Tried to upload photos, but here's the next best thing:

Don't know how I can catch you up on everything, but here's a start: I was in the Taimi Tonga (the Tonga Times)! The daughter-in-law of my neighbor works for the paper and interviewed me about my goals for working in 'Otea. The actual article isn't online, but it's in Tonga, so you'd have a hard time reading it anyway. And this isn't the same photo they printed either, though it's close. But that's definitely me in the photo with my puppy Launoa (Tongan for nonsense/silliness) when she was still little. Here's the link: http://www.vavau.to/latestnews32_4.html

The government primary schools in Tonga have been in session since the beginning of February, so I've been teaching. There are 23 students in my school and 2 teachers. One teaches Class 1-3 and the 4 and 6. There are no students Class 5 age in 'Otea. The classes are roughly equivalent to the same grades in the U.S.

So far, I've been teaching Classes 2-4 and 6 Monday-Thursday for 30-45 minutes each. Not a whole lot seems to happen on Fridays in the schools. I'm still trying to figure it out. The teachers listen to a radio broadcast (these are part of the daily school schedule - a way to disseminate information to the teachers and give the students more access to Tongan and English language skills) and either the Mormon bishop or the Wesleyan minister ('Otea's two denominations) come and give religious instruction. The kids are usually out before noon so that the teachers can catch a boat into town. Needless to say, I don't teach on Fridays.

Right now I've been teaching the classes individually which is nice for them and for the teachers, who usually teach multiple levels at once. I need to make a paradigm shift though, in my work and my role at the school. It's just hard to know how to get it started. I'm learning lots of lessons about failure . . . My goal is to co-teach and co-plan with the teachers. I need to be a resource teacher, facilitate the use of new and different teaching methods, assessment methods, etc. These are wonderful ideas and so important but so tough in practice. I'm still brainstorming how to start doing this.

I GOT A KITTEN THIS WEEK! Lifelong dream come true. My parents can tell you I've wanted one every year for my birthday since I could speak. And now it's finally happened. No name yet, but he's already taken full control of my bed, including attempting to tear my mosquito net to shreds. He's so beautiful :)

Held a little Valentine's Day party for the few girls in 'Otea. Really fun - part of the cross-cultural exchange. Made invitations, baked cakes, listened to American love songs, ate and read Sweethearts, courtesy of my mom, and made V-Day cards. I think they really enjoyed having something to look forward to - they got so dressed up.

I wish you could see the sheen of sweat on me right now. Even though when the rain comes it stays for several consecutive days, it's heavenly to have some cool air for awhile. The stars have been especially brilliant this week. I really don't miss electricity.

But I do miss you all! Thanks for the e-mail updates and especially the mail. So far the standing record for both parcels and letters from the States is 4 months. Can you beat it? Don't worry, most things come faster than that.

Highlight of the week: watching all of 'Otea's men come down to the beach to literally pull a boat out of the water. Combination of ropes tied to the bow, tree limbs as rollers underneath and lots of "Taha, ua, tolu!" (1, 2, 3) and it was up on shore ready to be worked on.