Timo Roder and Tobias Korte are two young 'Traveling Carpenters' from Germany, who are traveling the world wearing distinctive clothing and observing an old German tradition, which has brought them to Tonga.

"Auf der Walz" is a German expression that means traveling on the job. It is a centuries-old custom that was started by the Craftsmen Guilds of Europe, around the Middle Ages, and is still practiced there, though the number of Traveling Carpenters are fewer today, numbering only 500 from German speaking countries.

To become a Traveling Carpenter one has to fulfill a three years craftsman apprenticeship to become a journeyman or a Traveling Carpenter. Timo said that only single young men could become Traveling Carpenters and were usually aged from 16 years when they started their apprenticeship into their late 20s. In the past it was required to travel before becoming a master. Now it is voluntary and a matter of honor.

Tobias said that while they travel they are not allowed to return within a 50km radius of their hometown for a period of three years and one day.

Timo said the purpose of the tradition is to enable craftsmen to travel and experience the craft of other countries but not to work. And they can stay in a country for no more than three months before moving on to the next destination.

The two traveling carpenters have been traveling around Europe and were in New Zealand prior to their two-week visit to Tonga where they visited Vava'u. Timo and Tobias stayed at the Heilala Guest House in Tongatapu.

Bare necessities

Traveling Carpenters leave with only the bare necessities, packing only a bundle consist of his craftsman's clothes (Zunft Kluft) and tools.. A fellow cannot return home until his journey is complete (with the exception of illness or death).

Most outfits for guilds are in black and white and adhere to strict dress codes. A proper outfit will be his black long pants, black shoes or boots, a white collarless shirt, and a velvet or corduroy vest with eight buttons (symbolizing an eight-hour work day). There's a colored scarf or tie that is pinned to the collar identifying his craft, sometimes necklaces that show the emblems of cities in which he worked, and a spiral walking-stick called Stenz that the fellow himself made. His black wide-brimmed hat is very important as it identifies him as a 'free' man, sent out into the world to learn his craft. His jacket will also be of black velvet or corduroy (depending on guild) with six buttons on the front (symbolizing a six-day work week).

In the past he could only walk, and if in groups in duck walk but public transportation is allowed these days for further distances. But Europeans still see craftsmen journeying the countryside according to Middle Ages customs.

Leading a humble existence, a young man learns how to develop trust and finds his courage. Learning to work together with different masters and other fellows, and accepting each other's differences.