learning journal #7: 1/30

Today's class discussion was based on the assigned reading about monochronic and polychronic time.  Monochronic time is about making set schedules, doing one thing at a time sort of thing.  While polychronic time is multi-tasking and kind of just going with the flow.  I think the difference between the two natures of time is that M-Time (as used in the article) values time, and P-Time values relationships.  America uses M-Time with scheduled interview times, certain time a movie begins and ends at, and so forth.  Interestingly, in the article it pointed out that we could see examples of both M-Time and P-Time in our lives.  I use M-Time when I wake up, get ready, and go to school and work.  I also use P-Time when I come home and I was supposed to do something but end up doing something different, and also multitasking.  I strongly agree with what was mentioned in the article about mothers using P-Time because they are always multitasking and changing their schedule because of their children. 

I thought of Tonga and how the people kind of use both times there.  They use P-Time when it comes to church, school, and some work.  But for the most part M-Time is used because one of the main values in the Tongan culture is family and people relations.  The Tongan people value family ties and can remember very well their genealogy line.  I remember several times back home in Hawaii, our family would go to a Tongan party in town (which was an hour away) with my grandparents.  I didn't know who the party was for, but I later learned that my great great grandma's second cousin's great grandson was whom the party was for.  Family ties is very important in the culture.  Today, my grandparents still remember everyone they are related to and which village others come from.  It is such a blessing to still have them here to tell me of my genealogy.  Because of this, Tongans don't really think of time as we do here in America.  There is no time wasted when you're spending time with family and other people.  My grandparents would go to a house of their relative, down the street and could stay there for many hours, just talking and spending time.  Relationships is what binds a people or culture together.  This is very important to remember while out there in Tonga because sometimes there will be times where these two natures of time clash.  And when that does happen, all I can do is just work through it.   

journal #6: 1/27

We did an activity in class where we had to draw out our field study plan, like a web outline, with our focus question in the middle, and our ideas on the side like branches.  It was good to actually write down what was in my head and my ideas that relate to my question because I was able to see what I do and don't have.  I really liked this activity because sometimes we have all these ideas in our head, but when we write it down, we can see which ideas work and don't work, or connect and disconnect.  It was very interesting to see how my other "branches" was also applicable to answering my main, focus question.  My focus question is what health education is like at Liahona high school.  To answer this question, I have to look at the health education curriculum for that particular school and also for Tonga in general (by the Ministry of Education), the services offered at the health center (which is on its campus), health issues Tonga faces, student/teacher perception of health, and so forth.  It's pretty cool to see how many different areas I must also look into, to answer my question.  Answering those questions are essential to answering my own question.  I think that's one of the steps to asking good questions, is asking a question that can't be answered through just one answer, but through multiple answers and leading to asking different questions and I think that's what a field study is about.  I think sometimes we may think that if we know the answer to a question, then that is a good question, because we know the answer.  But of course, it's those unanswered questions that are worth the time asking about and exploring to find some answers.  When I tell people I'm going to Tonga for a field study, they always ask, what's a field study?  I usually answer with a response like, "It's like a research on a question I have."  But drawing out this web outline made me realize that it's not just "a" question I will be researching, but "many" questions I will have to research to answer my question.  This made me think of the work that I will be doing there in Tonga, and the overall field study I will be doing.  My field study may not make a huge difference, or any difference at all.  But it's a possibility that my field study could be an answer, or a "branch" on someone elses' web outline.

learning journal #5

     There was a discussion in class today about recognizing different perspectives, or their view on things, which made me really think how important that is when going into the field.  Sometimes it's easier to just get information from one side of the story, but in reality, how useful is that information going to be if the other side isn't present?  I heard stories about the riot that happened in Nuku'alofa in 2006 but I never heard it from the Chinese point of view.  After all, there are about 500 (or even more) Chinese people that live in Tonga.  I discussed this with my sister at home, and it was so interesting, because neither of us thought to look at their point of view.  They're not Tongan, so they don't really matter in Tonga, right?  Wrong.  That's what I meant, when I said it is easier to get the story from one side.  I don't think I'll have a problem with talking to people in Tonga and getting their opinion on health related things.  I think it would be best to work with the teachers somehow to distribute surveys to their students or something like that. 
     This also made me think that just because I will be observing, or interviewing students that attend Liahona high school on health behaviors, doesn't mean I could conclude that all high school students in Tonga think this certain way.  I think my results or findings from my research could only apply to the people that I have studied, and not the whole general population, because they have different perspectives.  We all do.  I think that would be one of the challenges in the field, is being able to draw out conclusions that could also benefit other people in Tonga. 

Another challenge I think with the field study in general is setting up course contracts.  Most of the health classes I wanted to take don't offer course contracts and must be taken in the classrooms.  One of them was international health.  This made me reflect back on the lecture last Friday when we asked ourselves, why are we going on a field study, and we talked about the things we do in a field study are things we can't just learn in the classroom.  I think I would learn more and want to learn more about international health, out there in the field than in the classroom.  So in the meantime, I have to find alternative health classes that are offered through independent study, and see if they could set up a course contract over spring and summer.  I really hope this works out!

learning journal #4: different perspectives and perceptions

Today in class we did an activity which brought about a discussion on different perspectives and perceptions we may have on people as well as people have on us.  I thought about the perception people in Tonga may have of me while out there.  I've been to Tonga twice and both times in the beginning of the trip most people perceive me as probably a "tourist."  It's kind of funny cause sometimes in town, people talk in Tongan to one another and I could understand what they are saying. But anways, one thing I know for sure, is that I don't want them to perceive me as someone who thinks they're better than them, and is there to try and "fix" their problems.  That's the last thing I want to do, because that is just disrespectful and I myself don't like when people do that.  I hope when I request permission to go to the school and observe, that they won't think of me that way.  I've met a few faculty members and they are nice.       

