Monthly Archives: June 2011

Highlights of PDT

30 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in Life's Thoughts

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  1. Meeting Team Tonga – Sarah, Ben, Kate, Vivian and Anthia
  2. Feasting on the warm, juicy flesh of the coconut.
  3. The dance off at Quiz night.
  4. Our daisy chain. Perhaps not a highlight but an intense bonding moment! It will not be explained.
  5. Catching up with Joony, who also lives in Canberra. Nice to be actual friends, rather than having a mutual friend in Drew.
  6. Getting to eat hot chips at lunch every day. Awesomeness.
  7. Questacon!!!
  8. Pub crawls.
  9. Meeting HRH The Crown Prince of Tonga. Amazing but intimidating!

Dear Husband

29 Wednesday Jun 2011

Posted by in Style

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Dear Husband,

I’ve got a slight problem. You see, I’m not supposed to be buying anymore clothes due to our big move. We are faithfully saving our dollars for important things like food and electricity bills in Tonga.

But I’ve fallen in love with the new line from Glassons. They are just so pretty, see? An oversized stripey knit!!!! A rust coloured skirt!!!!

I know they are not at all practical for Tonga. But a dress with birds on it???? That is just calling my name.

Love, Hannah

A work in progress (or what to pack for a year of island life)

28 Tuesday Jun 2011

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This is Tonga. Yes, I’m very much looking forward to our big move.

Having completed Pre Departure Training and discussed at length with “Team Tonga”  what to take, I’m starting to pack my bags. Drew and I have only 23kg each of luggage, plus 7kg in carry on luggage. We’re predicting that we will have excess baggage but at $15 a kilo we really need to keep that minimal. It’s a constant negotiation between deciding what we need, what we can’t live without for a year and what we can buy in Tonga. Not everything is readily available due to the “island style” living.

Here’s what I’ve packed (or planned to pack) so far:

  • One set of sheets, two pillows, one light blanket, two bath towels, two hand towels and two tea towels (just enough until I can buy some more)
  • Assorted kitchen utensils and a few good sharp knives
  • Recipe file
  • Electric beaters
  • Rice cooker
  • Blender
  • Easy Yo and a box of sachets (for making yogurt)
  • Several packets of lentils, spices, jars of vegemite
  • Ipad
  • Camera and batteries
  • Phone and charger
  • Ipod
  • Textbooks/journal articles/resources relating to social work
  • Photos from home
  • 4 novels
  • Small gifts to give to people
  • Yoga Mat
  • Skipping rope (it’s good for cardio)
  • Pilates book/dvd set
  • Reef booties
  • Exercise clothes
  • Running shoes
  • Hair dryer
  • Hair straightener
  • Spare pair of glasses
  • Year supply of contact lenses
  • 3 bottles of contact lenses solution
  • A few bottles of shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, body wash, sunscreen, mosquito repellant, toothpaste, some perfume, makeup and assorted toiletries
  • First aid kit and various medications
  • Sunglasses
  • Hat
  • Kaftan
  • Sarong
  • 3 bikinis
  • Boardshorts
  • Rash Vest
  • 2 pairs of thongs (or flip flops for you US readers. I’m not talking about my underwear here).
  • A few headbands and belts
  • Several necklaces and pairs of earrings
  • 3 pairs of sandals
  • 2 pairs of flats
  • 1 pair of more dressy sandals
  • 1 pair of heels
  • Lots of long flowing skirts that finish to the knee or ankle
  • Lots of loose cotton tops and shirts
  • 3 conservative but more formal outfits suitable for parties/official receptions/church  
  • A few light cardigans and jackets
  • 2 pairs of long shorts
  • 3 pairs of long loose cotton pants
  • 2 pairs of jeans
  • A couple of my usual outfits and going out outfits, for when we go on holiday outside of our regular Tongan community and I can be more “western” with my dress.

And that seems like a lot. But I’m sure I have forgotten something!

Downtown Nuku’alofa. The capital city of Tonga, where we will be living.

The most isolated place in the world

27 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in Social Justice

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North Korea is the world’s most militarized nation, with a total of 9,495,000 active, reserve, and paramilitary personnel. It is a nuclear weapons state, and has an active space program. The government is secretive and reluctant to allow in foreigners, so North Korea is today considered the world’s most isolated country.

The human rights record of North Korea is difficult to assess due to the secretive and closed nature of the country. Since citizens cannot freely leave the country, it is mainly from stories of refugees that the nation’s human rights record has been constructed. The government’s position is that North Korea has no human rights issues.

