Fakamavae

There are some days that hearken back to the choices you’ve made in the course of your life and bring a sense of clarity and peace about those decisions. Abby and I were fortunate to have just such a day this past Friday, at our Fakamavae (Farewell Feast).

In August of 2011, Abby and I chose to forego a conventional wedding, shotgun the thing a month later in September and apply for the Peace Corps. Three years and some months later, it all feels so worth it. Though this experience has been the toughest thing either of us have ever embarked upon (to say the least), it is by far the most rewarding thing we have ever done.

We were reminded of all this during our farewell feast. The community leaders, in conjunction with the PTA, set it up at school. The kids prepared banners for us, had speakers waiting so we could disco (dance) with them and in true Tongan-style had food-a-plenty prepared. Haeyoon, our fellow volunteer from a nearby village came and volunteered to be our camerawoman.

We were also surprised and grateful for two officials from the Ministry of Education to come out to the feast and speak about our work at Tu’anuku. The Town Officer, chair of the PTA and the Minister from the Wesleyan Church also gave us speeches of thanks. Their words were incredibly kind and touched our hearts.

Abby and I both read hymns to open and close the ceremony and addressed the crowd in the middle of lunch. Giving our final fakamalo to the community was incredibly emotional for both of us and we only hope our words conveyed the gratitude and love we feel for this community, these kids and this place. Tu’anuku is a one of a kind village, even for the Kingdom of Tonga, and it will always have a part of us as it is our Tongan home.

One cool part of the ceremony was when the kids lined up by age and presented us with gifts their families had prepared. To think that subsistence farmers and fishers would spend their time and money making us gifts is beyond belief. Abby and I accepted each gift with the traditional Tongan kiss on the cheek and told the kids thank you. After that, one last surprise where our co-teacher had made a ridiculous cake from scratch and it was served with ice cream. Do these people know me or what? J

Here is a sample of pictures from the feast, enjoy.

Asetta and Mele with us and the banner the kids made us.

With Viola, our co-teacher who made the cake.

Receiving the gifts.

Us with some of the gifts.

My fakamalo.

Abby's fakamalo.

The Big Dog, our Principal Tevita.

Cutting the cake. 

Samiu from the Ministry was so kind to come. The kids loved palling around with one of the Ministers. 

Abby and Melenaite, one of our favorites.

Disco.

Me and my buddy Taina.

Me, Simi, Haeyoon, Abby, Simi's wife Pina and Maliu.

Hayeoon came even with a bum foot, which she was de-infecting while enjoing cake and tea!

From our neighbors.

From our other neighbors.

Our principal Tevita got us this map, which I am so excited about. He had someone in his village make it for us.

Wweelll, the spelling was a bit off on this one. And the last word means cry. So its all a little confusing.But the family who made it does not have electricity and did it by candelight. Very sweet.

Abby's new kiekia.

Abby wearing kutu, the type of weave only found in Tu'anuku.

It was AMAZING to watch our neighbor Pina weave these, can't believe she gave them to Abby. So nice of her.

The fans we received.

Some of the necklaces we received.

A selection of the purses we received.

The beautiful kahoas we wore.

Naturally I was woken up at 5 a.m. to come make the programs for our ceremony!

Of course, the hardest goodbye is still yet to come...