Post Field 2

The second assignment for the same class:

The audience I hope to reach with my project is anyone unfamiliar with and curious about the culture of Tonga. This will probably include friends and family, but also people I don’t know very well who want to know what living in a place like Tonga is like. Some of this audience has never even heard of Tonga, some of them are Tongan themselves, and some may not really care about Tonga, they just feel like they should know what’s going on in my life.

Tonga is a small island group in the South Pacific, northeast of New Zealand, east of Fiji, and south of Samoa. Vava‘u, the island I stayed on, is a forty-minute plane ride north of the main island, Tongatapu. It is twelve kilometers at its broadest length and is dotted with small villages and farmland. It is a developing country, which meant that we did not have wifi, we showered with a bucket of water, and the roads were filled with potholes. I lived with a young family of six. The oldest girl was six years old, and the three boys were five, four, and two. Most of our days were spent volunteering at primary, kindergarten, and high schools to teach English, finding and making food, interviewing, learning from our host mom, and attending dances.

I want my audience to understand what life is like beyond what we are accustomed to here in western America. There are so many people who do not have what we have; it is difficult to keep this in perspective, but allow me to reiterate it throughout this paper and the ones I write in the future.

Another thing that has been impressed upon me after this trip is the importance of going abroad, something I want my audience to recognize. Keep in mind that I am not referring to going abroad for a two-week vacation—that can never be enough. To be completely immersed in the local people and their culture is something of eye-opening nature. The challenges I had in Tonga were so drastically different from the ones I experience here. In Tonga I worried about my next meal or dancing too many times with one boy. In Provo I worry about whether I’m wearing the right sweater, or if the paper due tomorrow will impress my teacher enough to scrape an A. Entertainment there was rugby or a handful of rocks, not bowling or Netflix. And all the time I was thinking, they have no idea. They have no idea what my life is like back home, or all of the other things and possibilities in the world. And I am lucky to be traveling and discovering what life is like in a different part of the world.

Finally, I hope to convince my audience of the resourcefulness of the Tongan people with regards to their plant use. Initially I believed that the people there were very clever: they used all sorts of plants for all sorts of activities. But I found that more often than not, as I asked more about different processes, they were nearly as unsure as I was about why they did certain things. For example, the old leaves form the Fiki plant, or fig tree, are used to heal those that are “sick with a bad spirit from old people” (My host mom, Uini). Initially this kind of took me off guard, but I accepted the words and asked more about it. How did it work? What made it different from the other plants growing around the yard? Uini was not sure—it was something she had learned from her mother and had not thought to question. So maybe everyone in Tonga learned things from their parents and were never quite sure why things worked out the way they did. And on such a small island, where everyone knows everyone, change is difficult and too noticeable.

Post Field 1

I wrote this for the post field writing class that I'm taking this Fall. I'll probably put some up every now and then because I think they help to clarify my experience, both myself and for you guys.

I know I have changed as a result of my experience because of the new and different way I look at the people around me. I think I recognize that everyone always has something they can teach me because of the different experiences they have had. It is not my education or even my accomplishments that make me what I am, but the way I leave from day to day. I remember writing in my journal that I felt like I was learning some new truth nearly everyday; things about my own life became clearer to me. For example, with so much free time to fill, I was forced to retrieve the discipline that I knew was in me, but never had to seek out because of the routines that are almost always placed for me by someone or something else.

The lessons from my experience I never want to forget are first that I need to remember how many people there are in the world. I think I get trapped in the small world of Provo and classes and papers and forget how many people there are who struggle to survive. In Tonga I became familiar with this struggle, and although the people there were confident in their lifestyle, it was obvious that they were lacking. I was initially shocked to have the blinders I have worn for so long ripped off. This shock is what pushed me to serve and consequently to love the people of Tonga with all my heart. I learned to observe people in a way that is nearly impossible to do here because I could not understand the language. Body language and minute gestures or sounds became signals that I had to pay attention to. I learned how to look for things that I can write about in my journal, and because of this, I learned to strive for at least one new experience each day.

I wish I could explain to my family and friends the way I felt there. The way I felt at church meetings with the most ambitious singers in the South Pacific. The way I felt when people around the village began to shout greetings at us as we walked past. And most importantly I want people to understand the way I felt when the idea that the small island of Vava’u was now my home. I was beginning to have a completely isolated life there. When I called my family or emailed my friends, I almost didn’t know what to say or talk about because the things that were going on in my life had become ordinary. Some of these things have also become so common place to me that I am almost surprised when people don’t know what a ta’ovala is. I’m afraid that the only way I can get people to understand the Tongan lifestyle is to buy them a plane ticket there. I want to convey the patience of the mothers with their children, the excitement of a single scoop ice cream cone, the amazement felt when someone offers you an Indian apple.

Now that I am home, the thing I want to do with this experience is to let everyone know how special the people of Tonga are. Their kingdom is small, but they have huge personalities and generally believe that they are the center of the world. The trip may not have changed me in any drastic way, but I feel more confident and more aware of myself and of others. I do not want to forget this experience, or even pretend it hasn’t happened because it seems so far away. I want everyday to be fresh in my mind, to remember the lessons I have learned, and to persuade others to take notice of the other people of the world.

30 July 2012

I can't believe I've only got a week left here. Time is passing so quickly, but so slowly!
Victoria and I always joke about how we're getting to experience the full Tongan lifestyle. We live in the same house with a young family. Laundry and meals are always together, if there is any food. Finding food, or even the money for food is a daily challenge. Crackers or bread for every meal is not uncommon. when the water stopped running 6 weeks ago, we all started using the outhouses and filling up buckets with rainwater to shower with. We go everywhere as a family, all of us in the van together with the music blasting, dancing crazy in our seats. The kids scream and cry and climb all over everything to sit on our laps with their heads out the window. We attend feast after feast and dance after dance, allowing our host mom to fix our hair or our outfits time and time again. Our host mom tries to help us understand what "Tongan boys like" so that we can have "lots of partners" at all the dances. Unfortunately all of our partners are either under the age of 16 or over the age of 65. Sometimes it's annoying to be treated like a 6 year old, but that's our life now. At feasts we make sure to bring home plenty of food for the family. We even accompany them to their grandma's house, where we're given banana bread (which we hated initially because it's fairly flavourless and the frosting tastes like butter, but now we love because we're always hungry) and Indian apples (the most delicious treat here). We happily and messily eat everything with our hands, sucking the juice off our fingers afterwards to try to get them clean. Sometimes we even get kuava, one of my favourite fruits here, despite how odd it is and how hard and small the seeds are.
We've become accustomed to an almost painfully slow lifestyle that is quite the opposite of things I experience at home. For example, if we are not able to get an interview in on a certain evening, I have nothing to fear because there are countless evenings ahead. Obviously that is coming to an end, but like I said before, time is so different here. For the Tongans, mornings begin around 5:30 am. You can hear music playing, roosters, dogs, children screaming or crying, breakfast being cooked, etc. The mornings are then filled with school, weaving, and going to the bush. The early to mid afternoons are the slowest times of day. Most people take naps if they can. The kids sleep whenever and wherever they can. Just last night all four of them fell asleep on a blanket on the floor of the living room and slept there the whole night. Other times they're up until 11. Any car ride longer than 20 minutes puts them all to sleep in the most uncomfortable positions I've ever seen. Manoa, the 2 year old, likes to stand on his seat next to his mom while she drives with his arm on her shoulder, and I swear to you I have seen him fall asleep in that position.
Probably the most interesting and problematic concept here is that when anyone has food, they are obligated to share it with whoever they are with. This is really hard for my American and capitalistic mind to embrace...Now I don't mind sharing the things I have, but when money and food are scarce anyway, and my stomach is grumbling, my mind snaps immediately to survival and hoarding food.
This last week Victoria and I performed our traditional Tongan dance, called a "tau'olunga." We performed it at an outdoor "concert" for the Tongan church to raise money. So we dressed up in our outfits, had beautiful leis tied around our necks, were rubbed up in oil, and went out to dance. I was really really excited. I messed up a few times, but people still came and stuck money on us, and an old man gave me a lei. We raised 124 pa'anga. I think people were surprised and even thought it was a little funny to see two palangi dancing and exclusively Tongan dance.
On Saturday we went to the hospital to meet the newly born baby of one of our good friends, Faaki. The little girl is named Lusia Victoria Elise. Can you believe it! Haha we thought it was a joke at first, but it's serious. She was so tiny, with skin the same color as mine and deep deep blue eyes. A beautiful baby. Babies make you think about life, you know?

