To Ha'atafu

We climbed aboard a bus today to go to Ha'atafu where we will spend 2 weeks in a homestay (with another volunteer as a roommate) and have training each day to prepare us for our service. I am going to be rooming with Amanda B (we have two Amanda's in our group). Amanda B is closer to my age than many of the other volunteers, from Colorado, a scuba diver, traveler and pretty cool girl. I am excited to get to know her better.

Here's a group before we boarded our bus ...


















Upon arrival, we met in a community hall building ... an open air building with sheets of linoleum loosely covering the floor and swarms of large mosquitos circling our fresh blood.

Amanda and I were placed in the home of the town officer (similar to a mayor in the US). His youngest daughter still lives at home and is 18 or 19. Her name in 'One (oh-neigh). She spent the evening trying to teach us Tonga. She knows very little English and we know very little Tonga -- only hello and full (for when they try to make us eat as much as a Tongan!). Everything was a bit overwhelming and we were glad to escape to our little room once it seemed appropriate.