Dearest Friends, I set up this blog to post some updates on my 27 months as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga. I'm not quite sure yet what my "blogging voice" is so this will probably include some hodgepodge mix of stories, facts, and reflections. Hopefully it will be mildly entertaining for anyone curious about my service.....
To start things off I've compiled some interesting tidbits about my placement in Tonga:
- I'm in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, somewhere between NZ and Hawaii.
- We're positioned just west of the international dateline "where time begins"
- There are roughly 170 islands that are considered part of Tonga (but only 42 are inhabited)
- This ancient kingdom is the oldest and last remaining Polynesian monarchy (it's never been brought under foreign rule)
- Tonga is known as the Friendly Islands :)
- Missionaries had a HUGE impact here. Sundays are sacred and all business are closed because no one is allowed to work, exercise (run, swim, jump), or negotiate contracts (they'll be considered void)
- Mormons account for 15% of the population
- Most meals consist of root crop & meat (think pig's head on the table)
I really hope to stay in touch with the wonderful friends and family I have back home. Please shoot me a message or send a letter to:
Saskia Nauenberg, PCV
U.S. Peace Corps
P.O. Box 136
Neiafu, Vava'u
Kingdom of Tonga
(Write "God Bless" on the envelope so it won't be tampered with)
Peace & love,
Sas
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