This is my journal entry from yesterday…

                Its Sunday so not much happened today.  I got up around 9ish this morning and got ready for church.  Mormon Church lasts for 3 hours on Sunday, from 9-12.  The first 2 hours of the service is a kind of Bible study.  The west way that I can think of comparing it, it to compare it to religion school back home. 

                Thankfully, Lei did not make me go for the full 3 hours.  It’s in Tongan so its not like I would know what they were saying anyway.  I arrived around 10ish.  I’m able to pick out random words in the sermons or maybe the subject of a sentence every now and then, but for the most part I’m clueless to what they’re talking about.  I did however hear Obama’s name mentioned followed by some laughing.  So I was pretty sure they were making some sort of joke about me but I had no idea the context.  Lei later told me that the guy talking had said that Charity and I had come from America and that we were Obama’s top 2 advisors. 

                After the service I went back home (next door) and took a nap for a couple hours.  Shortly after I woke up, I went with Charity to meet Sean and Ofa (the other volunteers in our village) at the beach to do some studying.  We stayed there for about an hour or so and I spent most of the time playing with Sima (my 8 year old brother) and another boy who is somehow related to the family, who had followed us to the beach.  We all went back to Charity’s and watched some episodes of Arrested Development.  We watched 4 or 5 and then I went home for dinner. 

                Lei sort of chastised me for watching TV on the Sabbath when I got home.  I say sort of because she kept smiling and making a funny face as she was talking to me.  I’m pretty sure she was just saying it for the benefit of Taleki (the grandfather) who was snoozing in the next room and listening in.  Taleki is a Mormon minister at the church.  Apparently his faith hasn’t rubbed off on his son (my dad), Laukau, because he was too (for lack of a better word) hung-over from Kava the night before. 

                Today I started drinking the water from their water tank.  The water tank is filled by rain water.  Up until now, Lei had been boiling my water because the Peace Corps had told us it might make us sick until we got use to drinking it.  I’ve been drinking a decent amount of Kava, which is made with unboiled rain water, so I figured what the hell.  So far I’ve had almost 2 liters and no sign of trouble.

                We have been told by the Peace Corps and we’ve heard from other sources like the internet, that PST (Pre-service training) is not fun and is commonly thought of to be the toughest part your 27 months.  Maybe I have been lucky because I’m having a pretty great time here.  The language isn’t too hard, our lessons go pretty quick, the people here are amazing, my family take great care of me, and we have tons of time to go to the beach or to do whatever else we might want to do.  This is probably the least stressed I’ve been in awhile.  I also get along great with the rest of the volunteers in our group and we’re starting to become good friends.  The only real complaint I have is the limited access to the internet. 

Our Classroom and teacher, Tasi

Just visiting the pilots during our flight, no big deal

Ready for Church (notice new haricut)

Our Beach at Fotura

Our beach at sunset.

Group Shot at the airport upon arrival

Drinking Kava after church.

In Nuka'alofa we visited the Church of Tonga because one of the 5 business volunteers will be put there.  They welcomed us with a feast.

Man-made road connecting Foa and Pangai

Sandy Beach also known as Palangi beach. 

2-year old brother, Taleki

Original Blog Post that I couldn't post the other day

I am officially known as Kona, pronounced Co-Na.  The Tongan alphabet doesn’t have an R in it so it is hard for some Tongans to say Connor.  So when they do say it, it sounds like Kona, so at the recommendation of some current volunteers I took Kona as my Tongan name.  Many Tongan names are words (I think that’s true).  Anyway the funny thing is that when you look up Kona in the dictionary, the definition is, “to be intoxicated or poisoned” lol.  It has really caught on here in Ha’apai so I’m going to run with it.  

After 6 days in Nuku’alofa, we finally departed for Ha’ apai.  I’ve been in Ha’apai in the village of Fo’tua for two days now.  We landed on the only airstrip which is literally the width of the island.  It goes from one side of Pangai to the other.  If the plane didn’t slow up in time then it would go straight into the sea.  Fotua is attached to Pangai by a single lane, man-made concrete road.  It has so many potholes and is supposed to be rebuilt soon by the Japanese government.  Only one car can cross at a time.  It has to be one of the worst roads in the world.  It is covered in potholes and you can’t go faster than 10 or 15 mph on it. 

