Christmas Curry

Well I hope everyone had a nice Christmas. Christmas here was ok, although it felt nothing like christmas back home. Several of the volunteers from group 74 and I here in Tongatapu went out on Christmas eve and had Indian Curry for dinner. Although it was not bad, I truly did keep thinking about Corn Chowder, Tamales, Cornflake Winks on Christmas eve, and Prime Rib on Christmas dinner, It was truly missed. Nothing has happened yet with the job, and nothing will happen until at least the Monday after New Years. Hopefully then I can figure out what I will be doing and get started. Tonight some of the fellow volunteers and I are going to go to BillFish Bar and grill and ring in the new years. With nothing to do I have been reading alot, and I sat down last night to count all the books I've read since I have been here, and I was extremely surprised. 10 1/2 was the number. That is alot considering my normal time dedicated to reading back in the states was about 30 minutes a day, and that was to check the Headline News (What lame line Obama was trying to feed us, which republican politician was being investigated for fraud or corruption this week) as well as the latest news on my most beloved sundevil football team. Here is a list of the books I have recently read:



A River Runs through It and Other Stories by Norman Maclean

Wicked

When Character Was King: A Story of Ronald Reagan by Peggy Noonan

Sex Lives of Cannibals-Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J Maarten Troost

Getting Stoned with Savages-A Trip through the islands of Fiji and Vanauatu by J Maarten Troost

Marley and Me by Joe Grogan

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Deathly hallows by JK Rowling

Into the Wild by John Krakauer

Frommers Guide to the South Pacific-11th Edition

Friday Night Lights by H.G. Bissinger



I highly recommend all the books except Wicked, Marley and Me, and Into the Wild. I was not that interested in them, but like my father, sometimes I just have no taste. Well, I best be heading on. I am off to shop for a second set of sheets, pencils, and super glue, which will most likely lead me to about 10 different stores. Ah, Nuku'alofa. Gotta love it. However, the fellow volunteers and I have come up with our new slogan. TIT- This is Tonga. Whenever we have a question, concern, or meer puzzlement, we just remind each other "TIT", and we all have a laugh.

Malo e lelei, Im officially in Prison.

Ok, well not really, I merely have started working for Huatolitoli prison here in the wonderful Kingdom of Tonga. I am a little late to this whole blog thing, but since I have not had enough time or reliable connection to the internet for the last 5 months, I decided the blog thing can wait until I start. I am now officially started, and now the prison is officially on 2 week vacation, so I figured no time like the present. So far my training has been the roller coaster we have all been warned about, but luckily I haven't been real sick, and my roller coaster has more closer resembled the teacups at Disneyland instead of the Matterhorn. Pictures will soon be up when I can run into the peace corps office and download them onto a flash drive. Biggest shock living in Tonga so far would have to be the apparent lack of hammocks, the only one I have seen is the one a fellow volunteer, Peter, has brought with him. Biggest excitement, actually having a cell phone and internet access at my job site, although I may be one of the lucky few. The biggest disappointment has probably been the apparent lack of napkins. While I am by no means a neat freak or germaphobe, I hate the idea of wiping my hands on my clothes. Ah...but after all I got into peace corps knowing I would give up comforts of home. I just didn't think it would be the type decision of whether or not to pick up my cell phone with dirty hands. Oh well.... I guess is Faka Tonga (the tongan way). Well I will leave you with a poem of a fellow trainee who unfortunately is no longer with us here in Tonga. It is a excellent snapshot in the life of a peace corps trainee/volunteer. Look for more posts and future pictures.


Highs and Lows
By Trent "Tahi" Wallace

As I walk down the street In my village today
All the Tongans I pass Say “Malo lei lei”

My spirits are high, A smile on my face
I feel like I’m home, Yes, I love this place

Snap back to reality, I hear a yelp
A dog’s being beaten, I think he needs help

I hold back my rage, With all of my might
Because sadly, in Tonga, This behavior’s alright

When language is over, We take to the court
We shoot hoops and play rugby, Or some other sport

Everyone’s happy, We have such a blast
We all laugh and play, Time passes so fast

Snap back to reality, My shower’s cold as can be
And the spider above, Is bigger than me

As I shampoo my hair, I keep open one eye
If the bastard touches me,There’s no doubt I’ll die

Just when I think I won’t make it a year
My house father shouts “Tahi, come drink a beer!”

I eat a huge supper, That’s fit for a king
When I’m with my family, I need not a thing

Snap back to reality, I’m reading in bed
When I hear a noise, That fills me with dread

A Mongomonga flies by, And makes my skin crawl
He gives me the finger, And lands on the wall

I choke down some Nyquil, While I drift off to sleep
I pray to the Lord, My soul he will keep

My dreams are all filled, With family and friends
And a girl that I like, Please don’t let it end

Snap back to reality, Very quickly I wake
To roosters and kids,And bells, for God’s sake

Although I’m quite pissed, On my face a smile grows
In Tonga you deal With the highs and the lows