So, I'm cycling away from the school the other day after working in the library when I notice a young person on the school grounds dressed in short shorts...the first time I've seen them here in Tonga. As I approach I realize it is one of the male students and he stops me to ask if there are any more books discarded from the library which he can have.
When I stop to speak to him it dawns on me from his outfit...large pink straw sunhat, flowered shorts, painted finger/toenails,etc., that he is what is known here as a "fakaleiti". In North America he would be considered a transvestite but here in Tonga a fakaleiti is simply a male who adopts female dress and mannerisms. It is an accepted cultural norm here for some families to designate one of the sons to take over the duties of a daughter if no daughter is available. They do the housework and other chores which would ordinarily fall to the female child and as a result dress the role.
Apparently these boys are not looked down on or ostracised but accepted as ordinary members of the community...not necessarily homosexual, sometimes married. Odd as it was to stand and speak with this fellow, who in addition to his previously mentioned clothing was also wearing a colourful rosary around his neck, he seemed quite at ease with me...nothing amiss. Just another little note on the differences in our cultures.
I seem to have succumbed to "Tonga time"....took day off yesterday to recoup from a sore throat and then jumped on my bike to head for the Post Office this morning only to discover that today is Saturday, not Friday as I had thought and the Post Office is not open on Saturday. Lost a whole day somewhere...oh well, Saturday is better since I don't feel duty bound to go to the library to work.
Sitting at the internet cafe at the wharf once again enjoying the sites and sounds...sunny and mild. There are a lot of "palangis" around, mostly from New Zealand and a few from Germany today. Three young lads from France, on a cruise around the world have been stuck here in Tonga since their boat was damaged two months ago. They are headed out tomorrow for New Zealand and thence back to France...boat repaired finally.
Tonight there is a big concert downtown, Christmas music with many choirs and bands I may go to have a listen.........bye for now from Tonga.
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Interesting reading, Penny. Strange about the "Fakaleiti". I wonder why he couldn't just do the housework in his regular clothes! Liz and Holly were telling me a bit about your posting to Tonga and it sounds like an amazing experience. I would love to do something like that one day. I AM off to San Miguel de Allende in Jan. for 3 weeks with a girlfriend to take some art classes, but I don't think the cultural differences will be as pronounced as there is a large Canadian and American ex-pat community there. All the best and keep posting1
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