Feelings on Feelings on Feelings

There are a lot of feelings over here on this side of the Pacfic. Most of them are happy as I am starting to say goodbye and tie up loose ends here in Tonga, but there is also a lot of mid sentence burst of tears. Wow. I knew it was going to be hard to leave, but now that my days are limited it's hitting me hard. I have 3 weeks left in 'Eua and 4 weeks left in the Kingdom. Every since my group's Close of Service conference at the end of July time has just been flying. The past 2 months have been packed full of all my favorite things and people in Tonga. The next couple of weeks I plan to share some of my favorite memories of my time in Tonga. I am so excited to see everyone when I get back, especially to meet my niece, but this is a really hard goodbye I am facing.

Here are some pictures from the last couple of months!

COS Conference at Vakaloa Resort!

Scuba Diving in 'Eua with a shark

King Tupou VI came for a visit

Over the past week the Sams and I made coconut oil with our friend, Luseane. We collected all of the coconuts (100), found all the difference spices and flowers, grated the coconuts, squeezed the juice out of them, and boiled them turning them into coconut oil. Coconut oil is so good for your skin and hair!

Last week, we had Teacher's Day. All the teachers in 'Eua came together and celebrated another successful year of education. Sami, Hame, and I all gave a fakamalo (thank you speech) and got to sit at the head feast table since we are all leaving. It was a fun day! 

Stay tuned for a walk down memory lane! 'Ofa atu

Update on Life in Tonga

Well, like always, life has stayed interesting since being back in Tonga. So much adventure has filled my past couple of months, as well as, sickness and injury (no surprise there ha!) The best way to share what is going on in my life in Tonga is through pictures!

The most important event to happen in the last three months is my niece, Brenna Joy Baldwin was born at the end of June. This sweet little bundle has made me so homesick because I just want to squeeze her and love on her so much. I cannot wait to meet this sweet little girl that made me an aunt in November!

We had a holiday at the beginning of June and the SAMs and I went on a hike that turned into us getting very lost, which turned into us finding ourselves in the middle of a person's bush land. Our lost adventure led us to huge talo leaves and high school boys climbing a coconut tree for us. What a day, but what day isn't with the SAMwich?

Over the last school holiday a big group of us went to a northern island group in Tonga known as Vava'u. We saw some beautiful sites, had lots of fun, and the SAMs and I even got scuba dive certified. You know in the fourth book of Harry Potter when they have the underwater challenge? That is scuba diving. The first time I went to the bottom of the harbor we started in I thought to myself I am Hermione Granger. It was magic.

This sweet, sweet little guy who was named after me turned one this past week. It is so crazy how fast the first year of his life went. I am so sad every time I think about having to leave him and his family soon, but am so blessed by getting the opportunity to be apart of his life. 

Here are just a few snapshot from the past couple months full of people I love and am having a hard time coming to terms with leaving them. I love them all so much and they all bring so much joy to my life <3

And finally to end this post my three traumatic medical incidents haha

First I got Mata Kovi (pink eye) 5 days after returning to Tonga. It was an epidemic in Tonga. I was banished to my house for a whole week, my eye was swollen shut, and it hurt to watch movies. It was a really longggggggg week. 

Second I woke up about a month ago at 5:30am with hives covering my whole body. When I say whole body I mean from the top of my skull to the bottom of my feet. It was traumatic to say the least. It took 3 hospital visit, 3 shots, and 3 days before the hives went away and stayed away; followed by 3 weeks of oral steriod. We have no idea what I am allergic to, but I am hoping that I never come into contact with it again. When I get back to the states I will be getting an allergy test done. 

And finally, the most recent incident occurred about two weeks ago when a very hot water (on account of it just being boiled) fell onto my foot. The first couple of days it looked like a bruise and hurt like one. Then it blistered. Then is popped. Then is peeled. And it is finally healing.

Well, that's about all that has been happening in my life over here in Tonga. Next week, my group has their COS (close of service) conference. It will be three days of celebrating and reflecting on the past two years. It is crazy to think that our time here really is coming to an end. In just a little over three months I will be back home, but I am not emotionally ready to talk or think about leaving Tonga. 

'Ofa atu and thanks for reading <3

Where in the World is Bailey Bollinger?

A lot of people have asked me if I am home? Am I home for good? What's going on? etc.

Well, the answer is yes. I was home for an unexpected couple of weeks, but have returned to Tonga. I'm so sorry that there are so many of my friends that I wasn't able to see and that a lot of you didn't know of my return. It was a sensitive and limited time. I will give a brief account of what happened, but for many reason I am keeping it short and simple.