22 July 2012

My concept of time has changed drastically while being here. I am now able to spend hours sitting, doing nothing, listening to Tongan and letting my mind wander. Other times we're busy writing or making leis, and before I know it a week has gone by. At the same time, I count the days and the weeks and hours closely. It makes me realize what I want to spend my time doing when I get home because I can be with the people I love most. Time is so curious, as I'm sure you already know. It is not the times that we are doing nothing that pass slowly in our memory, but the times that we are busiest and most enthralled with what we are doing. I think I got that idea from Steinbeck. I would not trade the three months I've spent here for anything. I've learned a lot about the people and a lot about myself and a lot about my stomach.
I'm sad to be leaving here so soon. I have only two weeks left on this beautiful island. You would not believe the sunrises or sunsets I've seen. Or maybe you would, who can say. I'd like to say I've met incredible people, and certainly I have. Most of them are under the age of ten, and the others have their personalities masked by this vicious and interesting wall called language. Just the same, I love walking down the street and smiling and waving and saying hi to all of the staring faces. Everyone smiles back. Everyone. I've never been greeted so many times with a "Good morning!" as when I walk towards Saineha High School. And I'll never forget walking through a crowd of children with their faces upturned, each of them grinning and touching my arms or my hands. Or one time when we were driving slowly away from a house, and a little boy ran alongside the van, holding my hand out the window the entire way out. Or hearing, "Palangi, eh?" from yards away and responding "Yo!" I think these people are unaware of how intimate their connections are. They are quite lucky, and I pity myself because I can never be a part of it, no matter how long I live here. I definitely hope to return here someday, to visit the people I've met and to feel at home with them again.
On a different note, as my project regarding plants progresses, I've decided that I want to focus more on the idea that Tongans are (or perhaps are not) resourceful people. Naturally this includes the plants that they use, not only for medicine, but for brooms, food, tools, etc. So I will be focusing on several plants, what they are used for, and the innovative nature of the people, or lack there of.
I suppose that's all I have to say for now. More in a week I hope.

9 July 2012

Yes, I'm still here.
Tonga is amazing. Recently I've been thinking about how much like babies Victoria and I are. We don't understand the language, our host parents are relatively strict, we can't really feed ourselves, etc. But of course we're learning as fast as we can. I just wish sometimes that the people here had more patience with how slow we are to understand. But more and more I have been feeling comfortable here. We know a good amount of people on the island because it is so small, and even if we don't know them, they probably know us because we're white and have been on the island for a good amount of time.
I think just a few weeks ago, the idea that "This is my life now" finally clicked for me. I've gotten used to riding in a beat up van with the steering wheel on the wrong side and four kids jumping up and down on my lap. The music is always blaring, the windows are always open, someones constantly dancing and laughing, and the scenery is amazing. I could probably spend a lot more time here and be perfectly content. The only unfortunate thing is that the people I love most in the world are not here to share it with me. But it just feels like I moved to a new place--it was hard to adjust at first, but now that I have, I'm perfectly happy. I have found myself worried that I'll miss this place very dearly, and consequently deciding that I will certainly return in the future.
This week we went to a feast nearly everyday because it is the Saineha alumni reunion. Saineha is the local LDS high school, I'm not sure if I already mentioned that or not. Anyway, we performed our two dances again for the governor this time. The governor's wife put a pa'anga on both Victoria and me, which is apparently very exciting. We also went to lot of dances, which have become more fun because of the people we know. There were parades and lots of money and candy thrown everywhere.
Today marked the end of teh two week break for schools however, so we are going back to our old schedule of school in the mornings and busying ourselves with our projects in the afternoons. It's kind of sad, but I think the weeks should pass quickly enough.

22 June 2012

What a week I've had! It started out seemingly slow. Monday was good because we got to go to town and I called my family. This Thursday (yesterday) marked the HALFWAY POINT! I can't wait to be going home, but there is still so much to do here. On Tuesday the ward joined in an all day fast because Sunday is our ward conference. We fasted until 6 that evening; I don't think I've ever done that before. We were so starving and made egg salad sandwiches and ginger chicken. I got really frustrated with our host parents mostly because I was hungry, but also because we had to pay for the food and they didn't seem happy with it. Our relationship with them is getting more complicated.. I'll get into it more a little bit later.
Anyway, the fast went well besides that and we happily broke it. On Wednesday night there was supposed to be a Family History activity, but the computer was broken and almost no one showed up. It turned out that there was a practice for a hula dance that will be taking place next week for the Saineha alumni reunion. Our host mom encouraged us to join in, so now guess what? Victoria and I will be in two dances next Thursday, one of which is a hula. Needless to say, we are terrible, but I'm very excited to learn how to dance like the natives. Things like this are a lot easier for them, but I think I could be good with practice and instruction. The thing about Tongans, though, is that they aren't very good with instruction. You have to watch and observe in order to learn, rather than have the steps taught to you one by one. It's really odd and it makes things a lot harder to do. They also said that because we're palangi we don't need to do everything perfectly, so they aren't going to spend as much time with us working on the steps and hand motions. That annoyed me a little bit. But we'll still practice a lot in our free time and I'll film the dance so you all can see it.
Yesterday was Thursday. Victoria and I went to kindergarten in the morning and met some white people from America who came to help out. They were older, with kids and kept saying "Malo, Sisu (Thank you, Jesus)." They're here on a church thing I think. One guy was actually from Vallejo, California, which is like five minutes from where I live. We talked to them for a little bit, and they invited us to dinner, so hopefully we'll go there sometime and eat some lu sipi (my favorite dish). That afternoon Victoria and I got some rolls and popsicles and walked to a nearby cemetery with a great view to eat them. It was nice and humid, but cloudy. Things like that help me to appreciate being here because I am reminded of how beautiful the island and the people are. That night we went to a dance. Our host mom seems to be ashamed of how we look sometimes. We don't want to embarrass her, but she always wants to give us her clothes to wear (which happen to be 10 sizes too large) and she wants to do our hair. But I'm not always comfortable with her sense of style and its difficult to tell her so. Hopefully we'll find some way to meet her halfway. There's a retarded kid here who always asks either me and Victoria to dance, and after a while we just had to say no because he wouldn't stop asking us. And he'd keep asking even if we said no, and get really frustrated when we wouldn't stand up with him. Sometimes our host dad would dance with him. Ha.
We've been eating to much bread lately. Yesterday breakfast was a slice of bread, lunch was these small donut type of things, dinner was candy, and after the dance was more bread. This morning we woke up at 6 to go to another hula practice and got rolls to eat for breakfast afterwards. We're in town today for a rugby tournament that our host dad is in. It's really exciting because I've never even seen rugby before, and it's much rougher than I imagined. We spotted this guy who was really thickly built and had big crazy braided hair and so we called him "The Warrior." I finally got a picture with him and he picked me up! I was so pleasantly surprised. Mostly because it makes a good story, but also because I thought we would kill me if I tried to talk to him because of how tough he looked. Other than that, things are pretty bland because school is beginning its two week break, so we'll be finding other ways to spend our time.

June 18th

It is very hard to sit down and write a blog post. Especially because I want to keep my time on the internet short while still responding to emails and messages and figuring out tuition and other things for the fall semester. Very time consuming and sometimes frustrating when the internet is slow.

