If you have heard anything about Tonga, you have probably heard about the Sunday Law. All business are required to shut down (except for Restaurants and bakeries because food is considered a necessity). So everyone goes to church in the morning, and then sleeps for the rest of the day. Nothing happens, if you want in to town you might find one or two people walking around who are most likely palangis. It gets really boring, and we usually set up our hammocks and read. It is the laziest of lazy days. The Sabbath is a time to rest. In Tonga this means you go from doing nothing, to do nothingless. A combination of doing less than nothing. Yes, even during the week here it is lazy Sunday. If you want examples, here you go…..
There is a public high school right across the street. Maybe 150 yards from Mizpah’s office door to Vava’u High’s. When the principles need to talk to Vava’u High she goes back to her house gets in the van and drives to Vava’u High.
Teachers have students run to their house to get things they have forgotten.
Church is a five minute walk away, yet everybody drives to church.
I have had students pulled out of the middle of my class to fill a teacher’s water bottle
Ryan’s meeting with the principle was canceled because she has been looking for a saw all morning and couldn’t find it. Needless to say, she wasn’t prepared for the meeting.
To get our exercise in one day, we were going to walk five minutes to a hall for a meeting. I got on my track suit for a good work out, only to find that we were driving there. So they told me we would get our exercise in walking back. On the way back a car stopped to give us a ride back. The Tongans got into the car and those of other nationalities decided to push through and finish the whole five minute walk.
I get really frustrated because there is so much opportunity here. But nothing happens. I am trying to fit into the culture, but I don’t want to get diabetes while I here. However there is an upside to this laziness. We can take our scooter, drive fifteen minutes to a public beach, and have it all to ourselves for the whole day.
Dan, It is SO good that you and Ryan have each other to share your frustrations with....hang in there, and no diabetes or other illnesses allowed. You can't change a culture in the time that you're there, you can just do the best you can at what you're given to do. We are showing pictures of Tonga again next Sabbath at an afternoon meeting. If you guys have any new wonderful pictures, songs or videos, get them posted now. i could use them..... Toilet money coming soon!
ReplyDeleteMissing you both more than you know...Debbie Haas
Great post Daniel! With the busyness of our school year I'm looking forward to some Tongan laziness! Right after I catch that BIG fish. . .
ReplyDeleteHahahaaa!!!! Boy, does this sound familiar! This is way the last king of Tonga was in the Guiness Book of World Records as being the biggest (aka, fattest) leader in the world, weighing in at 400 pounds. He wasn't too happy with that status, and began an exercise program, encourating his people to do the same. Didn't work too well. When we first visited Tonga in 2000, the medical team did blood pressure checks and blood sugar tests...over 70% had hypertension and diabetes. It IS frustrating trying to educate an entire culture--and mostly all you can do is set an example by how you live. It is difficult to exercise when it is terribly hot, you don't have proper clothing or shoes, and the grocery stores sell canned corned beef from New Zealand that has extra fat added (truly--they add more fat for the beef sold to Tonga). Good on you and Ryan for doing what you can, with the realization that the culture won't change, but you may change one or two people. AND, you will have spent a year with some of the nicest people you will ever meet, right? Great blog, Daniel....we love hearing from you guys!!!!
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