Learning Journal #32: Coming to an end

This semester is coming to a close, as tomorrow is the last day of class.  Wow.  I can't believe how fast that went.  I remember starting out in the semester and not knowing exactly what I wanted to study.  I had a broad topic and just knew I wanted to look at health education.  As I reflect back on the semester, I can see how much my project has developed since the beginning. 

I am going to Tonga to study health education at Liahona high school.  I will be going for three months.  I plan to observe health classes (both students and teachers) and soon help with the daily lesson plans.  I hope to interact with students and teachers after they have signed consent forms.  I will use a survey called, the Global health school-based survey which was developed by the World Health Organization, to assess the students and look at the health topics they learn about in class.  I will also ask a few students to be interviewed, because I want to learn more about what they think about health and health education.  I will record and transcribe these interviews for accuracy, and will keep it safely locked on a password protected laptop.  This is the condensed version, of what I will be doing in Tonga for the next three months.

It's beginning to hit me, that I will be going to Tonga.  It's not longer just an "idea."  I am going to Tonga, and there's no turning back.  As it is coming closer to the time I have to depart, I've found myself thinking a lot about this trip.  My financial plans haven't gone the way I had planned in the middle of the semester, which was one of the challenges I had to face in planning this field study.  I will be missing two of my cousin's (who I am really close to) high school graduation, as well as a really good friend's wedding.  Lately, I've wondered if this is really the right thing I should be at this time in my life.  I'm reminded of Elder Wirthlin's talk at general conference where he said, "Come what may, and love it."  This has made me step back and look at my attitude and hopes for my field study.  I am going to Tonga in a few weeks, and I am excited for the experience I will gain. 
 

Learning Journal #31: fei'umu

This past Saturday, our Tongan class prepared a fei'umu.  Fei'umu is basically an underground oven and a way for cooking in Tonga.  What happens, is you wrap food such as 'ufi, manioke, talo, (yam and taro) and lu pulu, in tin foil and dig a big pit, and place the food there.  Then, you cover the food with wood, rocks, and tree branches.  So we met at the house at 8am to prepare the food.  By 12pm, we put the food into the underground oven and had to wait about four hours before it was cooked.  To pass the time, the class went and supported our BYU rugby team as they played Utah Utes for the wasatch cup.  Rugby is the most popular sport, especially in Tonga, among men.  Netball is popular among women and girls.  After the rugby game, we all went back to the house and uncovered the underground oven, and had a feast!

After everything was done and I was at home, I thought of how my time in Tonga will be spent.  I thought of how I will he helping my host family make the fei'umu for the family especially on Sunday mornings before church.  I thought of how most of the food I will be eating will be "fei'umu" food.  I also thought of how much Rugby games I will be attending.  It's interesting because what I was doing this past Saturday, will probably be some of the thing I will be doing in Tonga.  

Learning Journal #29 Learning from experience

I've heard of a saying that It's good to learn from your mistakes, but it's better (and wiser) to learn from the mistakes of others.  So I met up with Annie last week to talk to her about her experience in Tonga.  Last summer, she was a part of the Tonga field studies group that went to Vava'u.  She is majoring in physical education and wanted to look at the types of physical activity people do there and their perception on physical activity.  She went there and had to change her project because of certain circumstances she was in, and ended up volunteering at Saineha high school, which is the Church high school in Vava'u.

She ended up teaching health classes there, which is very similar to what I hope to be doing in May.  In our meeting, I was able to get some tips and advice from her experience.  Something I realized while we talked was how she had to wear skirts every day to Saineha high school.  I totally forgot that I'll have to wear skirts or dresses to Liahona because it is part of their dress code standards.  She also mentioned possibilities of training sessions for teachers that may take place, and that I should attend them to observe and participate.  Something I was worried about while in the field was having to change my topic and research focus.  When I talked to Annie, she said not to worry too much about it here in Utah, because ideas could flow while I'm there.  She also stressed how much of a great experience it was for her.  She said if all didn't work out, or according to my plans, to not worry, and to focus on the experience while there in Tonga.  I think that's one of the greatest advice I could get, is to not worry too much if things don't go exactly the way I want it to go, and to focus on the bigger picture, which is the unforgettable experience!  I'm really excited and counting down the days in the last month before heading to Tonga!

Learning Journal #28

There has been news that the King Tupou VI has shortened the mourning period in Tonga from 90 days (3 months) to just a few days.  Some of the reasons I read online was because the new king did not want to continue to put a strain on the economy and add more debt.  I thought that was really neat that he did that because in the past, the royal mourning period has been known to last much longer than a few days.  

In an online opinion editorial, a reporter from New Zealand, who also attended the King's funeral in Tonga said this, "While no official reasons have been given, the word is the new King is deeply concerned about his Kingdom's dire economic situation and a full blown Tongan funeral with all the trimmings is something it just cannot afford."

Tonga's economy is heavily depended on remittances from people living overseas such as New Zealand, Australia and America.  Tourism also plays a big role in the economy.  During the lying in state, when the late King's body was brought into Tonga, many of the villagers donated thousands of portions of food, to show their respect and love to the king.  I thought that was so great, that the people of a country showed their support and pride for the King and being a Tongan.  I thought it was so interesting because I doubt this would ever happen here in America, if the President of America passed away.  Or at least people would show their respect in a different way.

This summer, there will be a lot of people who will be traveling to Tonga because of events that will taking place there.  A lot of people will be traveling to Tonga from America, New Zealand, and Australia to attend events such as high school alumni reunions and the Miss Heilala Pageant.  I think King Tupou VI looked ahead and saw the negative effects to the country and its economy if the mourning period had extended until the summer.  I'm really glad the King has shortened the mourning period for the country, and I think it shows his character, that he really does care for his people and the country's future!