and the very welcome return to the student interns from the University of New Brunswick, Canada.

Malo e lelei! My name is Piper, and I will be interning at VEPA to learn about the environment and leadership in a different culture. I am from the East Coast of Canada. I aim to try new things, challenge myself, and learn from others. I am a foodie with a sweet tooth. I like playing board games and reading.

I am a student at the University of New Brunswick in Canada, studying the Philosophy of Interdisciplinary Leadership. Simply put, I am studying how to be a good leader and learning about different cultures and how it impacts leadership. As a course requirement, I must complete a 10-week internship in a different culture, so I chose to come to Tonga with VEPA. This placement initially intrigued me because of the articles I read about Tonga- the close-knit community, the kindness, and the pace of life. The environmental work at VEPA is unlike anything in my city, which was the final selling point, and I look forward to trying something new.

My first impressions are overwhelmingly positive. Everyone I have met is kind beyond measure, welcoming, and curious. The weather is beautiful, even though it is very hot. The food has been delicious- I recently had mutton umu, with manioke (cassava) and mei (breadfruit). This is the first time trying lamb, manioke, and mei! I liked the manioke because it absorbed the smokey flavour. Coming from Canada, where everything is fast-paced, I have enjoyed slowing down and appreciating my surroundings.

On May 22nd, we celebrated International Biodiversity Day by hiking up Mt. Talau and removing an invasive species called “lopa.” This was a fun event because I learned about the importance of managing invasive species. From the top, I saw Neiafu and was stunned by the islands’ beauty again. Over the next months, I hope to learn about Tongan values and traditions, conservation and climate change, and how traditional knowledge can be used to improve conservation.