Daily experiences and travel tips from our two years of living in Tonga.
Kate Asleson and her husband Brett are Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (“RPCV’s”) who served in the island group of Ha’apai from 2008 to 2010. They now live in St. Paul, Minnesota USA where Kate works in Marketing for Target’s corporate office and Brett teaches at an all immigrant/refuge English Language Learners (ELL) program high school….
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My last post covered most of the produce and fresh sea food found around Nuku’alofa — especially the variety Meketi Talamahu offers up. But Nuku’alofa’s main market packs in a lot more than edibles. To the far left side of the lower market, and more or less the entire upper level, visitors can find a…
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Back in the days of William Mariner, the island of Tongatapu was the dwelling place of royals, a land where, just living there, produced some level of envy to neighboring islanders. Indeed, the word “Tongatapu” means “Sacred (tapu) South (tonga).” And while the royal family still maintain principal dwellings here, for most visitors to the…
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The shape of the fish hook is found throughout Tongan crafts: wood carvings, bone pendants, and the like. The designs fluctuate somewhat, but inevitably carry a fluid, almost tattoo-like shape, with embellishments placed here and there. While I always thought the designs were beautiful, it wasn’t until one artisan selling these hooks explained to me the symbolism behind…
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What’s Tapa? Tapa-making is a traditional art form whereby the inner bark of certain trees is softened and pounded into sheets of cloth, then bound together using natural starches such as root crop. The tapa making tradition is found all across Oceania, but due to the labor-intense nature of its production, the craft has largely…
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Today’s guest post is from Amy, who recently delivered a beautiful baby girl named ‘Iva in Nuku’alofa’s public hospital. I asked if she would be willing to share her very unique story, and happily, she has agreed to do so! So without further ado, here is Amy’s post. March 27, 2013 I initially came to Tonga…
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It has been a month since my last post — about time to add something new! So, Sam and I left Tonga on February 23rd, and due to the magic of time zones, arrived the same day in the US-of-A. It is wonderful to see friends and family members on the gulf coast (where we…
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After two years of livin’ life large in the Kingdom of T, here’s ten cultural, humorous, endearing and/or or otherwise baffling customs Sam and I have found of interest: 1. Tongan Pop Radio Tonga is famous for its conservative values. Indeed, old-school Christianity is the prevalent religion here, which is a whole other point perhaps…
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We interrupt our regularly scheduled post to bring news of one recently paroled Samuel J. (henceforth, “Defendant” and incorporated by reference herein) who, five months prior, on a dark, stormy night in mid September, committed the criminal offense of driving home along Vuna Road with only one headlight. An unpardonable act, to be sure, but the Kingdom…
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Tonga is sick with vegetation, almost anything grows in this soil, but I think the prevalent food group in these isles remains the various root crops that are consumed by the coconut-frond-braided basket. Root crops are devoured here the way rice is eaten in Southeast Asia: at almost every meal, and if a root crop…
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