Meanwhile, Tonga has been very good to me! Victoria and I bought fabric to make traditional Tongan attire out of, and we now have some outfits so that we look presentable at church and other affairs. I've been writing in my field journal religiously because it is sort of a relief to sit down and write out everthing I'm thinking or seeing or feeling. I really miss American things a lot of the time, but like some people have pointed out, it's more important to focus on the Tongan things that are good, rather than the American things that are missing. And a lot of the time I just look around me and think, "am I really here? Am I really doing this?" Like the other day we woke up at 5:30 to get to the market early. We got there at like 6:30 and I slept in the car for a bit. When I woke up, I was like, look at me in some tongan lady's van at 6 in the morning on a small island in the middle of the Pacific. The sun was rising and everything was pink and purple and the water was calm. It was lovely and I felt happy. And other times I just get to spend time with the kids playing games or teaching them things or just falling asleep with them. And I feel like I love this family I'm with. They're special to me--they have their differences, which are sometimes overwhelmingly annoying, and there is definitely a language barrier, but they are doing their best to make us happy and I'm grateful for that.

Yesterday we went to a wedding. It was Catholic, so in the morning we went to Catholic mass, something I haven't even experienced in English, which is unfortunate. It was quite different from anything I've done before. There was lots of kneeling then standing then sitting then kneeling then standing again. And singing and walking around. Then finally we left and walked to the bride's house, where everyone sat down to a feast of whole roast pigs, horse, chicken, eggs, hot dogs, sausages, crab salad, potato salad, soda, chips. Anything you can think of except fruits and vegetables, which I crave everyday. Then as soon as you were full, everone filled up plastic bags and boxes with as much food as they could to take home. They gave us a lot because we're palangi, and it was heavy to carry home.

We also made french toast the other day, which our family loved and we were really excited about. We interviewed the police chief, who was very kind and gave us lots of advice about dressing modestly and not being out after dark. We interviewed the principal of Saineha, the local LDS high school. We also interviewed the assistant to the governor (because the governor was sick) to learn about how the government is organized. Almost none of the governmental positions are filled through elections. I was nearly bewildered by that, but I suppose it's how most countries are run.

Most of my days are occupied by volunteering at primary schools and kindergartens, finding food, reading books, writing in my journal, playing with the kids, attending choir practice (which I love), and sleeping.
Last Saturday I think I ate some bad chicken and was sick all Sunday. then Monday I ate a big meal because we came to town and I was hungry, but Monday night I threw that up. Then all week I've had a sore throat.. It's awful being sick somewhere unfamiliar. The days become more dull and you have no energy to even want to try new things. I'm kind of secretly hoping that I'll feel sick enough to go to the Tongan healer, because I'll want to know what they can do for me, and I think it would also be useful for my project.

I really do love it here sometimes. I'm feeling more like I belong and that I understand the people. It makes me think that I could never go anywhere for a short visit, like two or three weeks, it will always have to be longer. And I can never live in a hotel or a lodge, I'll hvae to live in the villages with the people becasue that is the only way to truly understand them. And that makes me very very grateful for this opportunity. It's hard, and sometimes I'm hungry and hot and sticky, but I get to meet so many people who are fascinated by me and by who I am and how I speak. Initially I was annoyed at all the people who stare or laugh at me, but now I stare or laugh back. The tongan people are quite fascinating; very different. I'll write more about them when I get the chance.

First post in Tonga

 I've been on this island for almost 3 weeks, and away from home for 4. Internet costs money and also renews my homesickness, so I've kind of been trying to stay away. I miss you all soo much and I miss America probably a little bit more. This place is very third worldish, soemthing that I think I may not have been completely prepared for. Most days we eat bread for breakfast, crackers for lunch, and crackers for dinner (or bread). Often it is accompanied by hot chocolate, which is weird in such a warm environment, but we've gotten used to it. There is also the occasional ramen noodle meal. Then on Sundays we feast. We've had this really good ginger chicken, a recipe that I'll probably bring home. And a dish called lu sipi. It's lamb meat with coconut milk wrapped in taro leaves, then foill, and put in the oven. It is soo yummy, especially with a little salt. We've also eaten raw fish a few times, which I'm getting used to, adn horse, which kind of freaked me out to think about. It's very tough and gamy, but the taste is fine. Also I eat like a total savagee now. There is never knapkins and almsot never silverware, plus eating is usually a lot of picking meat out of bones. So my hands are always greasy and there is lots of slurping. the people here stuff their mouths full and chew with their mouths open and talk at the same time. I was really taken aback by it at first, but I've gotten ove it. Even the kids just go to town. We think it's because when they have food, they have to eat a lot of it because they won't get soem for a while afterthat. And you have to get all the mat you can off the bones because it costs money. And there's no such things as leftovers becasue things won't lastm ore than a day unless it's crackers or bread. 

We had the horse at a funeral I went to. At the funeral they put teh dead guy on a bed inside the house and people sing and wail for hours. It started at about 7 in the morning, we went to get the body from the hospital and joined a big procession of cars to go back to the house. they pu tthe body in the house and then everyone sits and sings and mourns until like 1. They fed us though, so that was good.  Alot of meat. We went in and saw the dead guy. You could only see his face, but he definitely looked dead. Then the next night I had weird dreams about eating weird meat and seeing that guy rot. I didn't think I was affected, but I guess I was.

The house we live in is tiny. There is almost nowehre to put our stuff, but I gess thats good because I don't have much anyway. There are always ants. Everywhere. In our beds, on the walls, on the kitchen table, in the kitchen. We've seen a couple rats too. One of them was in our room and I stood on my bed for an hour, kind of freaking out. Hahah we tried to swat at it with a broom, but we couldn't hear it moving anymore so we went to sleep. There are also these longish centipede thigns that are really nasty.. Showering consists of filling up a bucket with water and trying to rinse yourself. So I shower for real like once a week, the other days I just put water over me. We wash our hair about every three or four days.. But nobody cares what we look like because we're palangi (white people).

church is rough because i'ts all in Tongan-- ends up being very boring, even with our host mom translating for us. tongan is a very backwards language, but we're learning a few phrases and sometimes we can pick up on small bits of conversation. The island is only about 12 km across its longest length. Gas is at least 10 dollars a gallon, but our family still insists on driving lots of places. Like the rugby field about 4 blocks away, chuurch (3 blocks away), a grocery store (4 blocks away), etc. Rugby here is really popular, my roommate plays with some people some afternoons and they make fun of her b/c only boys play rugby in Tonga. But she's a really good sport about it, plus it's exercise and we certainly need that.

The kids here are brutal. The wrestle each other, hit each other, throw sharp sticks at each other. The parents, for discipline, smack kids in teh head a lot so they'll listen. I have to say that I've hit a kid or two when they go into our room and steal candy, or seomthing along those lines. And tehy aren't afraid to hit back. I'm starting to think it's almost a form of affection. These poor kids. I just want to take them home and take them to a dentist. Almost all of them have rotting teeth. Then you remember that it's just their baby teeth, but I'm certain that they're brushing habits don't change when they get the next set. If they even had brushing habits. I didn't bring mouthwash because I thought it would be too heavy, and I'm really missing it. The kids also almost always have open wounds from playing so hard. And everyone here is always barefoot. They have really tough feet. I have a hard time decided whether I want my kids to be as rough or not.. sometimes it seems liek a good thing because they learn a lot on their onw, but I don't want them to be sick all the time. Hahah.

I've really been missing home, but things have gotten better as I've become accustomed to the place and the people. Everyone stares at us because we ride around in a van with a brown family. And we're very very white. And people are too shy to speak English, so only the brave ones say hi or ask us our names. But then I think everyone already knows our names because white people in a small tongan village is sort of exciting. And I think they all mean to be nice, even if they laugh at us a lot.

Almost every friday night we go to a church activity, which is just a dance. But in order to dance, you have to have a partner for even the slow songs. So the boys (of all ages. like 10-60) come and bow to you and then you don't have a choice, you have to follow them to the dance floor. Then dancing is like, no eye contact, stand 3 or 4 feet away from each other, and don't talk. It's really weird, but we're getting used to that too. 

We've been volunteering at a primary school to help with English. We thought we'd just be helping the teachers with a few things, but we have to go with a lesson prepared for a half hour in each of the three classes. It's sort of annoying, but when we find something that works well, it feels good. then on thursday mornings we go help at the "kindergarten" which is mnore like a preschool. That's more fun because it doesn't matter that we can't speak Tongan and the kids are adorable and like to throw things at us. We color and sing. I now know the Tongan alphabet and a few other tongan songs. This place is really great. The people just seem to value different things. Like it's really important to be clean and welld ressed when you go to churhc or some meeting, but the other days you can wear whatever you want and get as dirty as you want and no one gives is a second thought. But everyone is able to LOOk clean, much cleaner than us. We always look pretty shabby. But it's been less humid here and kind of rainy, which sucks because then you can't go out at all. I've read a lot of books since I've been here too, becasue there's a little library and a lot of free time, so that's nice. And I have to say it is kind of nice to not be on facebook all the time.. It's different, but nice. And no phone isn't so bad either, I've gotten used to it and to finding other ways to pass the time.

