Its Rainy Season...

Oh rain rain go away… It is getting into the wet season here on this beautiful island. Sometimes I think Samoa might drown, or even worse I will lose my tan. I forgot how much rain there was when I first got here. It is nice to fall asleep and wake up to, which is what has been happening the past two weeks. With rain, comes the feeling of restlessness which is a perfect way to describe term three. The year 8’s have finished their national exams so now they play volleyball. The teachers seem too tired to teach and the students too antsy to learn. I feel accomplished surviving one lesson each day. It’s all the students can handle these days. I don’t blame them. I can’t say that I have that much more motivation than the other teachers either and I only have to teach for an hour each day. Everyone is ready for summer.
My principal told me that I needed to get something for the school, to prove my work and time here. Today I walked into my library and it looked like a tornado went through it. Books everywhere, pages torn and even somehow books were glued together. The library was the contribution of the previous Peace Corps, his proof of existence in the school. You see where I am going with this? Personally I feel my presence and time I put into the school and students is proof enough but they want something flashy. So I think maybe I’ll get a big statue of myself. Feel free to e-mail me ideas for poses.

Ana Fiti Me Nerry and Leu on Teachers Day

My sisters... Lina Fili Ida and Sarai on White Sunday

Decompression time....

The Wheels on the Bus

There are some days when I wake up and forget where I am. When I realize it I think wow I really am here. Then most days I just completely fall into my Samoan life. This day was a typical Tuesday and for the most part a typical bus ride. It wasn’t until I was home wiping puke off my bag, with no feelings of disgust or anger, that I realized how “untypical” this bus ride would be in America. Sometimes I get shocked by my lack of reaction to things, but this instance especially…I call these moments my “Samoan Moments”, the moments where all my American habits leave me and I am completely indulged into this way of life.
Samoan Moment: Bus Ride
As soon as I got on the bus I knew it was going to be a tight ride home. A 400 lb woman offered the 3 inches left of her seat for me to sit, but I couldn’t complain because it was the only seat left. The bus was stopped within only three minutes of its departure when I pregnant woman got on and without hesitation I gave up my seat ( I would like to think I would have been this polite in America but I didn’t find myself considering it until it was the culturally appropriate thing to do). So my seat was gone and I left my bags in the front and wiggled my way to the isle where a 400 lb man offered his lap, I respectfully declined. The bus was on the move again but no sooner did it start moving that it got stopped again. At this point I was getting nervous because the bus was jammed packed and we still had 1.5 hours before our district, this bus couldn’t fit anymore but it would try. When the bus stopped a family got on and the man offered me his seat (it is also culturally appropriate to give a seat to a palagi). A child was placed on my lap and no, I had no idea who he was. The bus was in motion again and there were a couple more stops and people getting on and babies being passed around. The woman standing next to me decided to use me as a base to lean against, and she wasn’t holding any of the weight back, so I gave up my seat. I decided it would be much more comfortable to stand then to be used as back support to a woman. The ride wasn’t bad after that. Once the bus got going it didn’t stop until we got to our district. I had to get one and off a lot, seeing as how I was standing in the isle. Each time a seat was open I tried to get to it but someone always beat me to it. Finally I got a seat in the very front, which is like the VIP section. There was a man standing in front of me with someone else’s baby. Cute kid that I was making funny faces with. Suddenly he was the one making a funny face that only my years of working with children made me recognize but it wasn’t quick enough. Yes, that face was the I am going to hurl face, and he did, all over my feet. The man holding the baby turned him to the side and then took him off the bus. Side note, this was not the child’s father, and they never got back on the bus. Anyways I got my feet wiped down with a lavalava and got a glimpse of my bags. Yes, they were covered with baby puke.
Soon I was home, wiping my bags off. I unloaded my groceries (thankfully got spared the baby fluids) and now I am sitting here drinking tea and listening to Adele. It was a good day.
Also I thought it might be fun to let you all know what I have been watching, reading, and listening to lately. You may do what you please with this information 
Book:
The Choice Effect (Love Commitment in an Age of Too Many Options)
By Amalia McGibbon, Lara Vogel, Claire Williams
- MUST READ FOR ALL FEMALES 20-35! I just started it but have been laughing through the whole thing. Basically it explains why we are moving away from the traditional path of life, and that its okay.
Show:
Sons of Anarchy (FX)
If you enjoy thrilling combat and brotherly love this is for you. But if you also love passion and family values it is for you too. I don’t know how many seasons there are, but we have three in this country. Feel free to send more over 
Music:
Adele : 21