At the beginning of March I went to church with the SAMs for a youth program that Sami's village was participating in at the local prison in 'Eua. It was a very short service and enlightening experience. About two weeks post church at the prison, a man knocked on my door wanting to ask me some questions. He was very polite and nonthreatening (and it was raining) so I allowed him to come into my house to ask me his questions. Once in my house, he revealed that he was a prisoner. This immediately put me on alert and I began to internally weigh my options on how best to handle the situation. After a few minutes of conversation with the man I began to feel uncomfortable. I nonchalantly texted Alatini to please come over and help me. Alatini came over as quick as he could and was able to get the man to leave my house without conflict. As soon as I saw Alatini the realization of the situation I was in hit me hard. It was like because he was there to take control of the situation I started to lose my own control. As mention earlier the man left upon Alatini's request. For the record this man never attempted to touch me or hurt me and ultimately, had an okay outcome.

My village immediately took action calling the police and filing report, as well as, the Peace Corps. My country director came to my island the next day to help make sense of what had happened. After a few days of discussion and being taken off my island and moved to the main island it was decided that I would be sent home for a few weeks. Within 24 hours of being told I was going to America I was on my first flight. It was really emotional. I was so afraid if I got on the plane to go to America I was never going to get back on the plane to Tonga. In the end it all worked out. Peace Corps Tonga worked together with the Tongan police to insure my safety in 'Eua. The man was moved to a prison on a different island. And most importantly I got to return to my site to finish my last 6 months of service.

Being in America gave me a chance to recharge and gain some perspective on the situation and it really cemented my choice to join the Peace Corps. As nice as it was to see my friends and family the whole time I was home I was waiting for the day I got the clearance to return to Tonga. After 33 days at home I was able to go home to Tonga.

From this experience I came to a lot of realizations. To name a few...
1. How much my village wants to protect me from harm and cares about me.
2. How lucky I am to have Alatini in my life.
3. Bad things can and do happen everywhere, but they shouldn't stop us from living.
4. Tonga takes up so much room in my heart right now.
5. No matter what part of the world I am in I have the best support system.
6. As it turns out, I don't miss the cold that much. It snowed my first day back in KC and I spent the majority of my time home cold.
7. American food, man.

Highlights of coming home 6 months earlier than expected.
1. I got to spend Easter with my family.
2. I got to celebrate my Grandfather's 88th birthday.
3. I got to meet my Goddaughter, Hazel Kallal.
4. I got to go to my sister's baby shower and see her quickly growing belly.
5. I got to go to Katie Loew's wedding shower. 
6. I got to see friends and family that I haven't seen for 20+ months.
7. I got to eat Chipotle. 

I hope this blog clears up anyone's confusion about where I am and what is going on. Don't worry! I have so many people working to keep me safe. Tonga is my home right now and I intend to enjoy every last second of these next 6 months. 'Ofa atu!

The FamBAM takes the South Pacific

I started 2016 off with family, Fiji, and turning a year older. I flew into Fiji the night before my dad, Debbie, and Emily arrived. Waking up at 4am the following day to go and retrieve them from the airport.  That first day together was full of random hugging, tropical drinks at the beach, and pure happiness. Being in Fiji was full of relaxation. Emily and I got pedicures. My dad and I spent a morning in town and ate some native Indian food. Debbie and I spent hours having girl talk. The best part of Fiji was doing nothing. It was relaxation, yummy food, and quality time with my family.

After five days of bliss we packed up our belongings and we began our travel to my island, ‘Eua. Our first night in Tonga I got the opportunity to introduce my Tongan family to my American Family. It was so special for 3 women who all consider me a daughter to get to meet and be together. I think it was so reassuring to my dad to finally meet the people who cared for me when I first arrived to Tonga. They kept telling my dad, Debbie, and Emily how I am their princess and they treated me like a princess when I lived with them. It was so sweet to be all together. 

The next day we boarded the world’s shortest commercial flight on a 17passenger plane to ‘Eua. Eight minutes later we were finally home. We were greeted at the airport by Sammy who came bearing flower leis. Meleongo’s family welcomed my family with a Tongan lunch and some fakamalos (speeches). It was exciting to explain to them what all the different foods were and to see which ones they liked and others they weren’t so sure about. It was funny because there were so many things that I didn’t like when I first came too, but now love and eat on a regular basis. They were all so surprised to see how much raw fish I was eating and maybe even more surprised how much they liked it.

We went on a couple of hikes and did a lot of exploring to caves, cliffs, and beaches. Had a pig roast. Went to church in matching traditional Tongan clothing. They got to meet the people who mean the most to me here, both American and Tongan. I preformed Tongan dancing for them with the help of the people in my village. My dad and I went out to see with some men from my village and line fished. We (they) caught 45 tunas and I turned as green as the boat! But, most importantly I think, and hope that my dad, Debbie, and Emily got a real understanding of what my life is like here in Tonga, mostly all the good parts and little of the not so good.

A common theme of their time here was thankfulness. The Tongan people shared how thankful they were for me being here and for my family to come visit. My family gave thanks to the Tongan people for caring for me and loving me. I was thankful for all the stuff the Tongans did to show my family hospitality while they were here and that my family took the time and money to come and see me. 

Thank you so  much for coming to see me and be a part of my life here in Tonga. It means more than words could explain!