Week 7th in Tonga 20.10-26.10.2014

Week 7 in Tonga; 20.10-26.10.2014

Monday 20^th of October 

                                    

Today, the lower forms final exams; Form 1 – F4 plus the Lower 5^th started. The upper forms had normal classes. During our morning devotion, the pastor warmly told the story of the free girls came to his house last night asking for forgiveness as part of their preparation for the exam. I could imagine how terrified these youngsters to put themselves in that situation, but it had to be done by today and I admired their courage. 

Returned of exam papers, time for revision!

Never too late!

Language!

One of the major changes I realised here in Nuku’alofa is the use of English. People talk in English everywhere; in schools, on the streets, in the shops, even in churches. English words, phrases and sentences are incorporated into Tongan conversation. Even parents talk to their children in English. Perhaps English makes it easier to express ourselves. However, I think we will face some problems down the road due to lack of Tongan language skills among the young generations.  

Enjoying the sun!

Tuesday 21^th October

I was in the computer lab today. The lab has internet connection and it is quite convenience to be there. Before lunch, I decided to visit the Palace Office about the permission to do our cleanup at the “Mala’ekula”. I was advised to talk to Suka ‘Otukolo and he agreed with our project proposal. 

I talked to the principal, Asinate in the afternoon about our plan to do something with the environment and we had decided with the students to do a cleanup of the Royal Tomb surroundings. She was ok with the idea also. We would do the clean up on Friday 7^th of November. 

QSC got a ping pong table as a gift from one of the Chinese Shops. After school, I came around the office and recruited some players to christening the table. Who else but the principal herself was the champion. The ladies first and they did quite well. I played with Sione Naitoko and he was good. What a good exercise for us all.

Wednesday 22^th October

I went to the immigration office to check what happened with my swearing ceremony to be a Tongan... When I was interviewed few weeks ago, I was told that someone would call me few days later. Today, I was told they would call me tomorrow. I went and scanned the passport application forms for the kids. They can fill the application and send it by email. I have mine ready already but I couldn't apply before I am admitted to Tongan nationality. Interesting, I lost mind since I got a Finnish passport and the kids have been Tongans all these time. 

When I came back from the immigration office, there was an email from Sela saying that the songs were ready. I went straight back. Sela already did 2 songs and I was so happy. There were the first songs of the “Tohi Himi ma’ae To’utupu” and somehow the hymn book project looked more realistic and achievable. Outside the Friendly Island Bookshop (FIB) at the front ward was the stand of the “Pink October Campaign”. 

Sela with the first 2 songs, Halleluja!

I bought a pink t-shirt for myself. I was told there would be a march on Saturday at 7:30 am as part of the pink campaign.    

Thursday 23^th October

I was told to take more pictures for the school magazine. I spent the morning chasing the students for the pictures. I was not sure what was going on but somehow I got the feeling most of the students were sitting around chatting and playing without doing any studies. Some of them did not bring any note books with them. They just came expecting to get the exams papers back but when they did not get any then they spent the day looming. I exchanged few words with some of them…

I did not go for a training today. I felt a bit tired and I decided to lay low at least today. I took my bike and cycled to get some pan cakes. I really like the Tongan pancakes or “keke ‘isite” in Tongan. The dough, is basically flour, yeast and sugar and then baked in oil.  They are sweet, fluffy, oily and delicious. I also bought a huge pudding and it was so good.

The baker, Isileli!

Friday 24^th October

In the morning, I continued with the photo taken. Girls were line up every time they saw the camera. I hope the magazine people would get the pictures they needed. At lunch time there was the broke of fasting for students and teachers who were strong enough to fast. Luckly this time there was no wind. But it started to rain when the refreshment was served. There were soft drinks and pan cakes for the attendants. It was plenty and the invitation to join the feast was shouted around the yard.

The rain did not stop. In fact, it got heavier and some of us had to run for it. I had my bike with me and by the time I got home, I was already trenched. I supposed to take new pictures for the band this afternoon but it was cancelled. It rained the rest of the day and in the evening I did not feel like going to the kava party.    

