Tak's Peace Corps Tonga

All Done! (well, mostly...)

Time:  Thursday Night
Location:  Parents house, Fresno, California, USA

So, now it is all over and done!  After a crazy final month, trying to wrap up a number of projects, I actually and officially completed my two years of Peace Corps service in the Kingdom of Tonga!  Well, mostly completed... I have a few more things I've promised to do - writing up some notes, continuing to participate on a few committees via email, and sending a couple of items to friends in Tonga.

As expected, packing up to leave Tonga wasn't as difficult as packing up to leave the US, but it is still amazing how you can always collect junk that you need to get rid of.  I left behind a ton of computer parts, a couple of laptops, and a desktop computer with folks at Peace Corps Tonga, as well as a stove, bicycle, and a backpack of candy to my neighbor Kava and her kids.  I distributed other bits and pieces to various friends, and, of course, a bunch of stuff got left on the Volunteer "free" table for other people to take and use (remember, one man's garbage is another man's treasure).

Saying goodbye is always a sad thing, so I think it is just better to say "see ya later".  The world is such a small place, and paths are always crossing again (and again).  Speaking of which - I ran into Jim Shiba, one of the old Aerospace Corp CAE Dept crew just last week in Hawaii.  He was leaving a restaurant, just as I was entering.  We looked at each other as we passed, then turned around and said "Hey!!".  I have not seen Jim in something like 17 years!  Just goes to show you...  Anyways, back on subject....  I am planning on returning to Tonga in a couple of years; probably after Tungi Arcade is rebuilt (then, I can give Sela a hand with moving the computer and POS systems to the new Bookshop).  Besides, I did not manage to get out to Ha'apai during my last weeks in Tonga - and it is still on my travel agenda.  I expect that I'll see a few people passing through Honolulu; there is a significant Tongan population in Hawaii.

I suppose that I should eventually write up something philosophical and reflective regarding my Peace Corps experience.  If time permits, I'll get around to it, when I get back to Hawaii and all of the relocation hassle has settled down a bit.  For now, I guess I should just say that it was indeed a great experience, and I'm glad I did it.  I'm especially glad that I chose to do it now - that is, mid-career, rather than just after college or later after retirement.  It was an optimal time - when I have significant work/life experience to contribute and yet still enough youth & energy to carry through with the actual work.  Of course, there were few things which I'd rather not live through again (damn dog), and a lot of things which were absolutely frustrating (fakahela counterpart); but, overall, the positives far outweighed the negatives - I've seen a bit more of the world, fixed a few things, and made new friends.  Life really doesn't get much better than that.... :)

One Month to Go

Time: Wednesday Evening
Location: Home, Sopu, Tongatapu, Tonga

One month to go.... a bit over four weeks... only thirty or so days! Two, possibly three, of my Group are leaving this week: Diane left today and Dan is leaving tomorrow morning. I heard that 'Alani ended up having to ET (which technically really does not matter this close to COS) this week, too; but I don't know when he is actually leaving Tonga. I think I'll be the next to leave - David is leaving the week following my departure and Carol's exact departure date is still vague. Joey will be coming to Tongatapu from Vava'u to prepare for PST 73, but I believe that he'll arrive after I'm already gone.

I spent the last couple of days hanging around with Dan in Nuku'alofa and catching up on old news. I haven't seen much of him since PST, except for the official Peace Corps IST, MST, and COS workshops, since he is one of the few outer islands Volunteers who didn't visit Tongatapu often during his 2 years. We spent several hours tonight burning copies of videos to occupy his time during his 8 hour layover in Auckland and his 5 hour layover in LA. Good guy... and I'm glad he managed to successfully complete his Peace Corps service, esp. since this was his first time out of the US. I'm sure that our paths will cross again in the future....

The computers and stuff for the FWC Accounting Dept finally arrived from New Zealand, but without the Quickbooks software. Annoying. Setting up the systems has gone much faster than for the Bookshop, since I've been through it all once before, so, excepting the Quickbooks stuff, I should have the configuration work done this week. The documentation for the Bookshop's office and point-of-sale systems is pretty much complete, except for a few minor revisions - once it is finalized, I'll be able to finish up the FWC documentation quickly as well, since a good chunk of the stuff is pretty much identical. I need to swap out the FWC server and replace it with the new Internet gateway appliance, and that will finish up my work with the FWC, more or less. Yahoo, baby!