I have yet to begin learning about plants, but that should occur in the next few weeks.

Tapa Cloth

For this learning journal I decided to look into the tapa cloth that is used for many occasions in the Tongan culture. The women are the ones that weave the giant mats for a variety of uses. The cloth is made from a tree called the paper mulberry tree. This tree was introduced from Asia over 3,000 years ago. The men cultivate this tree, and after it is grown, the women take the inner bark, and soak it over night. It is placed on a flat surface and hammered until flat to extend its length. Eventually all the pieces are joined together with a strong bond that makes one giant cloth.

As mentioned before, this cloth has many uses. Long ago it was used for clothing, but has since evolved to use at activities such as weddings, birthdays, and funerals. A few weeks ago at the king's funeral, tapa cloth was used to pave the way of the funeral procession. The tapa cloth is also symbolic of the Earth and therefore emphasizes the importance of the land to Tongans. It is used at funerals and birthdays in order to remind the people of what their priorities should be. The tapa cloth can also be used for headdresses and room dividers. In the past it has commonly been used as a symbol of status. Elegant tapa cloth indicates nobility, while casual cloth with heavy weaving indicates a lower social status.

Tapa cloth is important to be familiar with because of the plant used to make it. Since women weave this cloth out of a mulberry tree, it is likely to be a plant that I'll study with some detail. Although the plant is not necessarily grown in gardens, its products a a significant part of everyday life in Tonga.

<http://www.livingheritage.org.nz/schools/secondary/marcellin/tonga/stories/storyReader$37.html>
<http://www.ehow.com/about_6138188_tapa-cloth-history.html>

Gardens

This week I read an article about how the government of Tonga is promoting gardens to be grown at people's homes. This is so that produce can be grown internally and families will not have to import the things they need. The extra food would also provide them with an extra source of income if they chose to sell it. As more people begin to grow gardens, the villages can become reliant on each other and stimulate the economy.

In order to promote garden growing, members of society can attend meetings where they learn about how to grow gardens efficiently. Meetings will also be held to simply raise awareness. People can then establish their own composting box and their own home organic garden. They are also promoting the planting and growth of different kinds of trees. This will also contribute to growth and to the health of the soil. Because so many things are grown in large agricultural plots, the soil of the islands is losing its nutrients rapidly. As it looses nutrients it becomes dry and crumbly, which is not conducive to healthy islands.

Besides all of this, cultivating traditional plants and trees will also be encouraged. This will help the people of Tonga to remember their roots and to appreciate the hard work they put into the plants. I think that all of this are great steps towards preserving and even recovering the economy and ecology of Tonga. When people are made aware of the importance of these steps, they usually make time to take them. And if they are educated on how to grow things efficiently, they do not have to waste time on their own struggling to grow vegetables and fruit. This applies almost perfectly to my project because I am hoping to raise awareness of the usefulness of things that can be grown at home and to also help understand what works and what does not. Unfortunately this effort is going on on Ha'apai, but if I can get in touch with them somehow, that would be very helpful.

Culture Shock

On Monday we read about and discussed the possibilities of culture shock. This symptom can be manifested in so many different ways. However, there is a general guideline that they all follow. Initially, the person entering a new country experiences the honeymoon phase. They are excited to be somewhere new and may not yet understand the culture or the people very well. They are also thrilled by the new foods or ways of life that they encounter. I think that when I go to Tonga, I'll definitely be in this mood for a while. I'm really excited to meet the people there and to see how they deal with everyday life. I also want to sample the food and social events.

The second phase of culture shock comes in the form of irritation or anxiety. The person visiting eventually realizes that the new place they're in is not at all like the place they came from. They think that the new culture's lifestyle is dumb or slow or repetitive or naive. I think that this is a sort of desperate loneliness that comes out as frustration with surroundings. The environment of a field study can easily become stressful, so I think this phase of the culture shock is very likely to occur. I may become annoyed with interviewing people or having to spend time with my host family. I have to remember that my time on the islands is not a vacation, but is a place for me to learn more about myself and about other people. With this in mind, I can minimize the irritation that will inevitable arise.

The third phase of culture shock is a gradual adjustment to the new society. We get over our feelings of resentment toward the people or culture and instead find ways to enjoy it to the fullest. I want to be able to spend my days learning about what the Tongan people do and how they do it, regardless of whether or not I find it to be a waste of time. I think that learning how to do new things will keep me busy and focused, so that I do not get frustrated any further. With luck and perseverance, my adjustment to society will come quickly and easily.

The last phase of culture shock (and oftentimes the most uncommon) is biculturalism. The person visiting has completely accepted the culture of the visited. They understand why certain things are done or why they aren't done. They do not judge certain actions, but instead embrace them, while maintaining their own cultural identity. I do not think that I will lose sight of my cultural identity, but it is definitely helpful to understand the possible stumbling blocks that arise from cultures shock. With this in mind, I can meet them head on and effectively deal with them.

Challenges in the Field

On Monday we talked about all of the challenges we might encounter in the field. I wanted to do a quick survey of the ones that I think will be most important for me in Tonga. The first one I thought about was the language. I'm hoping that it won't be much of an issue because a lot of the population speaks English, but as I learn more about the country I realize that a lot of the people that I want to interview may only speak Tongan. This means that I'll have to find a translator who doesn't mind working with me during the days. Fortunately, I think that this will be a solvable problem in the first week or two of me being in Tonga.

The next thing I'm worried about is cleanliness. I believe showers and toilets are outside. All of the laundry is done by hand. I have never lived that way except when camping, so I think it will be a challenge for me, especially at the beginning. However, with persistence and optimism I'll survive.

I'm also a bit anxious about not being able to call my family whenever I want. Nowadays I call my parents at least four times a week. In Tonga, I'll be lucky to talk to them once a week. Regardless, I am used to being alone and independent, and with the help of new friends I'll feel more comfortable. In congruence with this issue is feeling lonely on an island where not very many people understand me, and I probably don't quite understand them. I can see this becoming quite frustrating. To cope with this, I've decided that I want to have the attitude of "How can I learn more?" and "Can you teach me how to do this?" If I keep busy with whatever is happening on the island, I think that I'll do better with making friends and keeping my mind off of how lonely or isolated I may feel.

It was suggested in class that if we ever feel like leaving, or like we shouldn't be in the new country we're in, we should make a list of all the things we love about Tonga. I think this is a great exercise to do in almost any circumstance. If we stop thinking of the negative things about people or places, we learn to appreciate everything that is good and beautiful about them. A new dimension is brought to the personality of these people or places. We learn to love them in a new way. We can also write back to our family and friends and tell them everything good and happy that is happening, rather than the unfortunate things. This keeps us optimistic and always looking for ways to be busier and happier.

Finally we discussed how our timeline should be flexible. We have to allow for lulls in the plan that can arise for any number of reasons. With this in mind, the field study becomes somewhat laid back and even creates its own pace based on the people being studied. I can also be open to trying new methods and even new people, if necessary.

Money in Tonga

I decided to look into the economy in Tonga so I can have an idea of how much groceries or clothing or supplies will cost. I am also interested in their money and other forms of exchange, if any. Most of the small country's money is gathered in the hands of the nobles and royals. A lot of other exchanges are non-monetary. People trade things like crops and animals. In the past few years, many of the shops have begun to be owned by the Chinese. This occurrence decreases the amount of money in Tonga, leading to harder economic times. Coconuts, vanilla beans, and bananas are grown there and sold around the world. Tourists are relied on heavily as income and make up a significant part of the economic sector. Overall, the economy is stable because the people are accustomed to trading the way they do.