‘Ofa’s relatives came in the evening to visit, meaning they brought food. It is a Tongan tradition, to welcome a visitor, relatives, friends or acquaintance to the village, you bring them food. Ofa is the other Tongan who lives in Helsinki and there are only two of us Tongans in Finland. 

Saturday 25^th October

This morning was the final event of the Pink October Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. It was a march around few blocks in Nuku’alofa and I went to take some photos. The march started and ended at Digicell Square. There was a cool down aerobics and I tried to take pictures of course... Someone said, hei don’t go there in front of the Princess. I did not know there was a princess and I could realise there was a special guess if only I took my eyes from the camera and looked around… I apologized but it could not ease the horrible feeling of embarrassment that I had… Later, I asked someone, who was the princess, Fane Tupou Vava’u I was told. I remembered the name…

The event finished and most of the cloud left. I saw Fotofili   Fili and I were in USP together and I have met him few times already. We went for a coffee catching up with what had happened after USP...  When we were at the café someone came up to him. Fili was telling him who I was, he shook my hand and I said hello. Then Fili, introduced his friend. “Sam this is Nuku”. How many Nuku are there in Tonga? Of course there is only one. Fili saw the question mark on my face and he continued, “…Noble Nuku”. I was on my feet in a flash and shook his hand again... Nuku was with his grandson and the future holder of the title ‘Ahome’e. I even forgot my camera... oh no!

I never saw a noble before in jeans. In my yesteryears, I saw many nobles of course and mostly in churches and during some cultural events. They were always with Tongan attire of “tupenu & ta’ovala”. It is one of the changes I have noticed here in Nuku’alofa. Except in QSC and in churches, people dress more “casual”. Women wear both long pants and shorts. In sport activities, people wear sport clothes both young and old, men and women. On the other hand, I saw children and young people at the sea front still swimming with all their clothes as we did 30 years ago...

He picked up his car and we went to get some papaya and coconuts from the seafront market. We visited also the 2 Hawaiian canoes docking at the harbour. It was interesting to talk to the Hawaiian, Samoan, Tongan and Maori crew. They are sailing from Hawaii down to Tonga and few other Islands on the way using traditional ways of navigation.  

We continued with a sightseeing trip. We visited “Si’atoutai”, the FWC theological College which Fili is currently studying. There are more than 200 male and female students in Si’atoutai. They are divided into different villages with names form the bible. Si’atoutai just had its “Misinale” and they collected more than $500 thousand Tongan Pa’anga which is more than 200,000 €. I was shocked when I first heard the news. “Misinale” is the churches annual donations. There are different kinds of donations during the year but Misinale is the main one. There was an expectation if you were in Si’atoutai, you did not have much money. In fact the student’s allowance would not cover your family needs. I guessed time has changed and definitely the students of Si’atoutai have more now. We drove by one of the teachers’ house and greetings were exchanged. Of course, he knew my parents and the conversation continued for a while. Before we left, he said a player for us...

We continued with our trip all the way to the Western tip of Tongatapu where the Dutch sailor Captain Tasman landed more than 300 years ago. The London Mission Society’s missionaries landed few hundred meters away from Tasman’s spot short after Tasman. We drove through villages, visited Liku’alofa Resort and some other historical sites. Fili was a really good tour guide. We both remembered that we did this sightseeing trip 21 years ago before I left to Finland. Interesting!

  The squash for export to Japan!

The fishing pigs! 

Sunday 26^th October

Samuela and Kava from the neighbours were making Umu. They were grading coconuts and I got some for my breakfast. I decided, not to attend the church today and stayed home writing the blog and did some work. At lunch time, I went to see the boarding school lunch. After 11, cars started to arrive bringing food for the girls. Only breakfast prepared on Sunday, the parents brought food enough for lunch and dinner.  

In the afternoon, I went cycle and looked for one of my aunts who lived in Tofoa. I found the house unfortunately there was no one at home. I continued on with sightseeing on bike. I was impressed with “home farming” as they called it here. Some of the homes have gardens not only of flowers but of bananas, yams and different root crops. 

 The mango season is a bit late and not so much.

 That flying foxes in the centre of Tofoa!

My week 7 in Tonga came to an end. See you next week.