October 1, 2004: Headlines: COS - Tonga: News Leader: Katie "K.T." Huggins went through a myriad of emotions and changes as she spent 21/2 years on the island of Ha'apai in the Kingdom of Tonga located in the South Pacific
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October 1, 2004: Headlines: COS - Tonga: News Leader: Katie "K.T." Huggins went through a myriad of emotions and changes as she spent 21/2 years on the island of Ha'apai in the Kingdom of Tonga located in the South Pacific
Katie "K.T." Huggins went through a myriad of emotions and changes as she spent 21/2 years on the island of Ha'apai in the Kingdom of Tonga located in the South Pacific
Katie "K.T." Huggins went through a myriad of emotions and changes as she spent 21/2 years on the island of Ha'apai in the Kingdom of Tonga located in the South Pacific
Mom shares daughter's experience in Tonga
By Ruth Jones/staff
rjones@newsleader.com
STAUNTON -- Pam Huggins watched her daughter Katie "K.T." Huggins go through a myriad of emotions and changes as she spent 21/2 years on the island of Ha'apai in the Kingdom of Tonga located in the South Pacific.
"She experienced what people of color in our country experienced," Pam said. "I think it intensified her realization of the challenges different people face. She grew personally in ways that are hard to put into words."
K.T. often dealt with lice, unsanitary water and conditions that were considerably different from her home on North Augusta Street, Pam said. But after adjusting, Pam said K.T. let things roll off her back.
Pam realized how her daughter's outlook had changed when she took breaks from the island. Going shopping was information overload for her because she became accustomed to a more simplistic life, Pam said.
On a visit home, Pam said K.T. found the grocery store excessive, with too many options when she went to grab some tortilla chips and chicken. She asked what kinds of chips she should bring home and did she want boneless, skinless or chicken tenders, Pam said.
"She said, 'Mom, the last chicken I saw was in my yard,'" she said.
Now that her job in Tonga is finished, K.T. is in Bali, Indonesia. She decided to take a six-month trip around the world.
"She cashed in her Peace Corps ticket home for an around-the world trip," Pam said. "She plans to get home before Christmas."
A letter home from Tonga
Feb. 15, 2003
A Milestone
It's Saturday morning here in Ha'apai. I just woke up and was thinking about what I was going to do today when I realized that this is one year, to the day, from my first day in country. I had a wonderful Valentine's Day yesterday, and it made me think about my last, when I was with 29 other people whom I had just met and was "stuck" with in Hawaii en route to our two-year Peace Corps experience here in Tonga. That was an amazing day -- one that I will never forget, but when I think about what as happened to me SINCE that day, it blows my mind. This has been one of the most intense, wonderful, difficult years of my entire life. Actually, I'll go as far as to say that it has been the MOST intense, wonderful, and difficult year. In fact, I truly enjoyed sitting here in my fale papa lahi (big wooden house) reflecting on it. I've learned and gained so much.
I've mastered a new language.
I've learned how to be a teacher
... and realized that it is the most important job in the world.
... made incredible (and I mean incredible) friends that I will have for life.
... experienced living on an island that is 4 miles by 1 mile at its largest.
... learned about different parts of America that I've never visited by talking to people.
... made friends from Australia who have taught me about where they're from.
... have learned very much about life from those Aussie friends.
... have made Tongan friends and have shared so much with them.
... met and keep in touch with amazing people who are traveling through or visiting another volunteer.
... learned that you can live with SO much less than most people have.
... have two Tongan children whom I feel that I am helping to raise. They come to me for a safe place.
... now have a different view on America through interactions with people who don't live there.
... get to go swimming in crystal blue water almost every day.
... figured out how to start with nothing and make my house feel like a home.
... appreciate cheese and cold drinks.
... met Judith who is my soul mate and who taught me more than I could ever give back to her.
... have begun to teach what I learned from her to others around me.
... realized the importance of my friends from home and have gotten even closer to one since being here.
... I've come to understand how much my family means to me when I thought that I already appreciated them more than I ever could.
... have the chance to read any and every book that my heart desires.
... felt the true feeling of loneliness ... and disappointment.
... learned more about myself than I ever dreamed that I needed to learn.
... gotten over a broken heart and through that tough period.
... traveled to New Zealand.
... will get to travel so many more places thanks to Peace Corps.
... have chickens, roosters, goats, horses and dogs that live in my yard.
... have gotten to see the first sunrise of numerous days.
... travel by boat to get to the outer islands -- and most times that boat has too many people in it.
... got extremely sick and been scared as to whether or not I would be able to stay in country.
... have called my parents in tears just wanting to come home.
... have received the most incredible support from family and friends.
... realized the importance of cherishing every second that you have with friends when one of my best friends here almost died in my living room from meningococcal.
... seen the true beauty in simplicity.
... seen the wonderful and horrible aspects of living alone.
... am the minority and have stared discrimination in the eyes.
... have experienced sexual harassment.
... know the importance of a written letter.
... am missing watching my nieces grow up.
... have been so hot that I thought I would die if I didn't sit in front of the fan with nothing but underwear on.
... am missing some weddings of my friends back home by being here.
... in fact, I'm missing out on a lot back home.
... have learned to cook and like doing it. (I know how to make my own kaluha and pita bread.)
... have a mosquito net over my bed.
... hung up a piece of wood for a closet.
... feel completely disconnected from the outside world.
... and love it.
These are just some of the things that I thought about this morning. I wanted to share all of this with you guys because getting e-mails, letters, boxes, phone calls -- anything from you all is the biggest reason why I'm still here -- experiencing these things -- and have another entire year to experience even more. I am such a stronger individual due to this past year. Thanks to all of you -- you have no idea how much I appreciate you.
Cheers to everyone. I hope all is well.
Much love and all the rest.
KT
When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:
 | Director Gaddi Vasquez: The PCOL Interview
PCOL sits down for an extended interview with Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez. Read the entire interview from start to finish and we promise you will learn something about the Peace Corps you didn't know before.
Plus the debate continues over Safety and Security. |
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Governor Schwarzenegger praised the Peace Corps at the Republican National Convention: "We're the America that sends out Peace Corps volunteers to teach village children." Schwarzenegger has previously acknowledged his debt to his father-in-law, Peace Corps Founding Director Sargent Shriver, for teaching him "the joy of public service" and Arnold is encouraging volunteerism by creating California Service Corps and tapping his wife, Maria Shriver, to lead it. Leave your comments and who can come up with the best Current Events Funny? |
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