Talofa!

Malo everyone!

I know  a lot of you have been waiting a long time for the first post! It is finally here.
After a amazing weekend with family and friends sending me off I flew to LA on Monday October 4. I met a lot of group 83 and they are all awesome. Tuesday we had staging all day where I met the rest of the group, we were also paired with the Tonga group. Staging was long and intense and I couldnt wait to get on the plane that night! I was struggling a bit with the time change and I knew it would be rough once I got here!
The flight was a long 11 hours. I slept a lot of the way. I was lucky enough to sit next to a native Samoan women by the name of Soli. She has been living in the US for about 30 years but shared memories with me of growing up in her village and the PCV that her family actually hosted.
We finally arrived in Samoa at 6:30am...thats 12:30pm for all you St.Peters. I was exhausted but blown away as soon as a I walked off of the plane and saw the most gorgeous scenery I have ever seen.
We were greeted by PC staff and other volunteers at the airport. We had about a 45 min drive to Apia which is the Capital as well as where our hotel is. We are staying at the Pacifika Inn. It is very cozy and the staff here is wonderful for carrying my 70pound bags up three flights of stairs. We had  no rest time and were thrown right into a ceramony where we were joined by the staff, other volunteers, and some locals. We drank a special drink that kinda tastes like dirty dish water and numbs your mouth. It was a very interesting experience and a wonderful way to be welcomed to the country.
We all recieved our puletasis ( the skirts) to wear for the ceremony. Mine is purple with green and white flowers. We have the most amazing view from our hotel, it looks like paradise and it all still feels so surreal to me.
After the ceremony we had a wonderful lunch provided by the hotel and then it was back to more informational meetings and then language class!!! The language here is beautiful and unique, i am excited to learn but it will be a challenge. We are broken up into small groups of 5 and my language teachers name is Onofia. He is amazing and very helpful but intense. He will make sure I learn as much as I can! After language class we had a short coffee and tea break and then we had another presentation on money and bank accounts and cell phones. We recieved walk around money as well as enough to purchase a cell phone . The plans are cheap and pay as you go kinda thing. I am finally on a break before dinner which we are eating roasted pig!!!
It is quite a culture shock being here but I am already having the most amazing time. I hope to get up some pictures before my internet time runs out!!!

Tofa

PS...my samoan name is Sene :)