Life in Tonga

Our own Kathy Gallo gave a lively and informative presentation about Life in Tonga. She shared photos of her grandson’s Ben and Sam, and her daughter and son-in-law. She visited for 3 years in a row and lived on a boat called Independence, which they affectionately called “Inde.” The boat has 4 cabins and 4 bathrooms. There are no motels or hotels. You can’t own land, so no one builds! It takes 17 days to cross the Pacific to reach Tonga. There are 2 seasons – hot and hotter!

 

It’s the 5^th most corrupt country in the world and the most obese country in the world.  It’s a very religious country. Everything shuts down every Sunday. The population is 103,000. They have large families. Tonga is known as a Remittance country, which is like tithing.

 

There are numerous pig and chickens roaming the streets. Her grandson was attacked by a pig and needed 13 stitches. The hospitals lack cleanliness. Pig roasts are often the main feast. Kathy spent a lot of time in the library, and stumbled upon a book about health written in 1937. Whales have their babies in Tonga.