Yes I share the common culture with the people in Tonga, but that doesn't necessarily mean I'll have the same perspective on topics or things because I grew up in a whole different environment.  This made me think of how people who grew up in Hawaii still have different perspectives than people who grew up on the mainland (in the states) although they live in the same nation and are of the same culture.  I'm sure in Tonga I will experience different perspectives on "health" and what it means to be healthy.  But that's expected...and that's kind of why I want to go there, is to see things from their perspective.

learning journal #3: WHY a field project/field research??

This past Friday (1/20) in class, Ashley asked, "WHY are YOU doing a field project/field research?"  This made me think of really, why am I doing a field project in Tonga, why would I work and save this much money to go to Tonga for three months?  And HOW would this benefit me? 

We talked about how the things we will learn and study abroad, we won't be able to learn and study in classrooms.  I totally agree with that.  I thinking knowledge about something is good to have.  Knowing things is really good.  But until you're able to apply what you know to the "real-world" or real life concepts, that knowledge isn't as valuable.  I think it's a whole different experience, being able to go out into the field and DO something there, than class assignments, or class projects.  It's like gaining experience, and I think experiences is what builds a person, or adds meaning into life. 
 Well, I am doing a field project in Tonga because I've been there twice before.  During those times, I've developed a desire to return back, and to return back with a purpose.  I developed that desire while in Tonga, after seeing the types of health settings they have, to go back and help out with whatever I can.  So when I heard about the opportunity to go to Tonga and do research on any topic, I jumped on it.  I've also been on the Liahona high school campus, which is the church high school on the main island of Tonga, and wondered how school was like for the students.  I had a lot of different questions while there that I couldn't answer.  I'm doing a field project because I want to answer the questions I have.  I want to return, and be able to DO something there!  ...so why am I doing a research in TONGA??...Well, first I'm full Tongan.  My family is from there.  Both my parents were born and raised there.  My dad's brother still lives there with his family, as well as my grandparent's brothers and sisters, and their families.  I continued to think about why I am going to Tonga and thought of this...that going back to Tonga, and being able to DO something there is like my way of giving back to my community.  I thought of how a community is much more than the place you grew up in, or just the physical part...  Yeah, I wasn't born or raised in Tonga, but that's my heritage, which makes all the difference.  I'm not just going back to Tonga...I'm going back to my roots.  I don't mean to say that I'm going to go and change Tonga and make everyone healthy and fit...I just want to go back with that deeper desire I have to help with what I can, and DO something, even if it's something small..anything..just as long as I am DOING something!

learning journal #2... 1/18: history of Tonga

Today in class we learned more about the history of Tonga.  History is a part of the Tongan culture, like many other cultures.  There's history behind the Tongan cultural practices, such as the practice of religion there.  Christianity is very strong in Tonga.  Like what Nick mentioned in class, Sunday is the day of worship.  Sunday, everyone goes to church.  Doesn't matter which church, but everyone still attends a church.  On Sundays, you can hear the drumming of a church, calling them to come to church.  You can also hear the beautiful sounds of choirs singing from the church down the street.  Seriously, I love hearing Tongan choirs!  None of the stores are open (except for the bread shop, but I think it is open during certain hours).  The King decided to make Sundays a day of worship for the whole kingdom.  King George Tupou I dedicated Tonga to God.  On the Tongan seal which reads: Koe 'Otua mo Tonga ko hoku tofi'a...in translation: God and Tonga are my inheritance.  The legacy of King Tupou I, continues today as Tonga still worships on Sundays and remains a holy day.  Learning the history is more than just learning about people who had passed away.  Learning history is also learning about the culture, and with learning the culture, you are more able to relate and connect to the people there.

We also talked about how knowing each other's project ideas and topics could help us develop our project.  I thought it was really cool that we will be studying about health-related topics in Tonga!

learning journal#1 hopes, plans, & intentions

...So what are my plans and intentions in going on a field study??..well, to be honest I have a broad range of things I hope and plan to do in the field study.  One of my plans is to study what different health settings (such as high schools, primary schools, hospitals, and community clinics) use to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyles, and see if those methods are effective.  I've been to Tonga before and have seen the health clinics in different villages, and also the main hospital.  I've wondered if they played a role in the community's overall health and well-being or not.  Here in America, each state has a department of health, and there is a public health program I think in most counties.  The department of health here in Provo focuses on specific populations and try to reach out to them if they are at a higher risk of a health problem or something.  I know America is not even comparable to Tonga, but it made me wonder what do the health settings in Tonga do when it comes to the community or public. 
Another is to look at health education in high schools and primary schools, and see if they are appropriate or relatable to the students.  I am very interested in working in the health setting especially with youth or teenagers because there is a possibility that the normal diet of teenagers in Tonga is slightly different from the normal diet of their parents.  There has been an increase of new imported foods into Tonga over the past decades and so I think the diet among the younger generation is different than there parents (maybe just a little?  Or maybe not even at all?  Maybe that is something I could also study?)  I wanted to look at teenager's health education, because if there needs to be a change, I think it is possible to teach new health habits to teenagers because they are still young.  It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks (It is hard to teach older Tongans about things like healthy diet because they grew up eating a lot of starch..ect. and so how could we expect them to change a habit they've been used to for 40+ years or so?)  Hope that made sense.
    I'm hoping this field study could help answer those questions and even expand to answer deeper questions I have.  Then maybe, my research could be useful information for people/teachers/or health officials to use there.  Wouldnt that just be awesome!!