle of the floor on my sleeping pad with a blanket over me. I was annoyed for about 5 minutes until everyone started laughing. They loved the movie and I think the Ewoks were the big hit. They will sit through movie after movie in English and not understand any of the dialog. I don’t have that kind of patience.

My village of Okoa is a small island, but is attached to the main island by a bridge. There is a decent size inlet at this point where many villagers swim, fish, and collect clams. The other day I was crossing the bridge, which was full of people. They were all looking out into the inlet pointing at something. Apparently about eight baby whales had managed to swim into the cove, but could not get themselves out. The word for whale in Tongan is tofua’a. It is a little early for whale season, so I’m not sure what happened or where the mother was hiding out. They are beautiful creatures and I’m glad I had the opportunity to just relax and watch them. The sad part of the story is that some fisherman from my village and our neighbors are killing these baby whales for food. The fishery department put out an announcement over the radio that this is illegal, but no one seems to pay attention. I heard gunshots the other evening so I think we are down to three whales now. Everyone wants a taste and no one seems to care about getting them out. They have been here now for four days and I have a feeling they wont last too much longer.

Time for a little Tongan lesson.
The way that English is taught to primary school students here is over the radio. We have one AM station and surprisingly it reaches all the islands. Each class listens to the 20 minute program with their teacher present. They repeat words, answer questions, and sometimes even maneuver through true and false questions. This is to ensure that all the students in Tonga are receiving the same information. The teacher is then encouraged to follow up with the students and expand on the information. Once a class is finished with listening to the program, a students runs the radio to the next scheduled classroom. At this point I’m not sure if I agree with this system or not. As with anything there are many ups and downs. A funny side note is to see the women in local town halls weaving and listening to the program. For many villages, this is the only radio station that they receive. So you can hear C-A-T and H-O-U-S-E echo across villages at 9:00 in the morning.

I have a new cooking idea for all you creative folk.
No – not whale.
I’ve been trying to budget a little better, so I’ve been packing a lunch when I go to the office. This week I was lacking some of my easy options such as PB sandwich, bananas, crackers and cheese. So I decided I would bring a hot dog. Yes, a hot dog – one of the basic food groups. The only problem is that there is no microwave or stove to heat up my food at the office. Here is the creative part: I wrapped the hot dog in foil and placed it on the tin roof. After a few hours in the sun the hot dog was heated thoroughly and ready to be eaten.
I challenge you all to get back to the basics.
Think simple.

Love you,
Adrianne

Aho Sporiti

2005-03-06T18:56:00.000-05:00

This week has been an attempt to get back on track with youth activities. I ventured on a trip to the Governors office to figure out the truth on rebuilding our Town Hall. I’ve gotten some shady answers from people in my village about why nothing is progressing. I’ve heard we are entitled to some Hurricane Disaster Relief Funds for the Town Hall since it was damaged several years ago by a cyclone. I’ve provided a timeline to my youth that details researching the status of the town hall, completing an estimate, providing invoices, finding out the percentage that Okoa would pay, and fundraising dates. I’ve recently been getting different stories for why we have hit a roadblock. The Governor's office cleared up a lot of information for me. My village is trying to reinvent the wheel and no one is communicating with one another. I was informed that we have already completed all the paperwork and estimates. All we need to do now is get started on fundraising so we can begin building. Why no one bothered to inform me or the Youth President of this is beyond me. They want to sit in a puddle of water and cry like babies for help, when all they really need to do is just stand up.

The closing of last week was the Inter Sports Day – Aho Sporiti.
This is like a mini summer Olympics for the five local schools. Each school chooses their best athletes in various sports such as track, high jump, long jump, hurdles, and discus. This is not just a sports day, but also a show. Tents surround the track and each school claims an area. The children attend in their school uniform while singing and playing music. There are some students that play the role of the mascot, which is probably the most entertaining part of the whole day. They will harass other schools in between events as well as during events. They also harass the participants. Mothers also contribute to the show by flailing around on the ground, dancing in the middle of the field, and I even saw one mother riding another mother while spanking her behind. Mom – I would have killed you if you had done that at one of my soccer games. It’s all part of the fun here and I have to admit that it is all pretty funny.

