Back In the islands (slowly editing)

Chapter 3 - Arrival

It's almost boarding time and I sling my bag over my shoulder. I wait in line until it's my turn. 

"Passport please" the lady asks. I give her my passport. 

"You have a very beautiful name" she compliments. I thank her than make my way to the plane.

I find my seat. 12C, 12C oh there. I find my seat and yay no one is next to me. After a few minutes a group of boys enter the plane. Each one built with tattoo's flowing on each arm. They make my way to my row and take their seats. Am I the luckiest girl on the plane or what? Nah jokes focus on your IPad Mere.

After the belt safety reminder and we are in the air I begin to relax. 

"Hey.. I'm Wesley" the guys next to me says. 

"I'm Meretiana" I introduce. 

"Is there a shorter name you could go by?" He questions. 

"Mere" I laugh. I go back to watching my movie on my iPad.

After 14 long hours we finally are in Aus. I go to the baggage claim and get my suitcases. I walk to my next gate and wait for my plane which come a in an hour. I sit and notice Wesley and his mates are making heir way to my gate. Oh they coming, act like you weren't watching them.

They walk and sit by me. 

"You going Tonga aswell?" Wesley asks.

 "Yeah I'm guessing you guys aswell" I answer.

 "Yeah where you staying?" He asks. 

"I don't know, I haven't been there before" I tell them. 

"And your going by yourself? for school?" One of his friends ask. 

I nod.

"What did you do?" Wesley asks and all the guys are eagerly waiting for an answer. 

"What do you mean what did I do?" I ask trying to change the subject. 

"When a girl from America Is sent back to the islands she did something wrong so what did you do?" Another guys asks.

"I gave a girl brain damage for talking shit about my family" I tell them. 

"Oh I saw that in the newspaper. Sarah something" Wesley laughs. 

"That was you?" He teases. We are called to board. This time we don't sit near each other so the whole flight I just listened to music and watched movies.

I took a quick nap only to be woken up by a flight attendant.

 "Miss, you need to fill out this form" she hands me a pamphlet and a card. I fill it out the card with things like my name, and birth and stuff. After that I pack it in my bag and we land. Oh my I'm in Tonga. Far I miss Ri, Teu, Mum & Dad heaps.

I get my stuff and exit he aircraft. We walk out and he first thing I see is a sign. Fuamotu Air Port. I am soon going to get used to all these islander names. We walk to this building where we check in. After I check in I go to the baggage claim.

Man this looks so different to America but at least it's something. I found my blue suitcases and drag the outside, Not knowing what my Aunty & Uncle look like I wait. A few boys come up to me and say 

"Ta'ahine Foilole" whatever that means. I was actually going to say "I don't speak Tongan" but nahh.

"Mere?" I turn to see a woman and man about 34-40 years old and a teenage guy about my age. 

"Uhh, Yes?" I say. She hugs me. Taken by the scene, they are most likely my Aunty and uncle, unless they are stalkers.I notice aunty and uncle have a fresh accents which make me laugh. I learnt the guy is their son named Sosaia. Uncle and Sosaia take my bags to their van.

We get in and start driving. 

"So Mere, you ligink it in Tonga?" She asks. I chuckle a bit then reply. 

"Yeah, it's way hotter here tho" I say. They all begin laughing.

 "Auntie? What does Ta'ahine Foilole mean?" I ask hopefully saying it right.

"Why?" She asks. 

"Some guys said it to me" I reply. 

"It means beautiful girl" Sosaia says. What? 

"Mere, I know what has been habbenink in America, I wish you get no drouble for us" Aunty says. 

"Yeah Aunty I'll try." I tell them. 

"You goin to start skool wif Saia on Mun Dai" Uncle says.

Monday? Day after tomorrow Monday? Oof. After we get home they show me to my room. I unpack a bit then sit down for dinner. Aunty made this Tongan food called Lu Sipi. Man it's yum.

Dad never taught me much about my Tongan culture but my taught me everything about Maori culture. 

"I see you ligink it" she notices. I nod because my mouth is too busy eating this delicious Tongan delicacy. After Aunty & Uncle to to bed leaving me & Saia.

"Dw schools in Tonga teach in English"he says. 

"Oh good cos I ain't too comfortable with the language"I say. 

"What kind of uniform is here?" I question. He shows me my uniform. It's a white button up shirt and a green dress with two white stripes on the bottom. There are two ribbons and some sandals.

You have got to be kidding me. 

"Yeah I figured you ain't a dress girl" He laughs. 

"Their isn't a skirt?" I ask. 

"Nope and your hair has to always be in two braids"'he says.

 "Get some rest, church starts at 10" he says before leaving for his room.

Tonga is different. And freaking hot.