The Tongan form of money is called pa'anga and seniti. Seniti are coins that represent different amounts of money: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 seniti. 100 seniti makes 1 pa'anga. Seniti used to be always represented by coins, but more recently, paper bank notes are used. The pa'anga were issued as coins in denominations of 1 and 2. Eventually, however, people gradually stopped using the coins and the pa'anga is now represented by paper. 1 U.S. dollar is the equivalent of 1.69 pa'anga. Regardless, things are a bit more expensive there, but living with a host family will help. I only plan on spending money for rent, food, and a few souvenirs, so money should not be a problem, especially if I can understand what is a good price for different things.

7 Billion Others

This week, after hearing about the website www.7billionothers.org, I decided to visit it and learn what it was about. The idea is a project to learn about what connects everyone on Earth and what makes us different. Several people traveled the world to interview different individuals. They have filmed, recorded, and documented each interview in order to give people an idea of the those we share the planet with. The overarching thesis appears to be that we cannot accomplish anything on our own. We must work together for the environment, for government, and for freedom.

Several videos have been made that encompass these ideas. I watched one of the longer ones, and this is what I learned:
The video focused on nature, a topic I thought would be applicable to my study. People from Italy and France and Algeria talked about how they feel about nature. Many of them were passionate about it; it almost seemed like they were pleading with me to appreciate the outdoors. Most felt that nature is our mother and that we have a responsibility to preserve her. In nature, you can "let your thoughts run wild." These people have realized how small they are in comparison. A woman from New Zealand said that nature is in us, and we are in nature. If we do not protect us, then we cannot protect nature and vice versa. It is therefore important to realize that human beings are also important. Nature is something that nearly everyone on Earth appreciates. People find it important to the serenity of their lives. And in this we find that there are so many of us with the same ideas towards God's creations.

The people that put these films together have spent many years on a field study that just consists of a general survey of the people on Earth. I think that through this project we can learn about the people all over the planet with a very individualized perspective. And this brings a perspective to my own field study. The work is not easy and people are very diverse. Different ways of thought and lifestyle are scattered across the Earth, but there are also small things that connect us.

Social Situations

In class Wednesday we discussed the importance of preparing ourselves for social situations in Tonga. I have thought about these situations, but not in enough detail. I can imagine myself walking down the street, attending community events, and cooking dinner with a family, but beyond that I assumed I'd figure things out. However, I think there are many other things that should be considered. For example, it's important that as American foreigners, we still spend time with natives. In order to feel integrated into society, we can't spend time with only the Americans.

I want to discuss and explain a few of the social situations I may come across in order to evaluate some of the circumstances I might find myself in and how I will react. The first one I thought of was attending church. Church is a great place to interact with a lot of people. And, because we're all LDS, there will be a sort of mutual understanding. I think that conversation will flow a little bit easier; I can get to know the families in a friendly and simple setting.

The next one I thought of was grocery shopping. For me, I think this will be challenging because of my limited knowledge of the language. However, as a visit the store again and again, I can become familiar with the owner as well as the people that shop there. It also gives me an excuse to ask questions like, "How much is this? Is that expensive? What do I need if I want to cook...?" As a result, I hopefully will have made a few friends.

Another social situation that might come up is cooking with the family. Nick mentioned that usually the women cook inside and the men out. This gives me the opportunity to talk to the women about their lives. I can find out what their families are like, what they like to do, how they cook things, and what it is they cook. I just hope that I'll have enough questions and that I can understand what they're saying. Again, I'll have to be sure that I become independent of any other American visitors that are with me.

The last thing I wanted to mention was how I might explain to a Tongan what I'm doing there. I'll probably start by telling them that I'm there to study plants, but because this is somewhat ambiguous, I'll change it in a way that sounds more like, I'm here to learn about what you do with the plants you grow in gardens. In my life, I have not spend much time growing gardens, let alone using the plants for medicine or decoration. And even though plants are probably a more mundane aspect of the Tongan culture, there is still much I can learn.

Gaining Access

An aspect of the field study experience that may be overlooked is the issue of "gaining access" to a community. We may assume that a new community will accept of on principle, because we're new and/or exciting. But there are many field study experiences that say differently. For example, we listened to a podcast from Stephanie Sinclair, a woman who was interviewed after visiting an FLDS polygamist sect. Initially, I think most of us are repulsed by the idea of polygamy, which is exactly why it is so important to understand these people. This photographer for National Geographic was able to enter one of these communities and find out about their lifestyle. But the access did not come easily. She said that she worked for at least four months to gain their confidence and at least a low level of trust. Only then could she interview members of society in a way that would yield sufficient information for understanding.

What I learned most from this discussion was that we cannot hope to have control or power over another group. Although polygamy is a tender issue for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, they are still children of our Heavenly Father. We can only hope to understand the polygamists for the choices they have already made. Having pity or anger or annoyance for them will do nothing. We at BYU should understand this idea of tolerance very well--the history of our persecution has been rampant and constant. We cannot turn and persecute others so quickly.

In the article we read by Neuman, we learn that field researchers can participate and observe at different levels, the ultimate of which is "going native." This means that the researcher is completely integrated into the new society. They think and feel the way that natives do. This can greatly assist the goal of the study, but is a status that is very difficult to attain. How we present ourselves is an equally important aspect of a field study. It says an immense amount about the people we are, the people we want to be. In Tonga, I think that there will already be certain expectations for us that we will have to live up to. We have to remember that the Tongan people may perceive us in a way that we are not accustomed to. If this is the case, then it is important to adapt to their perceptions and ideals. We are not in Tonga to change what people do or think, merely to observe.

Methods

In class we’ve been working on our IRB proposals. With this, we have to include the methods that will be used to conduct our research project. Initially I imagined that this only included interviews or participant observation. Fortunately I discovered that there are many other ways that exist or that can be developed to derive information from research subjects. We can do things like pile sorting, an activity that helps develop ideas. It consists of writing key words on note cards and having the subjects sort them in a way that makes sense to them. This sort of idea will help me to understand how Tongans perceive things. It allows them to have more control over the discussion, and consequently invites a more friendly and beneficial environment.

A second method I want to use while doing research is designing questionnaires to be filled out by the subject. It may be the case that the people I talk to are more comfortable in writing. This will leave room for thoughtful explanations and therefore a deeper conclusion. Overall, I want to be sure to preserve the thoughts and ideas of the Tongan people. We also talked about bringing focus groups together. This will help drive comfortable discussions about things that Tongans may not normally be comfortable talking about, especially with someone like me.

I also plan on collecting a lot of photographs of the plants and gardens and people that I see. This will help prepare me for any sort of presentation or information I need to bring back to BYU. I might consider drawing the plants that I study as well. Voucher specimens (dried samples of plants) will also be taken and brought back to the US. I have to learn how to do this, however, and so will probably be writing a learning journal about this in the near future.

Each of these methods will be very beneficial to me while on the islands. They also will help to diversify the evidence that I gather and make my trip more interesting. Mapping out these methods in detail is also a way to predict the success of my project.

Vanilla

I recently learned that vanilla plantations are quite common in Tonga. They grow mostly in shade houses on Vava'u. The family owned company produces vanilla that is distributed around the world. If I choose to take my project in a more agricultural direction, it might be possible to volunteer at the vanilla plantation. Vanilla beans are long and thin. They make sugar, syrup, oil, and honey butters. The plants require a lot of pruning and must have a support tree to grow on. So, the support tree must also be grown on the plantation.

They do what is called "looping," which is a process where new roots are planted in the ground to help the currently growing plants develop better. The plants have to be induced to flowering, ie: the pollination is done by hand. They only flower once a day, so the pollination has to be done once a day. Once the seeds are harvested, the beans are sweated and dried periodically. They are then scalded, wrapped in towels, and placed in a box. The beans dry over a period of 2 months and the entire process takes 5 to 6 months.

<http://tongavanilla.com/growing_vanilla.html>

Although I don't know or understand much about the vanilla process, I look forward to the opportunity to maybe work at a plantation or to at least talk to those that are in charge. I think that this would be a great path to knowing the ins and outs of the agriculture in the kingdom of Tonga.

