Ready to go back

For the past year and a half I have built strong relationships, another family you could say, halfway across the world during my Peace Corps experience thus far. I have finally had the opportunity to visit my families that I left behind in order to have this experience, and I was welcomed with open arms and hearts!

I’ve had an extended stay in America, about 3 and a half weeks, and have used every bit of that time to see friends, family, and share as much about Tonga as possible while absorbing as much as I can of their lives that I’ve missed. In case you were wondering there is never enough time… There were dinners, lunches, outings, weddings, hiking, more dinners, more lunches, even more weddings!! But something I’m most grateful for was having the time to spend with my family who, after listening to me prattle on about my life in Tonga, and all the people I share it with, decided to come together and offer their own contribution to that experience.

Everyone came together and not only were generous enough to give me wonderful things that I can use in Tonga, but the children I work with and people I live so close to. They bought, crayons, markers, activity books, you name it, and it was probably there. I have never been more moved and touched by all of the generosity that I have experienced these passed few weeks, and countless others want to contribute in the same way.

The more I shared with people, the more I realized that yes, Tonga is a different place, and what is normal and every day life to me, blows minds here. I don’t see my community, or school, as poor or faka‘ofa (pitiful), but when you actually sit down and list all of the things that they have compared to a child here…I start to see again, and so have others. I see all the good that can come from just sharing yourself, your time, your life; people can be appreciative and even want to do the same as a result.

A huge thank you goes to all of my family and friends, plus the countless students who sat and listened to my ramblings of roasted dogs, Tongan phrases, and epic battles with unholy pests. Who would have thought that this visit to America in the middle of my service would play such an intricate role in the Peace Corps experience? Thank you for that, and pray that everything fits on the plane!