tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846434769896768674.post3476707263688892187..comments2023-03-15T01:34:18.176+13:00Comments on Tongabunga!: Homestay FamilyToddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15065778674514215524noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-846434769896768674.post-35014164710661284692009-11-19T13:07:01.866+13:002009-11-19T13:07:01.866+13:00Hi Todd,
I read about your being a PCV in Tonga i...Hi Todd, <br />I read about your being a PCV in Tonga in the Leeds School of Business magazine that just arrived. I was in the second group to arrive in Tonga on January 2, 1968. I graduated from the Business School at the University of Colorado in May, 1967 and started training on Molokai,HI in October, where we lived in tents on the beach. Tonga I (one) went in November and Tonga II,(Two) my group, arrived January 2, 1968.<br />We were provided a traditional fale by our village. It was one room thatched and, if lucky, had a concrete floor. At US$ 25 per month, we had the lowest living allowance in the world.<br />It had to cover food, transportation, kerosene for a lamp and one burner stove.Also, postage and film and cloths, etc. No electricity or running water for the most volunteers. There was no telephone between islands or overseas. Telegraph existed between US, by a long route and Tonga. The only airport had two flights a week.Passage to Ha'apai and Vava'u, not to mention Niuafo'ou and Niuatoputapu, was deck passage on only two old boats that served the entire Kingdom. <br />Expensive airmail from the states took 1-2 weeks on Tongatapu 2-4 or more to outer islands. I think you can live with slow internet.<br />Still, we loved the adventure and so will you.<br />My service was cut short by being drafted and I spent 13 months with the Army in Vietnam.<br />Trust me: peace is better than war. Best of luck to you and the other volunteers. Go Buffs! (I will give you my name and address separately so it will not show up in search engines.) It will be one of the most selfless and selfish things you will do in your life.<br />The experience will change your life forever.<br /><br /> Ofa' atu Simi<br />MBA CU '71Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15265104878527401207noreply@blogger.com