Ethics

In class we've been discussing the ethics involved in a field study. It's tres important that the people and culture being study are respected completely--and on their terms. Oftentimes it is difficult to tell when one is being disrespectful towards another culture, but the offended party remains offended. This can often be imperceptible, especially to those of us who are unaware of the effect our actions can have.

Malcolm attended our discussion Wednesday and said some things that made me think. We talked about how the Tongans view Americans. They call us "palangi," which directly translates to cracking or breaking the heavens. They look up to the American way of life as a better, more fully developed way of living, regardless of whether or not this is actually true. We have power, money, and technology, things that are considered very valuable in present time. Consequently, being an American in Tonga has implications in itself. The way we convey ourselves, our questions, and our surveys speak volumes about ourselves as well as where we come from. I have made it a goal to seek to learn all I can from the people there. I have to approach every situation with the attitude--and even saying outright--"I want to learn, can you teach me?" If someone asked me to teach them something about my everyday life, I would be almost thrilled to tell them about it. In this way, I can help encourage the Tongans to preserve the unique aspects of their culture.

Nick mentioned that we might be asked for money because we are American. Unfortunately, although we want to help the people in any way we can, monetary compensation is not ideal. Not only do I not have enough money to hand out, but I would not want a village to infer that money is the only thing interesting about me. I can give back to the community in other ways: teaching English, helping with weaving, or watching the kids.

These ethics apply most acutely to the effects our project might have on a society. We talked about the Tuskegee trials of the 1930s, when African Americans were told that they "had bad blood" and would be given treatment. These men were not told everything concerning the study that was being done. The study was actually a comparison on the effects of treated and untreated syphilis. This study, however, was done immorally, and was not made public until the 70s. A code of conduct was created by the IRB to prevent anything like this from happening again. Although this example seems severe, it teaches us that almost anything we do can adversely effect those being studied. If we are careful and thoughtful, our presence can have a positive effect on the people we hope to learn from.

"...how important it is to be human and to have human experiences."

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia

Osteomeles anthyllidifolia, also known as the Hawaiian rose or the Hawaiian hawthorne is a plant that grows in the Polynesian Islands. It emits a strong fragrance and can grow up to thirty feet tall. Too much water inhibits flowering. The seeds and buds can be used as laxatives or other medicines for babies. Leaves, bark, and roots are mixed with salt, pressed, and used to relieve deep cuts. The branches were also used to make nets for fishing. These days, they are used more often to make leis. Unfortunately, the information on this specific plant was limited, but this simply means that I'll have something to look for in the field. 

In addition to the brief summary of a polynesian plant, I would like to discuss the basis of our class discussion on Monday. We talked about ethics. When performing research, there are certain things that researchers can and cannot do. The standards have changed throughout history, but today they are more rigid than ever--which is definitely a good thing. The IRB has come together to build principles that cannot be transgressed when a study is performed. These principles preserve basic human rights by ensuring that those being tested are fully aware and have agreed with any experimental procedures taking place. It's important that when we go to different countries, we take care to refrain from generalizing or stereotyping anyone. We can't come back home with the idea that we know everything about Tongans or Africans or Mexicans. In fact, we will probably be more confused than when we left. It's important that we take care not to offend the connections that BYU has made abroad. I also have to remember that I represent BYU when I go there, as well as those who came before and who will come afterwards.

Every time I learn something new about the Tongan culture, I can't wait to meet these people. They say things like "Malo e leilei" which translates to "Thank you for being alive." They call the grocery store a treasure place (direct translation). The call Provo "Polovo" and Lehi is spelled "Lihāi." They use words like "fuakava" to make a covenant with the land. Boys have to call a girl's father to ask permission to see her. Things are just so different from the way they are here; I think these people must be amazing.

Noni

Noni is a plant found in Polynesia used for a variety of maladies. According to Want, it is a small tree that grows in open regions at sea level. It has bright green leaves, white flowers, and the fruit itself has a distinct shape. Based on the history of the Polynesian islands, noni is not native, but was introduced when the people first inhabited the islands.

The entire noni plant is used for medicinal issues.
It has been used for over 2000 years and "is reported to have a broad range of therapeutic effects, including antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor, andtihelmin, andalgesic, hypotensive, anti-inflammatory, and immune enhancing effects" (Wang). At the inquiry conference, Daniel Hansen talked about having a sore throat in Tonga. His host family gave him a tincture of noni and he was healed the next day. The people of Polynesia love noni and use it for almost anything they can. According to Fahs, the plant is used mostly for open sores and oral infections, but has been known to also treat the eyes and stomach aches. To use it, extracts are drawn from the leaves and the flower. The plant grows well in almost any area with any soil and can withstand multiple climates. It resists high concentrations of salt well, and can therefore grow near the ocean. The seeds perform best when ripe and have an air bubble in them and consequently float in water.

Because my project will ideally be about plants and their medicinal uses, and in class we keep talking about how important it is to learn everything we can before traveling abroad, I need to know what plants are used and how, if I can find out. This well help me distinguish between what can be done in a library and what can only be done on the islands.

Inquiry Conference 2

In the conference this morning, we had the opportunity to hear Nick Tanner, our facilitator, talk about his experience in Tonga. He spoke about how the people there don't necessarily pay attention to how they arrange their yards, which happens to be his main focus in school. He had to dig a little deeper during his interviews to understand why the planted certain plants and why they planted them certain places. He talked about volunteering for the Ministry of Agriculture as well as at the Botanical Garden on Vava'u. This is what caught my attention most. I think volunteering at the Botanical Garden would be a great opportunity for me if it meant that I could learn about all the plants of Tonga. In the next month or two, I'll make sure to have contact with the garden and see if this is possible.

The rest of the Inquiry Conference that I attended was equally interesting. Sarah Bowers spoke about the Pantheon, a building I have always been fascinated by. She talked about Rome and the people and the vendors there. She explained that there is no way she could make any conclusion on a people based on only three months there, and could only guess at reasons for their lifestyle. I think this perspective is important because as field study students, I think we hope to bring the world some new, interesting conclusion, when in fact we can only make a small scratch in our own understanding of other cultures.

Inquiry Conference

During our Inquiry Conference, a student named Daniel Hansen conveniently spoke about medicinal treatments in Tonga. He compared traditional healing to the work that the doctors performed in hospitals. I was able to learn a lot about how natural healers function in society. Daniel said that the healers are usually women trained by their mothers and each family specializes in a certain malady. The people of Tonga believe that this power to heal came from God and should therefore be used with reverence. They also don't require any payment for their services. Some treatments are kept very secret because they are believed to be sacred. 

Daniel also talked about how westernized medicine worked in Tonga. There are hospitals dotting the islands with doctors who received their credentials elsewhere coming back to work at Tonga. The healthcare is free, so there is no controversy with cost when it comes to medicine. These doctors are considered by the people to have more qualifications and be more flexible when it comes to treatments. Oftentimes they have more concrete evidence and cures than the natural healers, who have to guess at the problem as well as the solution. Unfortunately, the doctors at the hospitals are not available 24/7 and therefore do not always receive every patient in the village. Overall, the people of Tonga have the opportunity to get two opinions on one issue, as well as two treatments. If one of the treatments doesn't work, they have a backup plan that probably will.

I was grateful for the opportunity to hear Daniel Hansen speak, because I now understand the role of a natural healer in society a little bit better. With something to base my research on, my research question becomes more narrow and focused. I still want to learn about natural healers, but I want the topic to be more focused on the plants and how they work.

The Ophelia Syndrome

In class a few days ago, we talked about the Ophelia Syndrome. This is the idea that people are either like Ophelia or Polonius. Ophelia was a woman who could not make her own decisions. She backed out and let other people think about and decide things for her. Polonius was a man who wanted to make all the decisions. He believed that he had wisdom and could make the best decisions for other people. These characteristics are extreme and usually the people we associate with are a mixture of the two. We also talked about whether we think we are more like Ophelia or Polonius. This kind of self exploration is very helpful when it comes to a field study in a foreign country.

Someone who is like Ophelia will have a hard time making decisions and planning things. This is not conducive to a good field study because of how many decisions we have to make on our own. Almost everything is completely independent. I was initially surprised when I found out how much I would have to do for my own project, but I think that in the long run, I will be grateful for the opportunity to stretch my abilities. I have already had to make a great deal of decisions, like what my project will be, buying plane tickets, and studying the language.