PEACE AND LOVE

Sutherlands in Samoa

            I talked to my parents today, both were a little disappointed that my latest blog post was not about their trip. I have written several drafts of that certain post. I just can’t decide on what I really want to talk about or my tone of the events. I mean do I really tell you guys that I hadn’t seen my parents in 1 year and it only took 3 days for me to get annoyed by my Mom telling me what to do and her and my Dad bickering about his driving? I decided that yes, I do tell you this. Why, because it’s funny and it’s my family and I love them for it. I mean you think they would be able to contain themselves for the first hour of seeing their daughter that they hadn’t seen in a year, before my mom threatening to move by herself to the mountains. Which after doing the Robert Lewis Stevenson hike (if you heard the story my mom probably referred to this as a vertical rock climb) I know the “moving to the mountains threat” is just silly. Today she told me she was going to move to the city alone.

            So my parents came, saw and conquered Samoa. They went to church and had the traditional To’onai meal with my family. I think they both were surprised, and my mom a little relieved, that the food wasn’t that strange. My dad had a chance to sleep outside and my mom was able to sleep with walls every night. There were no bug freak outs!!! Most importantly, they learned what I like to call “the art of doing nothing”. There was a lot of “so what do we do now”, just enjoy where you are. I think my mom was a little disappointed in the lack of shopping, my dad wasn’t.

            The trip was good for them. It’s so hard to understand something until you can actually see and experience it. I think that they were able to realize that this is my life right now, and to me everything I do and am surrounded by is normal. They may use the word “poor” but I like to use “simple”, but I mean who wants to describe their lifestyle as poor? But they can see that I live in simplicity, and I am okay without the luxuries I used to have. That’s all any parent ever wants though isn’t it? Whether there in Samoa, a different state or across the street; they just want to make sure there child is safe and happy.

After Samoa my amazing parents took me to Hawaii for a week, A little taste of America with the relaxed island attitudes. Heaven.

HUGE THANK YOU TO JOANNE AND MIKE MALLON. Wish you were there, you guys are amazing <3

Hawaii was perfect. I got a haircut and a pedicure. My mom and I were able to do some mother daughter time shopping around the endless amounts of stores. Great food and GREAT TV. And the beds, like lying in the clouds! Oh ya the scenery was pretty beautiful as well J but yes this was me in Hawaii, when most want to go to the beach and learn how to surf. I wanted to go straight to a star bucks and get a iced coffee and bagel, and catch up on the ridiculous but addicting reality TV.

 Did I mention how great my parents are? Thanks Mom and Dad

Happy 1 Year

Today feels like any other day for the most part. I went to school, taught some lessons, ate lunch and came home, took a nap, read some of my book and did some laundry. But this day is a little special. Exactly one year ago I arrived here in Samoa. Exactly one year ago I became someone new. Exactly one year ago my life changed. Sitting here now at my kitchen table looking around I know I am exactly where I want to be, where I need to be. During this experience I have changed slowly and in small ways. I was reading through old journal entries and came across something I wrote in my very first journal entry. It was before I left. I was scared and I questioned myself. Why was I doing this?

September 13, 2010

“I want to be broken into pieces and built back up”

Deep I know. But what did I mean? I wanted to become a different person, a better person. However, the journey to become this person went a completely different direction than what I thought. I thought I was going to hand over myself on a platter to this culture and its people. I was going to do whatever they needed me to do for them. I was going to become the person they needed me to be and in return I would be a better person. Through all my trials and struggles during this year I slowly learned that the person they needed me to be was me. My biggest battle was with myself and who I thought I needed to be. It did happen to me, the pieces breaking. But I didn’t need new pieces; I wanted to be built back up with the same ones. However there were some pieces that didn’t fit anymore. Like that piece that needed hot showers or technology to teach a lesson. Some pieces got bigger; patience, respect and body odor. I eventually found myself all over the floor searching for an architect, which I should have known was me. Time is building me back up. I don’t think I will ever be finished. We are forever breaking; just make sure you always carry your super glue.

What’s important is that today I feel whole. Today I feel happy and proud. And that’s all I can ask for.

