Friday, after a not very busy week. We headed to the pool at the Scenic Hotel and on return the sun was setting as we looked for a little pizza place. It was spectacular, the sunset, the pizza was average. The 'new' team car has a TV, all in Japanese of course. Greg popped into collect the pizza and I entertained myself with Osaka TV, couldn't understand anything and the GPS could have taken us anywhere in Osaka! Not much help in Tonga!
Well another school week has started in Tonga at Tupou College. Still no power and the generators whirring is the 'norm'. Somewhat of a relief from the chain saws at random times for hours on end. No end in sight for the restoration of power yet. The variations in different power sources have affected the water. No water in our kitchen since Thursday night, and an off and on supply to the bathroom basin and shower. Of course when it's hottest; no water to the shower. Still we have bananas, which ripen all at once. So banana porridge, banana cake, banana anything we can think of and then the pigs are the beneficiaries. The Scenic Hotel, near the airport is back in action, although the pool is still to be filled and available, but it is a light relief from Toloa. They do have meals and drinks. Saturday we decided to take a bus to town; quite an adventure. The 30 seater was transport for 42 people and as we had to stand for the 18 km trip. We had no idea of our locati...
Now there really is news!! After 21 days we have power, well most of the campus does. Our temporary house and our real house both do, unfortunately the class room and staff room I use, don't. Our cottage is about to be cleaned thoroughly (debugged) and a move is afoot. I have four boys, mops, buckets, disinfectant etc etc and lots of surgical gloves and we will give it a clean to be remembered. Last night sleeping with a fan was certainly a real treat. And more importantly reading at night, what luxury. Still poor Tonga it has been a really difficult time and initially 80% of the main island of Tongatapu lost power. The clean up continues with rubbish everywhere and not enough man power to do it with any great haste. For the non-Newingtonian teachers/Staff I have added my report for their school newsletter In February, our world was turned upside down – literally – when Cyclone Gita hit Tonga. The night of the cyclone we stayed at the principal’s large, safe concrete...
I do like a school that waits to start til after my birthday :)
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