In this interview, we hear from Deborah Oh. Deborah is a Peace Corps volunteer working as a Education volunteer in Tonga. What Deborah shares gives us a better understanding of the work volunteers do. We learn about the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that happens from volunteering in a new place. Deborah talks about living in a different country, working with local people, and dealing with surprise situations. Join us as we learn about Deborah’s journey and see how volunteering with Peace Corps can change lives.
Table of Contents
- Volunteer Experience and Motivation
- Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
- Surprises, Challenges, and Personal Growth
- Community Projects and Interactions
- Advice and Support
- Practical Tips and Language Learning
- Final Thoughts
- Take Aways
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. Can you tell us more about serving as an Education volunteer in Tonga?
My primary assignment is at a local elementary and middle school, so on a typical day I’m at school from 8:00 to 3:30. My role is mainly as an English teacher, but I’ve had to fill in for other positions at times. After school, I also have a few older students I tutor in the community or just generally spend time with my community members. It can be challenging; the school system is very different here, but I love my students, my teachers, my school, and my community. I couldn’t have asked for a better site.
2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Tonga?
I come from a multicultural background and an immigrant background. Part of this means I’ve always had a passion for intercultural connections and just generally learning from different cultures. (And also eating new foods from different cultures). Part of my background has also meant education has been really important to me. This has translated into a passion for service, especially in education. Peace Corps has allowed me to live out both passions.
I did not pick Tonga; I applied generally. However, I think because of my experience and passion for education, made a natural fit. Also, I requested to be placed somewhere warm, and boy, did I get it. The summers here are no joke.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. Tell us more about your home situation:
I live in my own little house in my seven-hundred-person remote village on the main island. Most volunteers in Tonga tend to live in independent housing either on the school compound or within the community. I am glad to have my own space, but it also means I have to be more proactive about getting out there and making connections. What can help is keeping your doors open when you’re at home like how the Tongans do.
I love my site; I live right by the beach, arguably by the best beach on the main island. However, I am also as far away from the town as you can be on my island. This means that having access to produce can be hard, but this has meant learning to rely more on my community.
Surprises, Challenges, and Personal Growth
4. What has surprised you most about Tonga?
I think the biggest thing has been how open Tongans are – friendly warm and generous. If you’re walking down the street, people will often invite you in to come and eat even if they don’t know you. They are also open with their personal lives; I’ve been told the wildest personal details within seconds of meeting someone. This also means I’ve been asked wildly personal questions from the get-go. No question will ever phase now.
5. What challenges did you face while working with community members in Tonga?
I think this is a common theme among different Peace Corps countries, but the sense of time and avenues of communication are different here. It’s hard to know when things are exactly starting, and communication is also reliant on word of mouth. For someone, who is very time-sensitive, this has been a challenge for me.
I think what has helped honestly is letting go of my ego a little bit. My work here isn’t about me, so external feelings about what I feel like I should be achieving by a certain time – all that can be let go. I am here to serve people on their time, and there are things I can learn about being more relaxed about time and life from my community members. Remembering that helps me when I am frustrated. Also, the realization that an equally important part of my service is simply connecting and chitchatting with my community members sustains me through the challenges. That deserves to be celebrated too.
6. How have you grown and developed during your time as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tonga?
First, I have learned I am more resilient than I thought I was. If I can get through having food poisoning, lice, and bed bugs at the same time, I know I can get through the next thing.
Second, I have learned that I have ways to go about letting go of control. This has to do with the things with time, but also just in general. I often have no idea what is going on or when things are happening. It’s been a journey learning to go with the flow and having more humor about things.
Community Projects and Interactions
7. Could you share some of the secondary projects you have been involved?
You will probably have to get back to me after my two years is up. Everything is still in the early stages, and I’m focusing more on building relationships. I’m doing some tutoring as well as afterschool programming, and there are some early steps toward reinstating a community library and playing field for my village.
8. Any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had with community members?
So many. I feel really lucky. My neighbors helped me build a fence for my house. They’ve given me so much food and leftovers. They were there for me when I had bed bugs and when the stray pigs broke my water pipes. My community members have given me so much and have loved me a lot even if they don’t always have the most.
The most memorable experience was when my community really showed up for me when two drunk guys tried to break into my house while I was sleeping. It was traumatic for me, but my community comforted and supported me throughout the aftermath. My neighbors were actually the people who stopped them. After everything that happened, they kept an extra eye on me. I feel safe and loved here.
Advice and Support
9. What advice would you give to someone considering serving as an Education volunteer in Tonga?
Come with an open and humble heart. It’s going to be hard, but try to be thankful and find ways to laugh (preferably with others). Be ready to (almost) poop your pants at least once.
10. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for a Education volunteer?
Honestly, teaching skills are valuable. Seeking actual teaching/tutoring experiences before coming might be helpful. In the face of inexperience (or even experience), it is valuable to have the skill to pick yourself up after failures.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
11. Anything that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Tonga volunteers?
You do not need to bring that many shoes. Besides, when I’m running for exercise, I have not worn closed-toe shoes since landing in Tonga. Which I never expected to say because I refused to ever have my toes out in the U.S. Now, closed-toed shoes feel so uncomfortable to me. I’m at the point where I’m not sure how I’ll adjust back to closed-toe shoe life in the U.S. It feels so unnatural This is the island lifestyle – slippers, sandals, flip-flops 24/7 – even at the most formal events. (That’s if you’re not barefoot ahah).
Instead, I should have brought some durable sandals here with me. I brought one pair of cheap flip-flops with me that lasted me less than a week; I’d say good quality sandals to last the two years might be something you’d want to invest in before coming.
12. How has learning the language been?
We only had to learn Tongan here. I honestly think Tongan is such a beautiful and poetic language. It is different than any language I’ve ever learned before, and there’s a lot to learn about Tongan culture from the language. I am little bit of a grammar nerd (- good thing that I’m a language teacher), and the fact Tongan has different pronouns to express whether the audience is included or not and how that speaks to Tongan values of community and connection are really cool to me.
Basic grammar is relatively easy to understand and learn, but pronunciation can be difficult. A lot of words sound very similar to each other; there certain sounds that are very different sounds from any other language I’ve heard; and one word can have seven different meaning.
I cannot stress enough, though, that Tongan is so unique and fascinating. I’m so glad I’m learning it.
Final Thoughts
13. Any last comments or observations you’d like to pass on to future Tonga volunteers?
It’s hard, and I’m sure every Peace Corps service is hard, anywhere you go. I’ve had my lowest lows here, but I’ve also had my highest highs. It helps in the hard times to be in a place where the singing and dancing and laughing is so ubiquitous, the beaches are so beautiful, the coconuts are so sweet, and the people are so friendly – and to remember all that and what a unique place Tonga is.
Take Aways
Deborah Oh’s adventure as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tonga shows how helping others in different countries can be challenging yet rewarding. Her story teaches us about resilience, kindness, and learning from new cultures. Deborah’s experiences remind us to approach life with an open heart and a sense of humor, even when things get tough. Her journey in Tonga shows that while volunteering abroad can be hard, it also brings amazing experiences and friendships.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Tonga Government.