Happy 1 Year

Peace and Love

River Hike

All veteran Peace Corps of Samoa talk about the River Hike. The word the get’s used to describe it is “insane”. In my last post I talked about the search and desire for adventure, well this weekend I definitely found it. I also found out that I may not be the same girl who jumped off the high dive when I was 2, or my conscious has developed a little bit since then.

Chris and Rivka hosted us at their home Friday night; me, Rachael, Tevi, Danny, and Mika. We woke up Saturday morning and enjoyed a lovely breakfast of banana bread, fruit, and wheat bix. We all dressed in our hiking/water wear. All of us were strapping on our Tevas as Mika was tying up is Jordans. Mika is one of the few you will find in this country sporting closed toed shoes. Thankfully, Chris had another pair of sandals that surprisingly fit Mikas size 12 feet. We took a group photo and hopped in the taxi.

About 45 minutes later we arrived in the middle of the jungle pulling up to a fale hidden by various trees and plants. We met the owners and our tour guide. Our pre hike training was, well none existent. We were given a walking stick and told that all the jumps, except for the last one, were 100% participation.

The first part of the hike was not bad. The river was low and slow. We moved up to the side and began to walk along the ledge. Our tour guide turned to us and said to be careful of landslides. We continue along the ledge and back down to the river where it became deeper and you could start to feel the current. We have reached out first waterfall. It’s beautiful and we all take some time to swim around and jump off the rocks. Then we are shown where the first jump is. Not too high, the concern is how we get to it. We find ourselves climbing like Spiderman over to the ledge one at a time. About a 1 story jump, not bad. I turn off my brain and jump. We see the boys climbing up the side of the mountain to another jump, this one is twice as high. Again the question here being how we get up there. We watch the boys do it and decide its safe. The girls climb and jump. This time there was a slight hesitation, but what’s the worst that can happen? So I jump. Time to continue, we follow our tour guide up the rocks, thank god I was a gymnast and I tapped into my inner monkey during these climbs. It was at this point when I looked down and realized if anyone of us slips and falls, we are screwed. It was also at this point I realized that this would not be a good activity for Renee. The climb continued until we reached level ground. Along the way there were more waterfalls and jumps, but smaller than the first. We were all hyping ourselves up for the last waterfall, with the highest jump. No Peace Corps female has ever jumped it before. Rachel is right on board, I am wondering why no girl has jumped it.

After about a 3 hour journey we reach the last waterfall. It’s beautiful, of course. I am looking for the ledge to jump, and from what I see there isn’t any. We all decided we are going to at least go up and then make our decision from there. This time we climb up the side of a steep mountain, safer than slippery rocks. We make it to the top. We all look down, it’s freakin high. Maybe three story’s or a little more. The guide goes first, he survives but he is also Samoan and I swear these people are made differently, superhero body parts. Rachael decides you can’t think about it and just goes. I can’t see her once she jumps and we all listen for the splash, which seems like it takes forever. Once we hear the splash we listen for her, she’s alive. Next all the boys go. Rivka and I are up there alone. I am next. I tell her to say something encouraging to me. I am standing on the ledge, looking down and see this rock protruding out the side. Right now all that’s in my mind is I am going to hit it. Everyone is yelling at me from below, Rivka is chanting “you gotta do it, you gotta do it”. I turn around one more time and look at her, then turn back. I take a quote from my Buddhism book and whisper to myself “I am here”. Close my eyes and jump. The most exhilarating thing I have done ever. Everyone below greeted me with hugs and kisses as a swam up to them. Then we all turned to cheer on Rivka, who jumped. We all hugged and high fived and felt so accomplished. Our tour guide was calling us the super 7. The adrenaline that goes through your body after that is unexplainable, making me look forward to bungee jumping in New Zealand…..

Peace and Love

Gather round kids its story time....

My alarm goes off at 2:30 Am. I slowly get out of bed to boil some water. Coffee coffee coffee. It’s the only way to do this. Its only a day trip so I just need to make sure I have my wallet phone and keys. I hear the bus pass. Okay I have at least 20 minutes if not more. I get dressed and pour my coffee into a jar. I go to open the door and hear what I hope I am not hearing…but yes its true, the bus passing by. But it’s only three o’clock. There must be another one. I go outside and sit. Drinking my coffee and taking in the starry night sky. I must admit it’s one of the best features of this country, the night sky. I have never seen anything like it. It feels like the entire world has stopped, even the animals are sleeping.

3:30…4:00…..5:00

Well at this point I know I am not catching the 6am ferry. Cross your fingers to catch the 8 o’clock.

