The View

A year ago when I started to noticed the tendency of surprise evening visits from my elderly neighbor who doesn’t speak English at all, I thought it to be a little bothersome. Standing around in my house, saying ‘it’s really hot’ and ‘I’m fine’ a lot was often surrounded by painful silence, during which I could only think about the dinner I was getting ready to cook, the bath I was about to take, or the sleep I was so desperate to have. Sometimes when I can hear her coming up the steps I’ll still let out a loud sigh/pout while I stop whatever I’m doing and readjust my living space for the unexpected company. Yeah I never said I was a hospitable host all the time…

But I don’t know why it is that when I hear her coming up the steps I suddenly have feelings of dread because now, a year later, I find myself enjoying her company more. Less awkward because my Tongan is better, our conversations have gone past the simple ‘hello’ and ‘how are you’ and ‘it’s really hot’ to full on gossip about our neighbors! HA! Break through! Last night we talked about the boy next door whose foot looks horrible because he got it run over by a car because he was goofing around. The woman up the street hasn’t been around in a while because she’s taking care of her sick mom, I should take her some cookies…

Lose said I should get the Town Officer to cut down the rain forest that is my lawn. I said that maybe he was busy, and she said no, that he was lazy. Feisty lady that she is, she huffed as she said that. And while we’re talking I think to myself, HA! When did we get this good? Chatting, gossiping, like we’re on The View, though maybe less invigorating topics I imagine.

She is especially funny with my dog, who loves the company of guests. But Tongans in general don’t enjoy dogs, regardless of how absolutely brilliant and awesome they can be, like Sini. Sini tries to lick, nuzzle, and any other trick she knows to tempt Lose to pet her. Lose’s a good sport about it, and instead of kicking her or throwing a rock like one would normally do, she lightly pats her head once or twice before telling Sini the only phrase she knows to tell her, “Go out.” It doesn’t matter if we’re sitting in my house or on a bench outside, it’s always “Go Out, Go Out” in a tone that is far from commanding. HA! I love this woman! And so does Sini.

We also talked about yet another upcoming trip to Tongatapu I must make in 2 weeks for Mid-Service Training. It’s the Neverending Story with this training business…except less entertaining than the movie with the weird dog-dragon or whatever that thing was. But we bring a Tongan counterpart we work with, and the idea is to learn useful info about working on projects, etc, etc. I will be bringing the Youth Group President from my village, nickname ‘Sugar,’ or in faka Tonga ‘Suka.’ Her real name is Sivi (test). I like to call her ‘masima’ (salt) just to mix it up. I told Lose that too and she laughed, she thinks I’m hilarious of course.

I also told Lose that I’d be off visiting the New World in March. She asked me if my parents were alive, and I said more or less. Ha, ha just kidding! I don’t know how to say more or less in Tongan, and not even sure if the expression would make sense here anyway. Funny thing is, almost every time people ask me about my family they immediately ask straight out if my Mom and Dad are alive. Why yes they are, thank you for asking…

Stay tuned next week when Lose and I will be discussing whether we plan to go to town or not, were there a lot of people in town if we do go, and who’s been going to church like they should. With special guest appearances by Barbara Walters and Oprah who will be talking about whatever it is that they talk about.