At last---a Volunteer!

January 14, 2011

I’ve just begun writing again. We were without a computer for the last 3 weeks, and now we’re back in business. But before I move forward, I need to take you back to our Peace Corps Swearing-In Ceremony because it’s not every day that you become a Peace Corps Volunteer!

December 15….

I’ll only do a little commentary and let the pictures speak for the day.

We were taken by bus to a beautiful spot on the Lagoon. The weather was sunny and warm. We had posed for pictures outside the House where we were staying after getting dressed in our finest. We had practiced what we would be doing, and 2 groups were going to perform the dances they had learned for Culture Day in Ha’apai. How wonderful that Peace Corps does everything possible to make it a very special ceremony. We sang the U.S. National Anthem, dignitaries were there to greet and congratulate us from Tonga, as well as our Country Director. One of us gave a thank you speech—in English and Tongan. Hymns were sung. Then it was time for the certificates to be given out, and we each had our moment.

Afterwards we had a delicious light lunch before it was time to board the bus as Peace Corps Volunteers, Group 76.

A photo op before we left.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Waiting.

Dignitaries.

Speech by our fellow Volunteer.

An official Volunteer.

Me, too!

Entertainment by our new Volunteers.

First week in December….

This was the week called Attachment. We had a wonderful opportunity that week to connect with my future co-worker. Although she couldn’t really help with learning my job, as she is in another department, getting to stay with this woman and her family was very special. She lives 22 miles to the east of Nuku’alofa, and we got to see a part of the island we hadn’t been able to see before. There is a significant historical site nearby that we saw and we hope to explore more thoroughly in the future. She loves to garden, and how I enjoyed looking at all her flowers. They have a wide, welcoming porch that we sat on that caught every breeze. It was a wonderful 2 days.