Chatter Post

So, we are well settled back into life in the Kingdom.  Last week, we had eight more VSA volunteers arrive. With this, the number has doubled to 16, and our Programme Manager decided she needs to look around for a formal office building, rather than working from her apartment. It certainly changes the dynamics of our group – in a good way.

Our respective jobs are going really well, both Rolf and I are enjoying the work with the people here, we are definitely in the right place.  This week, I got to do a big poster for my boss – she decided that the theme for this year will be ‘Relationships’, and could someone think of a brainstorming poster about this to put on the wall. I put my creative hand up as I love that kind of thing. This is the result.

This week, Rolf is on the island of Vava’u – ‘the Pearl of Tonga’, considered the most beautiful island. (It literally is the Pearl as it boasts a pearl-growing industry). – In four days, Rolf has 20 customers / businesses to visit to assess for coaching.

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No doubt, his own post about this will follow in due time. Here is just a ‘taster’ from a message he sent today:

“I am now the coach for a small resort, a bakery, some handicraft businesses and a large kava grower and exporter. I just don’t know what to do with 1kg of fresh kava which I got given.” – However, I replied to him that I would know what to do with a pearl, should he be given one…

We had to get used again to the limited options of food available here. The other night, while we were watching a movie, I was soo craving chocolate. My good husband dashed out the door down to the Chinese dairy that’s open late, and he brought home a Cadbury’s milk and almond chocolate for which he paid $8.00. I didn’t look at the ‘use by’ date, it wasn’t the freshest, but it satisfied my craving for the moment! Last night, I chopped some honey melon and banana, added some sugar and cinnamon and a dash of cream – and enjoyed the dessert all by myself. It was pretty ifo (yummy).

Speaking of language: I have made a pact with my colleagues that, every morning when I do a professional training session with them, they will in turn have to teach me some Tongan words. I need to build my vocabulary to communicate with the children during the play sessions. This works really well, and we have lots of laughs when I try to pronounce and sing ‘Head, shoulders, knees and toes’ in Tongan: “’Ulu, uma, tui moe va’e, tui moe va’e… moe mata, telinga, ngutu moe ihu…” Go figure!

Last night, we had the most spectacular thunderstorm. It woke me up just after midnight. There was lightning and thunder, and the rain was incredible, bucketing down on to our tin roof. Loved it! It reminded me of childhood…

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But enough chatter for today. This week’s highlight will be a big dinner and celebration for Waitangi Day (New Zealand National Day) at the High Commissioner’s Residence on Thursday. There will be an extensive list of invited guests. Sadly, Rolf will miss this – and will be missed.