In my village there are three other volunteers.  We will be having our language lessons together for the next couple of months Mondays-Thursday at our language instructor’s house.  On Fridays we all travel to the next village and meet up with the rest of the volunteers in our group.  There are a total of 26 of us.  The island is beautiful. 

Today and yesterday we spent a couple of hours diving and spear fishing in the coral reefs.  Today I caught my first fish.  The first was a pretty pathetic 6 or 7 inch fish and then I caught a squid which was pretty sweet.  Especially since I thought it was a big white fish until I shot it and black ink sprayed everywhere.  Today I went with Sean (the other male volunteer here in Fo’tua) and Semi and Pita.  Semi and Pita live next door and are 19 and 20 respectively.  Yesterday they took me and Charity (Volunteer living next door at their house) into the bush.  It was pretty cool eating the fruit we saw as we walked and drinking coconut water.  We were also showed how to climb a coconut tree but they weren’t too keen to let me try.  The last thing they want is a Palangi falling from a tree and getting hurt while on their watch. 

                Palangi is a white person.  Everywhere you go in Tonga you hear people referring to you as a Palangi.  It takes some getting used to as an American because we would never refer to someone as “black guy” or “Chinese guy” right in front of you.  Nothing is meant by it but it does take some getting used to.  I actually think it’s kind of funny.  Lateki, the 2 year old here in the house, will just follow me around and saying Palangi until I look at him, at which point he giggles and starts talking Tongan. 

 My host is great as well.  Their names are Lei (the Mom), Laukau (the Dad), and two sons, Lateki (2) and Semi (8).  Pretty much everyone on the island is related by blood.  For example next door is Laukau’s brother’s house where Charity stays.  Then the other two volunteers live down the road at Allani’s house and his Sister’s house.  Allani is a cousin or something to Lei I think.  It’s hard to keep track of the relationships. 

                The lifestyle here is so slow and laid back, it’s great.  Most men here in the village don’t have jobs and work in the bush.  Whenever you are tired you take a nap, which suits me fine.  Here everyone lives on Tongan time so meetings can get cancelled at the last minute, planes leave hours or sometimes days late, and nobody seems to notice or care.

I am officially known as Kona, pronounced Co-Na.  The Tongan alphavbet doesn't have an R in it so it is hard for some Tongans to say Connor.  So when they do say it, it sounds like Kona, so at the recommendation of some current volunteers IU took Kona as my Tongan name.  Many Tongan names are words (I don't know if that's true).  Anyway the funny thing is that when you look p Kona in the dictionary, the definiton is, "To be intoxicated or poisoned" lol.  It has really caught on here in Ha'apai so I'm going to run with it. 

Today and yesterday we spent a couple of hours diving and spear fishing in the coral reefs.  Today I caught my first fish.  The first was a pretty pathetic 6 or 7 inch fish and then I caught a squid which was pretty sweet.  Especially since I thought it was a big white fish until I shot it and black ink sprayed everywhere. 

***Because the internet is so slow I can't post the whole blog post.  This is about 1/5 of what I wrote so I'll have to post the rest another day.  My ride is leaving.***

Also no pics yet and I buzzed my head.

Arrived in Tonga

Hey Everyone,

This is my first chance to post since I got here.  Its Thursday at 7:49 PM.  We arrived on Monday morning and were greeted by Peace Corps staff.  The people of Tonga are amazing.  Its strange walking around and having everyone saying Hello to you.  I bought my Tepenu (man skirt) today and I look fucking good lol.  Its actually how surprising how comfortable it is and un-girly looking.  Especially since everyone is wearing them some of who are massive Tongan men.  We apparently brought the rain with us cuz it has been raining since we arrived.  The staff here are awesome.  On Wednesday we all fly out to Ha'apai which is the most consevative island group in Tonga.  We have all been split up into 4 different villages on the island of Foa.  Sorry this is a bit of a short post but I didn't have much time.  I'll do better in a few days.