i had the best week in Tonga, and I really don't want to forget anything so I am goin to write about it now, and add photos later :) Sorry for not updating as after as I should...I don't even think I am through with the first trip I had before the trimester began! So things will be out of order...if I ever to decide to talk about certain trips. I probably will :) I cannot believe there's only about a month left of school! and then there's a study break and then exams. However, I don't have any exams, just final papers/projects. Woo! So back to my Tonga trip. I decided to go a while ago, maybe a month before it happened, my awesome professor/lecturer (they call them lecturers or course coordinators, but I'll just say professor) casually announced a volunteer trip to Tonga at the end of one of our classes. I was really interested because I wanted to go to a Pacific Island and be fully immersed in their culture instead of just being a tourist, but didn't know how I would do that, unless I did some volunteer program that would probably cost a lot. And how great would it be to go with my professor and other educators and her mentor who have contributed so much to Pacific education?! So I emailed her and asked to talk to her about it, and she told me that we would be staying in a village and then there is a education conference also and two free days. She had also said that she didn't think people would actually be interested haha, but 3 of us from her class ended up going! It was originally for the post-grad students I think because they presented at the conference. There were also 3 other undergrad students from another lecturers class who came so 6 of us kiddies :) I think there were around 25 from Victoria University of Wellington.
So after a few meetings (ok two, but i only could make the last one), we set OFF to the airport a few days later to fly to Auckland and then Tonga! Tongatapu is the main island where we landed and stayed. Once we arrived, it was SO warm and nice, especially since its been pretty cold in NZ (40-50 degrees) it was maybe 70 in Tonga :D There were lots of people welcoming and yelling from the upstairs of the airport probably to all their family that just arrived, and there were lots of people waiting outside the exit door. We waited for a long time for everyone to get through customs and finally left in a cute bus to a...big room? I still have no idea what it was, but it was across from a church and it was a big room, i think with a stage. Basically we sat in a huge circle on chairs and the University of South Pacific director and students welcomed us, introduced themselves, and fed us. :) They had coconuts too!! That was one thing I really was looking forward to :P (food/drink wise) We got paired up with our partners, one VUW student and one USP student. Mine was "home cleaning" and I was really confused at first, but I was basically paired with his cousin Malia, who was a great buddy. I spent most of my time with her and Victoria (my classmate) and their family. I found out later that Nua (my buddddyyyy) was busy working for his dad's business. They have an importing business for fruits, veggies, yams, coconuts. So after that, we walked to Malia's house, met her family, who were very nice and welcoming and had more snacks for us haha. And then off on a mini-tour with Malia's cousin who lives next door, Siua who drove us around to different beaches and the blowholes! The sun was going down/went down while we were there, so after that, Siua asked if I wanted to meet my buddy Nua (Fonua) and told me that he is very shy. Of course I said yes, and we went to their home...
When we parked, Nua's parents, and some aunts were sitting outside on chairs. I think because it was hot inside their home. So they put some chairs out for us and we sat and chatted for a bit. They offered us tea or coffee and were way too nice! We were originally told to make sure we don't get served and to make sure we help out in the house, but they wouldn't let us... We had "Tongan soup" I dont know why they kept laughing when they asked if we liked the "Tongan soup" but it was pretty good. And we had taro as well. The parents were sooo nice! Just on the first day, they were already so welcoming and called us Robin Lasike and Victoria Lasike as part of their family. :') After a while, the boys finally came back from sending their last load of food (I think) and I met shy Nua. I don't know why but every time we interacted everyone laughed. So funny/awkward. And thennnnnnn my host mom, Lupe took us to Malia's house where Sesi, Malia's mom, had prepared SUPER garlicy garlic bread, was so full, but it was so good. And thennnnnn Lupe drove us to another house that we were going to sleep at the first night. We met more sisters/cousins and finally went to bed. And was woken up 2 hours later and met the crazy/funny sisters and cousins... :)
I didn't think I'd type that much but this was only day1! Will shorten next posts...or maybe not, just read or look at what you want to. :) thanks!
So after a few meetings (ok two, but i only could make the last one), we set OFF to the airport a few days later to fly to Auckland and then Tonga! Tongatapu is the main island where we landed and stayed. Once we arrived, it was SO warm and nice, especially since its been pretty cold in NZ (40-50 degrees) it was maybe 70 in Tonga :D There were lots of people welcoming and yelling from the upstairs of the airport probably to all their family that just arrived, and there were lots of people waiting outside the exit door. We waited for a long time for everyone to get through customs and finally left in a cute bus to a...big room? I still have no idea what it was, but it was across from a church and it was a big room, i think with a stage. Basically we sat in a huge circle on chairs and the University of South Pacific director and students welcomed us, introduced themselves, and fed us. :) They had coconuts too!! That was one thing I really was looking forward to :P (food/drink wise) We got paired up with our partners, one VUW student and one USP student. Mine was "home cleaning" and I was really confused at first, but I was basically paired with his cousin Malia, who was a great buddy. I spent most of my time with her and Victoria (my classmate) and their family. I found out later that Nua (my buddddyyyy) was busy working for his dad's business. They have an importing business for fruits, veggies, yams, coconuts. So after that, we walked to Malia's house, met her family, who were very nice and welcoming and had more snacks for us haha. And then off on a mini-tour with Malia's cousin who lives next door, Siua who drove us around to different beaches and the blowholes! The sun was going down/went down while we were there, so after that, Siua asked if I wanted to meet my buddy Nua (Fonua) and told me that he is very shy. Of course I said yes, and we went to their home...
When we parked, Nua's parents, and some aunts were sitting outside on chairs. I think because it was hot inside their home. So they put some chairs out for us and we sat and chatted for a bit. They offered us tea or coffee and were way too nice! We were originally told to make sure we don't get served and to make sure we help out in the house, but they wouldn't let us... We had "Tongan soup" I dont know why they kept laughing when they asked if we liked the "Tongan soup" but it was pretty good. And we had taro as well. The parents were sooo nice! Just on the first day, they were already so welcoming and called us Robin Lasike and Victoria Lasike as part of their family. :') After a while, the boys finally came back from sending their last load of food (I think) and I met shy Nua. I don't know why but every time we interacted everyone laughed. So funny/awkward. And thennnnnnn my host mom, Lupe took us to Malia's house where Sesi, Malia's mom, had prepared SUPER garlicy garlic bread, was so full, but it was so good. And thennnnnn Lupe drove us to another house that we were going to sleep at the first night. We met more sisters/cousins and finally went to bed. And was woken up 2 hours later and met the crazy/funny sisters and cousins... :)
I didn't think I'd type that much but this was only day1! Will shorten next posts...or maybe not, just read or look at what you want to. :) thanks!