A Little...Different

Here in Tonga, lot's of things are different. Did you know that they drive on the left side of the road? Sometimes they drive in the middle of the road and sometimes, they drive on the right side. I guess it just depends on their moods...or if the person in front of them is driving too slow, even if there is another car coming, they'll still pass and take their blessed time getting back to the right side...whichever side that is. I'm still confused. When I walk to get our milk, I watch the road all the time. Even though I'm safely on the side walk (or am I?), I'm still watching at all times. Sometimes I see people come within a couple feet of each other...head on. It's almost like they're playing chicken. I involuntarily yell, and then look around to see who heard, and sometimes I let out a little scream because I think I'm witnessing a deadly accident....and then look around to see who heard. But, somehow, they miss each other and go on their merry ways.


Did you know that toilet water flushes counter clock wise here? If you come to visit, I'll show you.
(yes, yes, I'll make sure it's already been flushed)


Did you know that men and women sit on opposite sides of the church? Women on the right-men on the left. Yeah, I didn't know that one until we went to church last Sunday. We walked to a church that is right down the road from us. They were already singing, so we were in a hurry. For some reason David got caught up outside the building, so I walked in ahead of him with the kids. I looked around and noticed some empty seats up front on the left. So I headed there.  There were only 3 chairs to each row, so David came in and sat behind us with a couple of the kids. We settled ourselves down and I decided to venture a "glance" around the church. I looked over to the right and saw a lot of women over there. They were smiling at me with a humored look on their face. It still didn't hit me. I ventured another "peripheral glance" to see who was behind us. I saw a lot of men back there. THEN it hit me. I was on the wrong side. I caught David's eye and  mouthed, "all the women are on the other side!" He looked around, then smiled at me and shrugged his shoulders. I would  make a distraction grabbing all the girls and finding a seat on the right side. So I sat there. The whole service. I contaminated the left side.  I wonder if they brought in the scrub brushes after we left that night and scrubbed the "woman" germs away. I hope they did because I sweated....a lot. Not just from the heat this time.
 Today when we walked into church, I walked to the right side and David to the left....and Addie to the left too because she thinks that a tomboy and a boy are the same thing. I looked around and the women smiled. I could tell they were still humored.