I beg to differ.

Nearly 9 million people, more than one third of the population, suffer severe food shortages. Read about this and see recent footage the ABC obtained about the food crisis, here.

Check out the 2011 Amnesty International Report on Human Rights in North Korea, here.

Homeward bound

24 Friday Jun 2011

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I’m heading home from PDT this evening and looking forward to seeing hubby, after five days apart. We don’t do so well on the being apart thing. It was good practice for the 11 days that we will be parted for in August, when I fly out first and Drew stays behind in Sydney for his brother’s wedding. PDT was awesome, I met some great people and now have friends for when I travel to Tonga. I did freeze my butt off in Canberra though.

Tonight to celebrate my coming home (cos five days is FOREVER and really needs to be celebrated. I kid.) we are catching up with my brother, his girlfriend and some friends for a thai dinner and Kung Fu Panda 2.

R n’ R

23 Thursday Jun 2011

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I am terrible at relaxing. Drew says I don’t know how. Twice, I’ve had glandular fever and not known about it until afterwards as I just kept running on what little adrenalin I had. On our honeymoon, I could only lay on the beach for so long before I needed to get up and go exploring. It’s not that I don’t enjoy sitting still, I just have to be occupied. All the time. I feel guilty if I’m not doing something.

This makes me both a wonderful and terrible social worker. Wonderful because I am highly organised and get tasks done and follow up with people. Terrible because there is this little things called self care, that stops social workers burning out. That’s the part I’m still working on.

Even my massage therapist thinks Tonga will be good for me. “Maybe finally you learn how to relax” she said while scolding me for tensing my shoulders too much.

My Uniform

22 Wednesday Jun 2011

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This is my uniform. During the colder months I frequently wear some version of the jeans + white shirt + bright cardigan combo. It works for me. It’s simple, comfortable and has endless interpretations (see previous version here) with belts, accessories, scarfs, headbands, shoes and bags to mix and match with.

I’m never underdressed or over dressed with this outfit (as long as I don’t wear it to a cocktail party) and is perfect for running earrands, lunch dates, church, work if you can wear jeans – I can, hanging out with friends, shopping and other activities to occupy my time.I also don’t have to think about it. Which is maybe why I like it so much.

I’ll have to find a new version of my uniform in Tonga because the dress is more conservative and women don’t wear pants. Farewell favourite jeans.

Someone else’s wardrobe

21 Tuesday Jun 2011

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I mentioned that a few weeks ago Drew and I held a garage sale. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of our family, friends and church friends in helping out on the day and donating lots of items. The money we raised is going towards Drew’s placement inTonga.

My adorable friend Bronnie has more clothes than one woman could possibly wear (her husband’s words, not mine!) and unloaded box after box of quality items. I may or may not have snapped a few up for myself. I justified most of the things I put aside for myself as “necessary items needed forTonga.” Like a few longer skirts and shirts.

This dress however, was just cute. And I wanted it. So rather than putting it out for sale, I paid myself $2 to keep it.

Preparing for Take Off

20 Monday Jun 2011

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This week I’m not blogging from my home but from Pre Departure Training (PDT) in Canberra. It’s a week of preparation for Tonga; discussions about community work and good development, specific cultural instructions, things to thing about, an offical reception at Government House (fancy schmancy), lists of what to take, scary warnings about our health and a chance to meet the other AYADers.

There are five people (besides Drew) that will be going to Tonga at the same time as me, so it’s great to already have a few friends over there and realise that I’m not the only one that is sometimes more FREAKED OUT than excited. Which is good because Drew is not at all FREAKED OUT, seriously the man does not know how, and this sometimes makes me feel like a crazy person.

Speaking of Drew, I had to leave him behind in Sydney because this is an AYAD thing and he’s not an AYADer. He’s probably using the time to drink beer and watch Boston Legal and hopefully study for his very first exam of his Masters of Divinity. I miss not seeing my husband. Yes, I’m a huge crybaby but anything more than 12 hours without my hubby is too long.

It’s cold but my ears are warm

17 Friday Jun 2011

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It’s been raining a lot in Sydney this week which means that I have had to take my photos inside. Which means my photos are slightly grainy. And I get cranky when I have grainy photos. This is the perfectionist in me. Usually the perfectionist would not even post these photos and would insist on her husband taking them again. Only the perfectionist will have to take a day ( week) off as she is too busy packing up her house for the move.

At least my ears are perfectly warm.

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