A weekend get away was needed. I decided to leave my fishbowl and travel to someone else’s fishbowl. I went to the village of Falevai on the island of Kapa to stay with another volunteer. The one-hour boat ride was nice and the island is very beautiful. I went with a third volunteer so we had a girls weekend of laughing and eating good food. There is no running water on the island or electricity so it is a little more primitive than my standards. She has a solar panel that provides lighting in the evening. When using the outhouse, you just take a bucket of tank water and dump it down the toilet to flush it. Everything worked nicely and once you’re in the routine, it’s no big deal. Her home is about twice the size of my little coffee bean house so we had room to relax. We were stuck inside most of the weekend because of the storms rolling through. I got a little cabin fever and went into a few hysterical fits which were needed to make it a true girls weekend. We took a shower in the rain, shampoo and all. We didn’t attend church on Sunday. We played the card game ‘hand and foot’ on Sunday. (Cards are a major No No in Tonga on Sundays). And we ate pizza and chocolate candies to top off a great weekend.

Hope your weekend was as good as mine.
Love you all,
Adrianne

Puke Suka

2005-02-24T21:11:00.000-05:00

Youth activities are scattered again. I’m a positive person, but not optimistic enough. I knew this would happen. Now I said scattered, but not chaotic – that is progress. I’m remaining fairly active so no worries right now.

I was approached by a 50 year old woman in my village who had the desire to improve her English. I was glad for the opportunity and agreed to meet with her on a weekly basis. She is always this character that searched for humor and avoided any seriousness. We’ve began to develop a friendship and I’m now able to see another side of her. She is the mother of 14 children (gave birth to 7) and recently found out she has diabetes (puke suka). Puke (sick) + suka (sugar) = sick from sugar = diabetes. This language does actually make sense some times. Due to this diagnosis she has a desire to get a little daily exercise. We’ve started walking every morning at 6 AM. It kind of a peaceful time and with the wind blowing it doesn’t feel so hot. This is also a time to practice language skills. We walk to the next village speaking English and return speaking Tongan. A good compromise I’d say.

I made an overnight trip to Hunga, an outer island here in Vava’u, to visit another volunteer and help out with his youth group. The boat ride took about two hours and the seas were a little rough. Once on the island there is a huge mud hill to climb before reaching the village. Once on top it was a beautiful sight to see. No roads, just walking paths everywhere. I lost my flip-flop on the way up the hill, but it didn’t really matter once in the village. I just had to watch out for all the horse, pig and dog poop. The meeting went well and I slept at the town officer’s house. I ate the best fish before having a solid night sleep. In the morning I caught a village boat back to shore and returned to a busy (okay not really) day on the main island. I don’t know if I could manage on an outer island. I mean it is calm, peaceful and relaxing – but that also means there is nothing to do. I at least have the option to go to the office and feel like I have accomplished something. I can go to get a bite to eat in a desperate moment. I just have more options. It’s all perspective because if I think about how many options I have now compared to back in the States – it’s enough to have me crying in a bowl of Cincinnati Chili.

I decided to have a little cultural exchange moment.
I brought ice-cream and rootbeer over to my friend Tevita’s house. I sat outside and made rootbeer floats for the entire family. The smiles were incredible and I think I got them hooked on a new treat. I have to say that I enjoyed myself immensely.

I want to say an official
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Derek and Dad.
I’m thinking about you.

All my love,
Adrianne

Afa - Cyclone

2005-02-17T18:53:00.000-05:00

The cyclone that was…..
But was not in Vava’u.

