French Polynesia

Tahiti is the largest of the 118 islands and atolls that make up French Polynesia (What is an atoll? Find out here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atoll). Formed as a result of volcanic activity, Tahiti is very high and mountainous and is surrounded by coral reefs. It is the most populous island of French Polynesia with settlement on the coast and in the valleys. Tahiti is only 403 square miles large, while Texas is 268,601 square miles large! That means that area wise, approximately 666 1/2 Tahiti's could fit in Texas. WHAT?!

Climate

As expected, French Polynesia is tropical- very warm and humid. November- April is the rainy reason while May to October is the cool dry season. In Papeete the average annual temperature is 79° F with a low of 70° F in August and 91° F in March. Humidity is always pretty high- around 80-90% (In Houston, the humidity can range from 50%-90%).  

To check out the weather in French Polynesia now click on this link.... 

http://www.weather.com/weather/today/Tahiti/Papeete+French+Polynesia+FPXX0001

FOOD

Polynesians love to eat and they absolutely love to feed the missionaries!
A little bit of what I might be eating...

Main:

Poisson cru (ia ota)- raw fish and diced vegetables marinated with lime juice and soaked in coconut milk.
Chevrettes- Freshwater shrimp
Pork
Chick
Fafaru- fresh raw fish marinated in fermented seawater

Sauces:

Mitihue- fermented coconut milk sauce

Grains:

Coconut Bread
Croissants
Kato- wafer-like biscuits made from coconut milk
Rice

Fruits & Veggies (popular or unique to French Polynesia):

Plantains
Bananas
Mangos
Taro root
Breadfruit

Dessert-

Po'e- sweet pudding consisting of taro root flavored with banana, vanilla, papaya or pumpkin topped with a rich coconut-milk sauce.

As my mission takes to me different parts and islands of French Polynesia, I am sure to add on a few more things to these lists :)