5:15….5:30….5:45…..crap….

Whatever you think a bus sounds like….insert sound here….

6:00 Jackpot! A bus…

We make our way to the wharf. It’s the small boat but I don’t mind because there are not many people. I sit up at the top and feel the boat rock back and forth slowly making its way to Upolu.

9:30 I arrive at the wharf in Upolu and hurry to the only bus waiting to take people to town. I pull the palagi card and grab a seat. 60 people on a 30 person bus, looks like a hour ride with 2 butts in my face, awesome.

Game plan, go to the ATM and take out money for my New Zealand ticket then head to the travel company to pay for the ticket. Then enjoy the only thing Apia is good for, a decent meal.

10:30: At the ATM….no money.

Sidebar…mom transferred money from my US account to my Samoa acct to purchase my New Zealand ticket. The travel company here offers a killer deal, 250 American dollars round trip. Started Monday ends Friday….its Friday

Cue panic now…

Change of plans….Westpac bank it is.

“I’m sorry but there is no record of a transfer in your account. Go ask for Mika and Junior, upstairs”

Waiting for Mika and Junior…11:30….12:00

Mika brings me downstairs where they tell me the same thing the first person told me.

During this time I am waiting for my mom to call me back….she finally does and says she got a confirmation that it went through. She gives me some kind of number.

Stress level is rising.

The teller tells me that number is invalid. Calls some people upstairs…still nothing

1:00

Mom calls, she spoke with a BOA rep, he says it should be there by the next day.

Okay so someone else doesn’t have my money that’s good. Stress going down….

1:30

The bus for the last ferry leaves at 2:00…

I sprint to the travel office. Purchase mine Tevi’s and Olivias tickets.

1:55

Sprint to the bus stop….

I like to go out the same way I came in…Samoan ass in the face all the way to the wharf.

What did you do today?

Peace and Love

Jolly July

            July was a month of constant climb, climbing back to the top. As you all know, June was a low point. Thankfully, each day in July got better. Like I said I would do, I took the pressure off myself. I opened my mind back up to the culture, and in return fell in love with it again. Most importantly, I took time for me. When you choose to do something like this with your life sometimes people mistake giving yourself with giving up yourself. I am giving my time, patience, help, knowledge, love and compassion to these people. I needed to remember at no time did I say I would forget myself, give up who I was to do this. What made me… well me. I think what made me come back to a high point was remembering myself, I was giving all of the love, compassion and help to the people here but not giving it to myself and gradually I stopped giving it to them without even realizing it. My goal for July, work on myself. In the end working on myself made me a better person, volunteer and teacher and most importantly I was so much happier.

So to recap July for you all….

            As you all know we had a beautiful program for the 4^th of July. Go America. School was going well. I felt my bond with the teachers and students growing stronger. I saw improvement in the school and students. My reading program is going well, the days that I could actually do it. There are still the struggles of dealing with such an irregular school schedule, different mindsets between me and the teachers. I try to take in the small changes I see day to day. I also realized I am not just here to teach and change the lives of these students; they are changing my life and teaching me things about myself and the world. We are putting on an English program at the end of term 2 (end of august). Each class is preparing some kind of performance, all done in English. Parents and friends come to watch the event. I along with neighboring PCV’s will be the judges, because somewhere along the way it turned into a competition. There is a small obsession with trophies here.



We did lose our first 83er. It was hard for me to lose such a close friend, especially in this situation. It was the right decision for her, and I am proud of her.  A good thing did come out of her early departure; it made me realize that this is where I need to be and where I want to be.



Me and Liv ready for our advenmture



The rest of July is kind of a bore. Rob and Olivia spent a weekend at my house. We enjoyed dinner at our favorite pizza place on Savaii, the only pizza place, Seki a Pizza. Rob built me a bookshelf which just changed my bedroom drastically. We also took an adventure to Nancy’s house for lunch one day. I use the word adventure to make it sound, well adventurous. The truth is we walked for 15 minutes to a nearby bakery and sat for an hour waiting for the bread, which wasn’t done in time to catch the bus. So we gave up on the bread and caught the bus. Enjoyed a delicious American meal of Kraft Mac n Cheese. I did wear a cool hat to look more adventurous.

My favorite meal on Savaii



Rob the builder



Enjoy the Pictures….

Peace and Love



Cat for sale...2 tala