Tuesday I was laying on a mat in my yard watching some youth play volleyball, when out of the trees came the Peace Corps (PC) vehicle. I was informed we had to consolidate. In PC terms this means gather up the troops and head for the Mormon Church. The Mormon churches are the only buildings in Tonga built to American standards so we have some type of deal worked out allowing us to crash there. I had five minutes to pack up my stuff and hop in the truck. All 10 volunteers living in Vava’u crashed on the floor in three office rooms at the church. We waited for this horrendous wind to begin, but only a few raindrops fell. After a whole lot of nothing we grew tired and irritable. After two nights we got the all clear to head back to our villages. I survived to tell this story, which is a blessing in itself. I know I shouldn’t be sarcastic, but how would you feel after two nights in a Mormon church with no real threat? On the plus side of this whole experience, I had two nights in cool air conditioning. And I also realized that next time it might be important to take my Passport with me in emergencies. So…I learn from every new experience.

Hope everyone is safe.
Love,
Adrianne

Happy Valentines Day

2005-02-14T21:40:00.000-05:00

Well we just got informed that another cyclone is heading this way. All the volunteers on outer islands are being boated in in the next few hours. Actually it looks like a nice day right now, but who knows when the night hits. Since I am really on a seperate island (I have a little bridge connecting me to the main) I was trying to get the PC to put me up at a hotel for the night. One with some air conditioning would be great. I tried to tell them that my little "fale" wouldn't make it through the storm, but it didn't work.

I'm not really that worried. I have a feeling it is going to just pass over, but I guess I should prepare just in case.

I've starting teaching at the local Primary School, which is going well. I'm bascially just reading books right now and talking. I hope to add a little more structure as time goes on. It's nice to be a new environment.

Work has been productive and I'm finding myself really busy these days (Tongan fashion that is). The disabilities program has taken a 180° turn and I've been able to take a step back and watch the teacher and participants blossom. My youth group has also been really proactive with committee work.

Before I forget...Happy Valentines Day!!!!
I hope everyone takes time out to appreciate the ones they care about. I spent the day at the beach swimming and eating some Cincinnati Chili, cooked on a portable stove under a tree (The taste from home has been my friend lately). A great day of fun and relaxation.

I hope everyone is enjoying life.
Love you all,
Adrianne

Uku

2005-02-08T19:35:00.000-05:00

With all the past trouble that was occurring in my village I took on the approach of kill them with kindness. Well I guess they found out my secret and are using it against me. Everyone has been overly nice to me.
I was given a bag of forty fresh mangos.
My neighbor has been bringing me dinner every couple of days (I'm happy even if it not my favorite food).
My youth are actually working and attending meetings.
Life is good.

Uku is defined as Diving.
Yes, I now have my certification in Scuba.
I have to say that I love it more than I thought I would. I was anticipating that I would focus so much of my energy on looking at the gauges that I wouldn't have time to admire the beauty. Not the case. I don't know how you can go down to 18 meters (59 feet) and not just be in awe.

My Dad said that I should post a few of the everyday stuff each week.
Gas prices - $T 1.87 per Liter (US$ 3.66 per Gallon).
During X-Mas we had a petrol shortage on the whole island of Vava'u. Taxis couldn't run, people couldn't do their Christmas shopping. It was a mess. We waited for a boat for about a week to deliver the supply. My friend had a relative bring a few containers on an earlier boat. I just laugh when this stuff happens. It is all part of the experience.

That is all for now. I'm heading to the office to get a few things done for an upcoming meeting.

Love you all,
Adrianne

Fiefia

2005-02-01T19:47:00.000-05:00

Fiefia simply means - Happy
That is my feeling these days.

SOOOOOOOOO
Since my last post I feel like things have taken an up swing.
That last village meeting was hell, but it opened up the doors for better communication. I had another meeting in the office with my crew and some officials in my community. The outcome produced a new format for work. I am no longer responsible for all the work in my village, but am there to facilitate and support my youth. I laid it all out in a spreadsheet and presented it at the next meeting. We assigned youth to take charge of the different activities and I get the feeling that everyone is excited. We'll see how long this lasts :)

I decided I needed to incorporate a little more fun in my life since I was a little stressed out. Last Saturday I went out on a yacht for the day. I drank, ate, swam, and got a little sun. Relaxation in it's purest form. I've also decided to take a little risk and try something that I'm a little scared to do. Tomorrow I start my classes for certification for Scuba Diving. The classes are three days and it is pretty cheap to do it here compared to anywhere else in the world. I'm not putting pressure on myself so if I hate it then I'll stop. But I can't come all the way to Vava'u and not give it a try.

