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).