Teach Me To Tonga

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

The start of the coronation festivities!

Today the Free Wesleyan Schools all made there way to town to present gifts of lei's, pigs, and kava to the King!

It started by the Free Wesleyan office where we waited in the sun for a good 3 hours getting everyone assembled.

On the bus to town.

Getting lined up in marching formation.

The hurry up and wait game!The kids were good sports and made the best of it.

Once we were all grouped and ready to march, we marched down to the Kings palace!

Walking to the palace!

Everyone was super excited, and it only grew as we got closer and closer to the palace.

Once we got to the palace, we again waited and were filed into the palace gates for the giving of the gifts ( me'a Ofa- literally translates to thing of love)

It took awhile getting all the kids into the palace grounds.

Queen Salote filing in (the free Wesleyan all girls school)

This folks is the closest shot I have, the guards made us put away our phones and purses once we got inside the gate.

But the King was there!

It was a long day , but a great start to the coronation. Everything in town was newly painted and decked out in Tongan flags, I'm sure these next 2 weeks are going to be full of excitement and celebration in Tonga.

Friday, June 19, 2015

Oh the places you'll go...New Zealand adventures!

New Zealand adventures! Myself along with other Peace Corps friends spent the last 2 weeks exploring the north and South Island of New Zealand! We had a blast and rather than talk through it all I'm going to show our trip in pictures!

Getting pumped on the plane!

Getting ready to land in NZ!

Our cozy cottage on the South Island!

Te Anau

Milford Sound

The famous Speights Brew house in Dunedin!

After 4 days on the South Island we headed back up north.

Hit up Hobbiton.

Checked out the living Maori village.

Did some kayaking at the cabin!

Explored Auckland

Ate some fancy ice cream!

Checked out the zoo... Sadly no kiwi birds were awake when we went :(

Overall it was a fantastic trip! We ate so much good food, took a ton of hot showers and loved every moment of it! :)

Now we are all safe and sound back home in Tonga getting ready for the upcoming coronation!

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Parliament day & birthday weekend...

Thursday was Parliament day here in Tonga, basically it's the day parliament starts back up.

It's a big deal, a ton of people were in town including all the secondary students in Tonga ( it was like 5 or 6 large schools aka lots of students!)

The King opens Parliament, then all the students march by him in his palace to show their respects. Each school is in a marching formation, complete with their own marching band and matching school uniforms.

Tupou high getting in formation...

Students starting the laka (march)

After marching down by the Kings residence we waited for him to drive by.

Complete with police motorcade he drove by in his Kingmobile.

One of the school leaders, led the way after the King past, in high heels no less, it was probably a mile or so march so props!

On another note...

This past Friday was my 23rd birthday and I was blessed to have my wonderful friends over! We made ( aka Keert) made delicious homemade curry and roti! My neighbor was super sweet and bought us ice cream! It was a great night full of wonderful people and food!

Jason and pinati became good friends ;)

Keert cooking...

This coming week we travel to New Zealand for a much needed vacation, can't wait!!!

Saturday, May 23, 2015

'Eua ki ai!

This past weekend I was lucky enough to head over to 'Eua ( another island in Tonga, about a 3 hour boat ride from my island of Tongatapu)

We got to see volunteers from our group, different villages, celebrate a birthday , hike through the beautiful forests, and of course Kai umu for Sapate Tamai ( Father's Day)!

It was such a wonderful mini vacation and time well spent with friends, definitely can't wait to go back :)

On the boat getting ready to head over to 'Eua!