My pig fence is almost complete!!!!
It has only taken what - 3 months?
Maybe I can get a garden started soon.

Other update:
We are having a new mail system here and so although I am not moving, my address is changing. Peace Corps would like it sent right here to Vava'u at a PO Box. I hope this remains to be a semi-smooth process. Anything already sent will still be forwarded to me, so no worries.

Adrianne Pastoor
Peace Corps
P. O. Box 136
Vava'u, Tonga
South Pacific

Thank you all for the pictures and goodies. It helps my mood. I think this is all part of that up swing I was talking about.

Love you,
Adrianne

Faka’uha

2005-01-24T19:23:00.000-05:00

Let me give you a recent taste of my own personal heaven:

Sitting in my tiny brown barn, both doors opened so the sound of the rain pouring down echoed from the roof. I sat on the floor with a huge bowl of warm Cincinnati Chili in my lap. I had a hot cup of Chai Tea sitting next to me. My smile couldnt be contained.
That's one of the reasons I'm doing this experience. A simple moment where I have time to count my blessings. A rainy day that many would consider a waste becomes a source of happiness.

The rain has become a never-ending part of reality. The mud is everywhere inside and outside of my house. By the time I walk to my house after taking a shower my legs are full of mud again. This is where faka'uha comes into play. It means showering/playing in the rain. Everyone will run outside in their clothes and proceed to sing and play. They then head down to the little bridge and go for a swim in the rain. It's a way of embracing nature. Sometimes this is fun, but I'll admit it has gotten a little old. I'm going to admit something now that I might regret at a later time: I peed in a bowl in my house then threw it out the back door (twice). It was late at night and the rain was pouring down. I felt limited in my options. I'm somewhat proud of this decision yet a little embarrassed. I think that now I am a true Peace Corps Volunteer.

The phones have been down, here in Tonga, for the past week. This has made contact with the outside world a royal pain. Along with the phone lines, all Internet has ceased to work. Good old Snail Mail has been a savior. Thanks everyone for the letters and packages.

Just a little side note - I ate pig brain.
Not the best thing I've ever had, but definitely something worth trying. This is all about new experiences. Right?

Happy Birthday to Cathy and Kirstin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My love is being shipped over the Pacific right to your doorstep. I wish I could celebrate with you both, but there is time for that in the future. Have an amazing day.

Love you all,
Adrianne

PS - This is long PS, but it all happened after I wrote this original post and thought it worthy of adding.
My village is crazy.
I had another town meeting last night in which I was put on trial for all my actions or lack there of. The reasons were petty, but the feelings behind them were not. The town hall was filled with people I didn't even think lived in my village. Also people were sitting outside listening and peeking in the windows. I am the entertainment.
Being female, my village does not like me dating and proceeded to question every part of my life. I refuse to live here for two years in a bubble. I was also questioned about my work progress. They did not see progress BECAUSE THEIR EYES ARE CLOSED. I happily explained to them all the details of my work and they were then satisfied. I handled myself with dignity although I really just wanted to blow my top and call them on all the things they do that make no sense. I had my supervisor there to help me translate and provide moral support. He was great. At the end of the meeting my youth president made a formal apology and all seems to be well. I feel a little rocky about the whole thing and am going to be walking on egg shells the next few weeks. "Mother village" is always watching.
As you can tell by my tone, the whole situation was a little intense for me. I am growing more than I ever thought I would on this journey.

