MY OWN PARADISE!!!

I am really enjoying myself here in Tu’anekivale. I live near some beautiful beaches and I am like a celebrity here. Whenever I am walking down the street to school the kids always call out, from places you didn’t even know of, Hina! Hina! Hina! When I walk home from school for lunch, it is also the primary school lunch time, and the kids come down the hill running to me. The boys I give high fives and the girls I just give hugs to. They are all so cute, they get a little shy and then head home. I always walk home with my little homestay sister, either holding her hand or riding on my shoulder. Whenever I get home from school I love playing with the kids in my house. I have kids that are there just hanging out or actually live here from the age of 20 to 1. The young kids here don’t really play with the adults so I think they really love it. I pick them up, hang them upside down, chase them, tickle them…and it goes on for hours. It is funny to watch the kids because they always look at you with this big grin hoping they will be the next kid I pick up.

After playing with the kids for a while I either go kaukautahi (swim in the ocean), go for a jog with another PC volunteer or head to the basketball courts. Other PC volunteers are usually there and our two language teachers too. The games are really fun and it is a good workout. Oh, I should mention that they really don’t know what basketball is here. They have something called neti polo (net ball) that is the closest thing. The ball, court lines, rules and hoop are all a little different but we just use the neti polo ball and play basketball. =) After basketball or jogging it is time to come home cuz it is getting dark. I come home play with the children some more, take a shower, eat dinner (every so often they will actually let me help make the dinner), do homework/study, and hang out with the family. Who could ask for a better schedule!! Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I also go to the dance practices and my oldest host sister, Leseili age 20, likes to pull me up with them because it is the song about Hina. =) So I am learning a Tonga dance, it is a lot of hand movements and you don't really move your feet but you have to keep your knees bent a little bit. I think the whole town enjoys watching me make a fool of myself trying to keep up with moves. These kids have been around these dances their whole lives so they really don't teach you the moves. I just have to watch someone else and just kind of pick up on it. It is a lot of fun though! =D

Today we had coconut survival skills training. Which consisted of watching my language teacher climb a coconut tree (without any shoes of course), open a coconut with a machete, husk a coconut, and start a fire without a flame. It was really cool to watch but not like I would be able to do all of that if I was ever stranded on an island.

I have not really run into any major challenges, yet…I know they will come. I have not really gotten sick either. My stomach at times is a little upset…but I am sure that has nothing to do with the food preparation cleanliness. I do miss seeing/talking with my friends and family but how excited everyone is to see me here and talk with me helps keep my mind busy, Thankfully!!