Conversely, one cannot be like Polonius. We cannot take charge of those around us, assuming that we have more wisdom or intelligence than anyone else. As I move throughout the world, I have found that the best way to become friends with someone is to assume that they are smart, witty, and have society's interest at heart. Most people are capable of making reasonably well-informed decisions. In our field study class, we are gently guided by those in charge. They never make decisions for us, which forces us to come up with questions and answers on our own. It seems unnatural because throughout my life people have told me what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Sometimes I feel like I'm groping around in the dark because of how much I still don't know about Tonga and plants and traveling. But what better way to learn than by first hand experience?

I believe it may also be advantageous to figure out what kinds of people the members of my group are. When you know what kind of people you're living and working with it, it becomes easier to understand why they live the way they do and consequently how they might respond to certain situations. For example, because I know that my sister values spending time with those she loves, I make sure I have time to devote to her. If I don't, she feels neglected and left out of my life. Things like this can help all kinds of relationships flourish, even and especially in strained conditions.

Plants and Things

I read this week about the 'Ene'io Botanical Garden in Tonga. It is located on Vava'u and has the most diverse collection of plants in Tonga. The garden contains 500 plant species and is privately owned, but tours are given. Hopefully I'll be able to make a trip to this garden to see what plants of Tonga are included there. It's very likely that some plants will have medicinal uses and that the people who own the garden can tell me more about them.

Lately I've also been more interested in understanding the social impact of natural healers in Tonga. I'm sure its minimal, but I think there may be a subtle psychology that takes place behind the scenes. Because of our focus on social interactions in class, I've been forced to think about how interactions in a Tongan village might be affected by the tradition of natural healing.

While looking for articles on this specific subject, results were surprisingly minimal. On one hand, this could be beneficial in that I would have an entirely unique project. On the other hand, I'd have nothing to go off of. All in all, I'm sure that I'll stick to my original project and study plants. I just hope that I'll be able to incorporate some social aspect as well.

Hablame.

We talked about communication today and how to interview someone effectively. It's beneficial to understand how gaps in a conversation work and what they signify, along with what questions to ask and how to probe the interveiwee for more information.

I've noticed myself developing these skills while working at my job at the math lab. Everyday I have to explain new and complex ideas to students who have never seen anything like calculus before. I spend a few minutes with each person helping them with homework. Each student responds in a very different way to what I say--sometimes aggressively. Some are quiet and want me to do all the talking. Others simply need someone to discuss the concepts with. Every time I sit down with someone new, the way I explain the problem has to change depending on the type of learner he or she is. Oftentimes I find myself growing frustrated with the types of learners who have to go through every single step and insist on going through it very slowly. Other times I am thrilled by the progress the student has made and can't wait to explain it in more detail. All of this boils down to the different ways that people learn. It's up to me to adapt.

I think that this chore of looking for the ways in which people respond to me will be very helpful in the field. I will know when to keep quiet and let another person talk or when to clarify the points they are making. I've become less shy around people I don't know, and I'm able to get to the point of the conversation while still being polite.

The opposite is also probably true. For example, I have a roommate from Brazil. Her and I get along pretty well, especially when talking about boys, but there are some things we say to each other that the other doesn't understand. We were talking one day about how a certain boy was smitten over this Brazilian roommate and she didn't know what the word meant. We tried to explain it to her, but found that although the concept was not difficult, finding words to express it was. Not to mention the fact that "to smite" someone has a very violent connotation. This same roommate also says things to me that I don't quite understand. Sometimes I'll ask her a question and she responds with, "Mmmm?" I'm not sure if that means "Yes," or  "What did you say?" or "Hmm, that's a good point." What I'm getting at is that while I may think that I understand people fairly well in America, I might have no idea how common phrases in Tongan are used.

The other part of the conversation in class that threw me for a loop was when we talked about a student in the field who couldn't execute a project accurately because of the language barrier. It seems unfair that we go to such great lengths to understand a culture and its people, only to be barred from entry because we can't understand the subtle native nuances of the language. Fortunately, I believe that enough people in Tonga speak English that I'll get by okay...and fortunately I'm not studying human interactions and the role each citizen plays. That project would be very complicated unless I was already fairly immersed in the Tongan culture. I think that while studying plants, the only thing I'll have to understand is where and how the plant grows, what it function is, and who grows it. Beyond that, the Tongan language should not prove to be too large of an obstruction to the "success" of my project.

What Comes Naturally

In class on Friday we made a web of the sources we've collected for our project. Each source had to be put under a heading that contributed to our proposal question. This activity helped us to realize that maybe our sources hadn't been focusing on the right ideas. It also helped me find new key words I could use when searching for new articles. Beyond that, I realized that I need to decide what parts of my Tongan project I want to emphasize and which ones I don't care that much for. Mostly I just want to learn about plants, but I know that to have a successful and fulfilling experience in Tonga I need to pinpoint my thoughts on plants.

While thinking about what I want to do in Tonga is a fascinating pastime, I've also thought about what I out of life in the next few years. Life at age 19 seems to be filled at the same time with so many open and closed doors. I have classes for hours on end where intelligent people discuss interesting thing. There is no other situation that compares to conversations of the young and unexperienced, but who better to discuss things like philosophy and politics and world hunger than those who are yet untainted by the external thoughts of society? While the thought of this is thrilling, the college life also suffocates my desire to travel and climb and explore. I have to spend hours inside reading and writing papers and math problems, something that, while occasionally exhilarating, also seems quite mundane.

There are so many things I still want to do and see and eat and I feel almost like I'll never have the opportunity or the money to do so. And, because school takes up all my time, it seems like time to travel around the world will never get here fast enough. I think I'm anxious because I don't feel like a developed person yet. I'm not completely certain about what I like and what I don't like (besides math and plants, but what kind of interests are those?). I don't know who I want to spend all my time with or where I want to be or what I want to become. While talking to my mom about this, she told me to just take it a day at a time. And I think she's right. Because my likes and dislikes are not fully developed, I need to take small steps to discover what I'm willing and eager to spend my time on. So far it includes things like schoolwork, family, friends, church, and television. In my free time I could be studying constellations or taking hikes or writing learning journal entries. And this only brings me back to polychronic and monochronic time usage, which I don't need another entry on...

Long story short, I've decided that what I do with my time has to stem completely from what I'm feeling at a specific moment in time--and I must be committed to the idea of doing what comes naturally to me. Because I feel passionate about plants and healing, especially in Tonga, I know I can stick to that idea and use my time on the islands wisely. I hope that being in a country for a few months will help me develop my talents and hobbies, as well as myself as a human being.

The Role of Women

Lately it seems like so many of my classes heavily overlap each other context wise. In New Testament we discussed the teachings of Paul to the Corinthians. He spoke to them about the role of men and women in society. He tells us that men are subject to god and women are subject to men. Initially, I think most people in the class had an issue with this. We fight constantly for equality between genders and to hear Paul proclaim something like this was a shock. Fortunately my professor explained that Paul was talking about the priesthood and how it flowed through God and Christ to priesthood holders, and from there to women and children. He also spoke about how important the role of women has been throughout time. And not only that, but it's important to remember that there is a distinct difference between men and women for a reason. My professor paraphrased an apostle, saying that there are some women who want to be equal with men, but they should not descend to that level. Surely he was joking, but I think his point was that women should relish and develop the unique gifts they've been given.

In Tonga, the roles of men and women are a little different. Men are expected to own and work the land. Women are supposed to raise the children and make the food. In America, these sorts of chores are looked down on; they are for ignorant old-fashioned people. In our discussion in class on Wednesday, the differences in gender roles was brought up and we had a short discussion about how women should be treated equally, and in Tonga things didn't seem fair. But I think that these roles don't come from oppressing women. They are a result of years and years of cultural influence. For a very long time, women have been considered to have a more spiritual and natural role in the house. I think changing this to an extent is okay, but we also need to be careful about how we alter the characteristics that come naturally to us--both boys and girls.

I want to keep in mind that I'm not going to Tonga to change how they already work. I want to learn from them what I can about which facets human nature is consistent across the continents.