Koniseti

2005-01-13T21:05:00.000-05:00

So I survived Uike Lotu.
I ate some great food and spent time with some great people. Overall not too bad. The church part was bearable. I skipped out a few times and just went to the feasts.

This week has been slow. People are just starting to get back into the swing of work. I'm moving slowly in this direction because everything here in Tonga runs slowly. I hope to start up my youth meetings next week and have a girls night discussing reproductive issues. I'll let you know if any of that actually happens. This week was the close of the girls netball season. The netball team wants to have a picnic at the beach for the close of the season, so we needed some money. We had a koniseti this week which is a "concert" for fundraising purposes. Now don't think of the kind of concert we would have back in the States. This is totally different.
A DJ pumped music while each family had their name called. They are then expected to dance and donate money while the song is being played. I had my own song. I think I'm moving up in the world. I often wonder why everyone doesn't just hand someone a donation and be done with it, but everyone here seems to have fun and think this works just fine. We made over $300 pa'anga so Saturday we are off to the beach. More food and good times.

Wish I had more time.

Love you all,
Adrianne

Uike Lotu

2005-01-02T21:03:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year Everyone!!!!!

Time seems to stand still here, but I do realize that it is already 2005. I'm going to be finished here before I know it. Let's not think about that now.

My kayak trip was fantastic. We traveled to many of the outer islands and the entire time I just kept saying to myself - "I live here." I feel so privileged. By the way - Thank you for your tax dollars. We traveled in two-person kayaks and camped on the beaches. We went on some great hikes and went snorkeling everyday. There were a couple of days with some rough waves and my muscles paid the price, but I had so much fun that it was worth it. I think I'm a little more buff than I was before I left. While on the trip I heard the news of the disaster. My thoughts and prayers go out to all everyone.

Life back in my village:
Uike Lotu - Week of Prayer
Yes it seems like every week has a title. This week I was going to try and hide out, but I now feel like I should participate in all the events. For the entire week church begins at 5:00 in the morning and is followed by a huge feast at 6:00. When I say a huge feast - I truly mean food that you shouldn't be eating at 6:00 in the morning without begging for heartburn. Then everyone relaxes for the day. Then church again at 6:00 in the evening followed by another feast at 7:00. I now know why this country in hugely overweight. Each family has the responsibility of preparing one of the meals for the week. My host family prepared my first feast and all the women stayed up the entire night. While we all ate these women sat on the side of the hall and watched with glazed looks in their eyes. As a reward for their hard work they got to eat the leftovers. Speeches flowed and I sat and smiled while I understood very little of what was being said about God. I do know that it must have been important because everyone was crying. At the time of writing this I've only made it through day one of the feasts. I hope I can make it through this entire week.

Lots more to say, but time is precious. At least the time that I have to pay to use the internet.
I love you all and hope everyone has had a great start to the New Year.

Adrianne

Uike To'utupu

2004-12-22T15:58:00.000-05:00

My trip back from Nuku'Alofa was great. We got to hitch a ride with the Crown Prince and his crew. He sat two seats in front of me. I was surprised that he spoke English the whole trip.
I was then welcomed back into my village with the notice that the village water pump had broken. After two weeks of no water the "water committee" still had not decided whether it was important enough to have a meeting to solve the problem. It is not only difficult for bathing purposes, but not being able to flush the toilet has been a major problem for me. I try to hold it and only go when I go to the office or another village. I've heard rumors that it will be back on in the short future.
This week was supposed to be my Uike To'utupu - Youth Week.
To say the least it has been a bust. All my planning and preparation has all gone down the tubes. We were going to have a greased pig contest, a relay obstacle course, a scavenger hunt, and a picnic. My youth President has been a pain in the you know what. I've tried to deal with him in a respectful and polite manner, but I feel it is about to turn ugly. I'm planning a revolt with my youth. I had a meeting last night to try and at least have the picnic before Christmas. Hopefully it will all work out.

