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.