The Land is Everything.

This week in my Environmental Biology class we've been talking about underdeveloped countries and their impact on the world. As you might think, they have nearly no impact on the environment, while developed countries in North America and Europe have a huge effect. If I can step on my soap box for a moment, it's important to consider the fact that with all of our industrialization, we are quickly destroying what is left of the natural Earth. Granted, we are all (including me) very reliant on things like cars and paper and computers. I don't think shunning everything man-made is the answer, but I do think there is something to be said about those who live in underdeveloped countries, those who we might look down on.

I've been thinking a lot about lifestyles in Africa or South America. The people there are accustomed to dirt roads, tiny crumbling houses, and open air markets. But they plow the land with their own hands, they know everyone in their village, and they understand how things grow and develop. They are connected with the land and the culture and each other in a way I do not always feel connected to people in America. Yeah, we go to the same school, we dress the same, we speak the same language, but we have not struggled together. We have not been integrated into each other's lives through marriage and births and deaths like the people of India or Tonga or Africa have. These are people who have struggled against constant and suffocating poverty, but who seem to be in harmony with the Earth, and in a way that makes me very jealous.

I'm wary of making the arrogant mistake of pretending that these people are better off than I think they are. No, I think they're lives can be considered difficult enough. But so are all of our lives, depending on the context, which I suppose is a discussion topic for another time. I guess what I really want to learn from Tonga is how to live in a world that doesn't rely on computers and cell phones and cars, but instead on gardens and people and culture. I think that the people of Tonga are connected in a deep way that I  get a small glimpse of when I'm with the best of friends or immediate family. They are lucky to understand each other so fully. Maybe I'm only making an assumption based on the few things I've seen, but I think they understand the Earth in a way that Americans do not. In our Tongan language class, as I mentioned before, we talked about the kava ceremony. Sione asked us what the kava represented. "The land," we told him. "Yes," he said, "The land is everything to a Tongan."

Cues

There are so many ways that we as humans communicate to each other without words. Our facial expression, posture, and head movement are all small gestures that can influence any conversation. Oftentimes we don’t even notice the movements we make that keep a conversation going—or the ones that bring it to a halt. When we can understand these basic cues, we are that much closer to understanding our fellow man. The trouble comes when two different cultures with different methods of communication run into each other. Obviously this will tie into a trip to Tonga, where social norms are different than in America. For example, the dating there is different. Nick told us that we have to be more careful with how we treat boys in Tonga. Letting someone buy you something or spending too much time alone with them is a clear sign that you are interested. Of course, the same is generally true in the U.S., but to a different extent. 

I was interested in learning about how different cultures use their eyes. Anglos are scared of eye contact and avoid it as much as possible. They also avoid contact, keeping a large personal bubble around themselves. I notice this in myself, walking between classes, buying groceries, hugging only friends. Italians, Greeks, and Latinos consider touch part of social interaction. They kiss each other on the cheek, stand close to one another, and are not afraid to look into each other's eyes. Although these gestures seem subtle, if we are not accustomed to them, traveling can become a very uncomfortable experience. The article mentions that this eye contact might be connected with the fact that when babies are nursed the mother and baby share eye contact. The only other creature on earth that shares this trait are apes. Consequentially, we really greatly on the eyes to perceive and understand others.

I had a friend who went to BYU Hawaii for a semester. He said that everyone there made the hang loose sign as a hello or in pictures. At first he didn't really understand it, but eventually he also made the sign. Because it was part of the culture he was immersed in, he picked it up. And even when he came home to California, he still made the sign regularly. In Tonga, the social tendencies will be different than what I'm used to seeing everyday. Hopefully I'll understand these for what they are and eventually be able to interpret them correctly--and even use them myself. Overall, it's just important to understand that there are things besides language that set a group of people apart.

Values

How might your personal convictions effect what you do when you go to a foreign country? Do you like to stay in your hotel room, adventuring out only for food and a swim? Do you wander the streets looking for new friends or souvenirs? Do you make a strict schedule for sight seeing and entertainment opportunities? Everyone treats an experience abroad differently, and the way we spend our time in another country says a lot about who we are and what we value. Those who spend their times with people and things beyond what they are accustomed to are likely to have a satisfying trip.

Nick asked us to jot down a short list of expectations we have for our trip to Tonga. I wrote that I want to visit botanical gardens, learn how to weave mats, and learn the language. I also want to make friends and go to a lot of social events. In the academic realm I hope to publish a paper, take good field notes, and learn about plants. After we wrote a list, we discussed what these expectations said about our character and what we hold in high esteem. I felt like some of my hopes were oriented towards having fun, but most of them were in the realm of improving myself as a person. I want my relationships with others to flourish and I also hope to try a lot of new things. I want to be a person, who, when traveling abroad, refuses to get anything less than a completely fulfilling experience.

I plan on traveling a lot more in my lifetime. Fortunately, my first opportunity will be to a beautiful country with a program that is built to teach me values for time abroad. If I keep in mind the values I discussed earlier, I know that I'll be happy with the outcome.

Monochronic versus Polychronic

I loved our group discussion on Monday about the differences between monochronic and polychronic time. Monochronic time is prevalent in America--it is for people who orient themselves around schedules and appointments. Polychronic time is the time that describes an emphasis on relationships and family. While these two ideas are interesting, it becomes more interesting as you discuss how the two modes of time clash. The author of the article we read claimed that the two ideas could never mix; if one person is monochronic he cannot be polychronic, and vice versa.

For example, when I met with my bishop at the beginning of the semester, I was called out of Relief Society in order to do so. I sat down on a couch outside his office where a few other members of the ward waited. After at least 15 minutes, the bishop and the girl he was interviewing walked outside. He brought another person into his office for the next 20 minutes. I ended up waiting an hour and a half for my interview. And I was annoyed. I was on monochronic time and felt that I had wasted a lot of it making small talk with people in the ward that I didn't know very well. Finally, when it was my turn to talk with the bishop, I was hoping to be in and out quickly. We sat down and he asked me about myself. We talked about where I was from and my family and my home life. We talked about school and church and callings. I was astonished at how attentive, even genuinely interested, he was to my situation. Having been in wards where most bishops usher you in and out as quickly as possible, I felt more important than ever. He was working on polychronic time, refusing to let monochronic time take over. I finally recognized the validity of polychronic time and decided that we should not be as set on our appointments as we are on other human beings.

I think this will be important when I go to Tonga. If I am too focused on keeping a schedule and getting things done on time, I will ultimately miss out on learning opportunities provided by relationships with other people. I hope that even now in Provo I can strive to prioritize building and strengthening relationships over being on time to class or work (although these are also significant activities).

Language versus Culture

A while ago we read an article about how the nuances of different languages are misunderstood by those that are not native speakers of the language. The author discussed how there are two different ways to learn a language. We can understand the grammar and the tenses and the punctuation as well as any native speaker, but still miss basic social cues. For example, the author talks about the two ways you can say "you" in Austrian. At a party, he uses the wrong one and gets disgusted looks from the people he's with. He knew what word meant "you", but because of constantly changing circumstances, he didn't know which one to use at which time. Fortunately, the people at the party were very forgiving once they understood his dilemma. When they tried to explain which word was used when, however, they found themselves confused. It was a concept they'd grown up with their whole life and had never really questioned. Those of us who speak only English are confused by the discreet subtleties.

Being an intermediate Spanish speaker, I found this story amusing. It wasn't until my last Tongan language class that I recognized what this could mean outside of the language itself. We talked about the cultural significance of kava. For some it is considered solely a cultural drink and signifies becoming an adult. Kava is reverenced and is only drunk during important events. For others it is looked down upon because of its narcotic quality. It can break families apart by keeping fathers from their homes. Because of how big a part of their culture it is, it's important to understand the two sides of the controversy.

The Tongan culture is obviously a lot more than just their language. There are things about their culture that cannot be understood except by those who have grown up with it. So if I can, I should learn about and understand ideas specific to the Tongan culture. Initially, in my Tongan language class, I was not excited to learn about the culture of the community and was more interested in understanding the language. However, this article helped me to see that there are more important things than grammar and speech.