I'm off tomorrow to go on a kayak trip. I'll let you all know how it goes.
I love you all.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Adrianne

PS. New photos have been posted, just click on my "Photo Album" link

Fakataha

2004-12-14T02:03:00.000-05:00

A Fakataha is a meeting, which has been this weeks main activity. Now when I say meeting, I mean a meeting in Peace Corps Tonga style. This means that the All Volunteer conference was held at a little "resort" on the beach. We ate semi decent food, talked about some semi relevant topics, and had the waves crashing in the background the entire time. I shared a bungalow with two other girls from Vava'u and we were right on the beach. Swimming and bonfires were a definite must over the two day conference. Then we ventured back to the city for some down time over the weekend. The stimulation was too much for me. Two more days of meetings which were actually very awesome and now it is time to head back. I may be stuck here an extra few days due to the airline unreliability, but I won't find out until tomorrow morning at 6 AM at the airport.
There are some program changes that I have just learned about and so I may start doing some teaching in the primary school near my village. I'm excited for the change and hope to implement a few new things in my village. I feel like I always start off with high energy at first sight and then as time passes I get stuck in the routine of village life. I really would like to stay on top of my game and bring life into my projects. I guess I need to focus on some personal motivation issues. Maybe that is where you all can come in. Give me energy!!!!!!!
It's hard to describe the changes that I am going through while I'm here. I do feel that I have experienced some major personal growth that was needed. I wish everyone had the opportunity to see the best and worst side of themselves.
It's pretty much settled - I'm going to kayak for Christmas. It's a seven day camping trip where I get to kayak from island to island. It will be a new version of a Christmas experience, but I'm looking forward to it. Not to say that you all won't be missed because it definitely won't be the same without you all. I can't believe that the countdown is so close. Time feels different here. I also don't have all the advertisers telling me that it is Christmas time and "time to shop". Christmas here is about Church and food. I don't know which version I like best.
Anyway - hope all is well.

Love,
Adrianne

Fakamalohisino

2004-12-07T20:33:00.000-05:00

I feel like I've been in a whirlwind. So much to say, but never enough time.

I guess I'll start with defining fakamalohisino = exercise.
Malohi is strong and sino means body - Add it together and it makes great sense.
The females in my youth group are training for netball season. Although I'm not a fan of the sport I feel it is my duty to participate in the activities. We had a meeting and I was elected treasurer. I figure I can speak the language of money so this is a job I can gladly handle. Then we discussed starting an exercise program in the mornings. I was excited to hear their enthusiasm and told them to stop by my house in the morning when they got started.
I was awakened to my neighbor saying: 'Ateliana - 'Ateliana.
I answer: Ko au.
He says: Fakamalohisino
This was at 4:30 in the morning mind you. I was in shock. My youth show up 1 1/2 hours late to a meeting, yet they are at my door at 4:30 in the morning. Go with flow, right? We run around the field and do a series of sit ups and push up before heading back to someone's house for bread and tea. Food is a center piece of all activities. I slide back into bed at 6:30 and surface around 9:00.

We had a Christmas party for the Alunga disabilities group last week. I was full of good cheer the entire day. The dancing, eating and gift giving made for an amazing time. They really brighten up my days.

The gossip has struck my village in full force and I almost drowned. I started talking with a guy in my village and the next thing I new an announcement was made at the youth meeting about our "relationship." I was unaware of this so called relationship and it's relevance to everyone else. My peace corps advisor was brought into this gossip and I had a lot of cleaning up to do. I also received a 20 minute lecture from my homestay father about relationships and the importance of marriage. I'm 27 years old and I was made to feel like I was 12. As my peace corps advisor stated so nicely, "Welcome to Tonga."

After this frenzy at home, I was excited for my little get away. I'm now in Nuku'alofa (the capital) and trying to relax and catch up with the other volunteers. Oh - I got to see the Queen at the airport. It was pretty uneventful - but funny to see her fly commercial. Nuku'alofa seems so big to me right now. I can't imagine what it will be like to go back to the States. I'm already in stimulation overload.