Over the past couple of weeks, I had a couple of successful meetings with Peace Corps; the Ministry of Labour, Commerce and Industries (MLCI); and the Tonga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), with regards to the Business Development Services (BDS) unit. I need to get a few more things out of my head and down on paper, and circulated around for reviews/approvals, but it looks fairly likely that there will be someone to replace me and keep BDS moving forward after I leave. Hopefully, the next Volunteer will find it to be a viable, challenging and enjoyable site; I'm actually a bit sorry that I'm unable to extend my service and continue with the work.

My front yard work is almost done – just a bit more weed wacking to do and a bit more lawn to seed. I won't actually be here to see it fill in, but I hate to leave it incomplete. Peace Corps paperwork is also pretty much done. I just need to close my Peace Corps bank account, finish my medical exam, and arrange for my exit interviews with Amanda (APCD) and Jeffrey (CD). I'll start packing stuff up next week, getting rid of junk, and cleaning up the house – my goal is to leave plenty of time in September to wrap up last minute items and maybe squeeze in a few last computer repairs before I'm off to Hawaii. Hopefully, things will be a bit less crazy than they were two years ago, during the last month while I was preparing to leave the US for Tonga! Well, at least this time I have a lot less junk to deal with....

Upcoming events: Baptism on Saturday for Taina's new baby, followed by food (of course), and then followed by a birthday party for Sela's dad. I'm still hoping to squeeze in a quick trip to Ha'apai before I leave – but, that will depend on whether or not the Quickbooks software shows up soon, which does not seem likely....

Return to Vava'u

Time: Wednesday Morning
Location: Home, Sopu, Tongatapu, Tonga

Two years ago, Group 69 travelled to Vava'u for the bulk of our ten (10) week PST (Pre-Service Training), so it seems fitting that we returned there last week for our COS (Close-Of-Service) Workshop. Only seven of us, this time, though, since Kristina and Garry early terminated their service at the beginning of this year. The COS Workshop was a three-day activity, designed to allow us to reflect and comment on our two years in the Peace Corps, to provide feedback to Peace Corps Tonga, and to prepare us for our return to the US. Amanda, our new APCD, conducted the COS Workshop (with the assistance of Lose, our Language Coordinator) and did an excellent job, making it an enjoyable and useful experience. The Workshop ended with a celebratory dinner at The Sovereign Residence and awarding of our certificates of service. Unique to Peace Corps Tonga, our certificates are hand-made from tapa.

After the Workshop was completed, we all opted to stay in Vava'u over the weekend, to enjoy each other's company and relax a bit before going back to our site assignments to complete our final weeks of work, as well as the preparations and paperwork (lots of paperwork) required before we leave Tonga. The weather was outstanding and I pretty much did a lot of nofo noa 'ia pe (Tongan for stay and do nothing), except tag along with Amanda and Lose as they visited possible venues for upcoming workshops for the other Groups and visited the homestay villages for the new Trainee Group (73) arriving in October. I did enjoy a lot of great food, too, since Neiafu – the main town in Vava'u – is home to several restaurants which cater to the yachties who frequent Vava'u.

Eight weeks to go now and plenty to get done. The computers and stuff for the FWC Accounting Dept still have not been shipped from New Zealand – what a hassle. Documentation work to be completed for the Bookshop's office and point-of-sale systems, as well as for the FWC network. Ongoing meetings on behalf of the BDS unit, and, most importantly, getting everything arranged with PC Tonga, MLCI and TCCI for my replacement at the BDS unit. Medical and dental appointments need to be arranged; Peace Corps paperwork to finish; photos to edit and post on the blog; cleaning up the house; and determining what I'll take with me and what I'll leave behind. And, of course, the ever-present and never-ending series of maumau (Tongan for broken) computers to fix....