Thursday, November 29, 2012

Taika


Well, we have a cat. I didn't really want a cat, not yet anyways, but... Things happen and life gives you a cat.

Her name is Taika. And by her, we could, as typical of Mark and I (remember Theresa, our male cat?), mean him....we really aren't too sure. She was previously living with a Peace Corps volunteer from Group 76, 'Ofa. Mandy moved into Ofa's house and along with the house, inherited the cat. Come to find out, Mandy is allergic to cats...

So Mandy called us up one day last week and asked if we would take the cat. Mark, of course, was rearing to go...never mind that we've barely figured out how to live in this house, he's already ready to teach something else how to live here...Oh Ma'ake!

I said no, and convinced Mark no was the best answer. But then, the very next day, we noticed a large bite in one of our mangoes,and then some suspicious little brown terds, and then, to top it all off, we saw that our brand new, incredibly awesome, only available to buy in Tongatapu, loaf pan (nowhere to buy bread on our island), had been eaten!!!

Mice!!!

I quickly changed my tune. Who cares that we don't know how to keep the cat out when we want it out, or don't know what all it's going to eat, we do not want mice!




You see that box? Remember how we live a good hour and a half boat ride from the main island? Ya, that's the box Mandy rigged up for Taika. It's sitting on the top of the boat. Please try and grasp the hilarity of this situation!



We are traveling across the ocean with a Benadryl-drugged, yet still howling and clawing cat. Believe you me, this was not something our fellow boat riders understood.




All that to say, we have a cat. (and we already love her..er, him?)

Lisi

Oldies but Goodies pt. 4

The following pictures were taken by the beautiful and talented Mandy! Because it seems that we will never have the time to upload pictures on Facebook, we wanted to include som cool pictures of fun times from the last few months. If you want to see some more amazing photos like these, pop on by Mandy's blog: beneathabalconyofstars.blogspot.com














Una, Mandy's host mama. She's pointing to where she snuck pig skin to eat. Yeah...unappetizing....









This is the deck we all spent those 22 hours on during our boat trip from Tongatapu to Vava'u.


Exhilarating, huh?

Oldies but Goodies pt. 3

The following pictures were taken by the beautiful and talented Mandy! Because it seems that we will never have the time to upload pictures on Facebook, we wanted to include som cool pictures of fun times from the last few months. If you want to see some more amazing photos like these, pop on by Mandy's blog: beneathabalconyofstars.blogspot.com




Louisa, host sister.




Muli, host brother


Maili, other host brother


Vaiola, host mama




Sione, host papa









Oldies but Goodies, pt. 2

The following pictures were taken by the beautiful and talented Mandy! Because it seems that we will never have the time to upload pictures on Facebook, we wanted to include som cool pictures of fun times from the last few months. If you want to see some more amazing photos like these, pop on by Mandy's blog:
beneathabalconyofstars.blogspot.com


Is this not the most awesome photo you've ever seen? I'm telling you, Mandy should be professional...this was at Oholei Beach Resort in Lavengatonga, the town next to Fatumu (where we stayed during homestay). Oholei puts on an amazing show-definitely catch it if you ever happen to be in Tongatapu!








Me trying to roast a pig...


...This pig...




A very weird and yet typical picture of group Fatumu!




Still aroastin..... It takes awhile..maybe an hour of constantly turning that stick you see in the picture.




Eating the roasted pig......at our first goodbye feast in Fatumu.

Oldies but goodies

The following pictures were taken by the beautiful and talented Mandy! Because it seems that we will never have the time to upload pictures on Facebook, we wanted to include som cool pictures of fun times from the last few months. If you want to see some more amazing photos like these, pop on by Mandy's blog: beneathabalconyofstars.blogspot.com




Swimming in a fresh water cave in Tongatapu! (of course Mark was diving from every cliff even though we were only able to see by candle light! Boys!)




Visiting teachers at G.P.S. Fatumu!




Language class with Tulu and Mandy...why yes, we are playing Memory!




Good looking group!




First Thanksgiving with our out-going Country Director, Ruth