Well the boat ride was quite an experince.  It was a 1960’s model Japanese ferry boat, I call it “rustbucket class”.  We got on the boat late and ended up not getting a place in the Peace Corps room so we decided to make the 22 hour journey on the top deck under an underhang with Lara and Trenton, Joe and Cory,  Jason and Justin.  We were so lucky that it didn’t rain until when we were getting off the boat.  Karen, as many others, took dramomine and phenegan for seasickness.  I had the patch and eventually I took a phenegan to help me sleep.  It was a bit unnerveing where I was sitting becuase it was on the starboard side of the boat and as the boat rocked I’d look straight down into the water, startling me several times in the night.  Also we were heckled in the night with “mohe’a uli” and “Te mo lotu”,  ”sleeping dirty” and “we need to pray” for sleeping next to our wives for warmth or so close together.  I also had the pleasure of someone stepping on me, presumably the guy who eventually yelled at us.  I’d guess this is a bit of the religious culture coming out.  It was a nice suprise when we found out that we were getting to Vava’u in 18 hours instead of 22.

We have arrived at our second homestay, where we will be until December 4th.  Our schedule has become less intense with formal Peace Corps training, but more intense on the language, which is good.  I think we are finally feeling a bit better about the Tongan language, but it is still very difficult.  Our group has been divided up into 3 groups with 11 in each of three towns (kolo).  Then we all meet back in one town 2 times a week.

Our internet access will be much more restricted because we will probably only be able to get to a computer on the weekends.  We miss you all and hope you’re doing well. 

We are moving to Vava’u for our second home-stay, which is a 24 hour boat ride from Nuku’alofa, Tonga. It sounds fun but it’ll be on top of a freighter ship in the middle of the night so it could be Indiana Jones esque.  We are currently in Fu’amotu which is the summer home of the queen.  We love our host family here and will miss them a great deal.  They have been so good to us.  The food here is very much like that of the states.  Some things are different, but generally it similar and everyone eats like they live in Tennessee.  They really like New Zealand corned beef (pulu) too.

We have no idea what our internet access will be like for the next 6 weeks so our updates and emails may be much less frequent than that of here in Fu’amotu. Vava’u is one of the 5 island groups here in Tonga and is much further north than our current position here in Tongatapu (which is where the capital city of Nuku’alofa is).  Vava’u is a mountainous island area and is warmer than here.  We will spend at least 6 weeks there and then we will be coming back to Nuku’alofa for the last couple of weeks before swearing in as Peace Corps volunteers.  Then we have no idea where we will be.

We are thinking of everyone and we hope you all are doing well!

I decided that my last post needed a little more explaining…  Scot and I are living with a family here in Fuamotu. Kesi would probably technically be our “host mom,” but she is only a couple of years older than Scot and I, so “host sister” seems like the most accurate way to describe our relationship.  She is one of six siblings, and all of her brothers and sisters have moved abroad.  Since she has gotten on the internet, she has gotten in contact with all of them!  For the first time in a very long time, the family was able to share current pictures of one another.  Scot and I are learning so much as well.  It is almost an overload of information.  The language is unbelievably complicated, but our entire group of 33 Peace Corps volunteers are wading through it together.  Each day, I am amazed and in awe of the kindness and hospitality intrinsic within the culture.  The unique Polynesian ways are evident in the art, food, rituals, ceremonies, dress, and handicrafts.  It is an honor to be here!

Hi everyone!  Just wanted to send a little update… All is well in the island Kingdom of Tonga!  I taught my host sister how to use the internet, so we are making frequent stops to the village internet.  She is loving being online for the first time ever!  A large amount of Tongans live abroad.  Many are in Australia or New Zealand.  I have learned that there is a Tongan equivalent to My Space or Facebook… it is called Bebo, and my host sister has found all of her family living abroad online!  While I am teaching her internet, she is graciously teaching me the Tongan art of weaving (or lalanga). I am loving it!  Tonga is getting ready to host the Pacific Forum for the first time ever, and dignitaries from all over the world will be here for the event.  Peace Corps trainees have a meeting set up for this Wednesday with the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State!  He is actually a returned Peace Corps volunteer from Cameroon.  It should be interesting!  I can’t wait to update the blog with photos.  You will not believe the beauty and culture conveyed through the pictures… We just have to find a computer that we can upload the pictures onto… Anyway, thanks for all of your emails and comments.  We LOVE hearing from friends and family in the states:)