Miss you all,
Adrianne

Puke fakatevolo

2004-11-30T20:30:00.000-05:00

Puke Fakatevolo is directly translated as “sick like the devil” or possessed. Since I learned this word two weeks ago I have heard it in many contexts. One night I was sitting in my house talking with a few youth when I heard some screaming. A stampede of children ran by my house yelling "puke fakatevolo, puke fakatevolo". Apparently one of my neighbors, a 23 year old girl, was possessed. She was screaming, wailing, and trying to vomit. It seemed to be a big show for the entire village to watch. I stayed in my house. A discussion started where I learned that my sister was struck with puke fakatevolo a few months ago. This was the incident I described on an earlier post when she was beat by her mother and then ran away. I found out that the village had no other explanation for her behavior except that the devil made her do it. I personally think she was tired of getting hit and needed to get away. I also learned that only women are struck by the devil. We women have it tough.

I have a bruise on my bottom from who knows what. I must have bumped it or ran into something. Anyway, I was talking with another of my sisters the other night and she was convinced that I was bit by the devil for doing something bad. I tried to explain to her what causes a bruise, but she could not be swayed. I tried to think of all the things I could have done for the devil to want to bite me, but I couldn’t come up with anything. I guess I am going to live in a state of ignorance.

On a brighter note, Thanksgiving was amazing here. I’m happy to have other volunteers around to celebrate ‘palangi’ (foreigner) holidays. We ate turkey, devoured a pumpkin pie and watched a recorded copy of a football game. As close to home as I think we could get. I hope everyone’s celebrations were just as great.

Two weeks ago boxing matches have started here in Vava’u. Now this is a sport that is loved by Tongans. They enjoy seeing people get hurt and then laughing hysterically instead of showing concern. I find my enjoyment by just watching the crowd. I also like to cheer on any of the athletes that I know. It really has been a fun way to spend a Friday night.

This week begins Christmas parties and also a stop-to-work as I know it. December is time to spend with family and with God. I’ve been told that nothing gets done during this season. I’m kind of glad to get a little break by heading down to the capital, Tongatapu. I have some additional training I need to get done as well as attend an All Volunteer Meeting. It will be nice to see everyone from my training group. I’m also starting to make my plans for Christmas so I will let you all know when I get them set in stone.

Adrianne

Hulohula – Tongan Dance

2004-11-25T20:19:00.000-05:00

I’m going to start each post with a Tongan word to help with my vocabulary as well as share a little bit of culture.

I didn’t make it to Hunga this past weekend. We had a putu in Okoa so I spent the night with my community. I went to the church around 9:00 in the evening, sat on the floor and sang with my village. I didn’t have to kiss the body this time which was a nice relief. I ate my food from a plastic bag that was served at tea. I sat around and talked with everyone from my village, so I know they were happy that I stayed to give my respects. I walked home around 1:30 in the morning and was sung to sleep. The hymns continued all through the night.
I tried to catch a later boat to Hunga, but was unsuccessful. There is no formal boat to the outer islands so I tried my hand at catching a fishing boat. You either spend hours waiting around at the wharf or just missing the boat (which I’m good at). So another volunteer spent the weekend at my house. She lives on a different outer island, but was coming to Hunga with me. We had a wonderful lazy weekend and fixed some delicious food. My 8 year old brother ate with us one night and laughed the entire time at our Mexican burritos. It’s nice to expose people to new things.
Last night I went to a talent show in town. There were many acts that I thought were bad, a few that were so so, and one that was really good. I had a great time watching the crowds reaction. Tongans can be vocal. There is a typical Tongan style of dancing that I have grown to love. It consists of a nod of the head, a march of the feet, and a bounce to the hips. I find it rubbing off on me and affecting my own style of dance. I also hear music here that I haven’t heard in years. I find myself singing to ‘West Virginia’ on the radio. What is happening to me?

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. I’m thankful for having all of you in my life and for all the support I’ve received. Happy Birthday to you Gillian. I miss you and hope your day is great.

Love,
Adrianne