Dori's blurry ride into the sun

times up..one hour on the internet..

12/21
I saw a boy named Dori this morning riding his cousin’s bike. I had my camera so I took his picture. He flashed a symbol (gang?). I asked him where he learned how to do that. He watched a movie (sa ou mata mata I le movie) called “you got served”…a dancing movie I guess. Maybe I can watch it. Movies with dancing seem to be big here. I wonder how Dirty Dancing Havana Nights would go over. I read last night in one of our training manuals that humans love to imitate (it was talking about how war starts, from a dissertation about Samoa). I am witnessing the imitation first hand. I just wish there was something more positive to imitate. Little kids run around with plastic guns in Apia. I know kids who got shot in America for pretending to fire at a police officer.

My family; my family; lo’u aiga…hmm…I’m overwhelmed by the hospitality, and their trying to make me feel at home. They rock! One morning my mom (Sofa’i) left some runny egg yolk on her plate…I scooped it up with some bread, and tried to explain in broken Samoan that I really liked to eat the runny yellow egg part. This morning there was a plate of fried eggs with runny egg yokes;)

A few nights ago we had whole fish for dinner. I tried one, but there were just too many bones for me. I guess I’m spoiled by the cod and salmon filets I’m used to getting in Boston and Astoria,OR. I’m really missing my home in American right now. So last night we had fried fish (among other things)—and my dad (Tuala) told me my sister (Sepa) had deboned the fish—to leave just the flesh…yummy.

Today I brought out my digital camera to take pictures of my family. Poka seemed very interested. I some pictures of my room area and views of our fale and bay/ocean. Then I gave it to Poka to get some good pictures. Laughter ensued. Across cultures, seeing one’s picture creates smiles and laughter. Some of the pictures should appear here. I showed Poka how to take a picture, zoom in and out, and view the pictures that are taken. I learned that a blurry picture is pu’eata nenefu (picture blurry). Tuala asked if I could put pictures on the TV to look at…hmm…sounds like a good project to try; pictures, speech, music, Windows MovieMaker…I wonder if the computer lab computers have DVD burners in them.

I’ve met 11 people in my village (a few are from surrounding villages). Maria and Sara work at one of the village stores (fale’aloa). Maria owns the store, likes to fish in the boat, but needs a young strong man to row her out. Sara used to be the Pule (Principal) at A’ana Secondary School. (not sure where that is). Petivia is a teacher at Lefaga Primary School. He was over for dinner one day. One thing I think I will really like is meeting all sorts of interesting people coming through our house. Junior(Jay?) is a fisherman, drummer, studying english at National University of Samoa; he has lived in New Zealand for most of his life. I met Asiasiga at Maria’s store; he lives a little down the road from me. Lorenzo is 19, works at a fabric shop in Apia, and likes to watch the bingo from across the road. Dori is 15, likes riding a bike, and flashes gang symbols he sees on American movies. Tulu’i has a baby, has completed four Scientology courses, and gave a good speech at the closing ceremony of the scientology activities in Samoa. Joli lives next door; works at the Robert Stevenson Luis Museum as a guide, and wants to learn French and Japanese—because those are the languages that in his tour groups speak.

Housing for Quiet School Crabs

12/20
I had a long talk with our country director—Kim—about my living situation. I guess PCV staying in an open fale with a family doesn’t happen very much. I feel fine with it. The family has really really accepted me. I picked up one of the toddlers for the first time—Nato. She seemed fine with it. And now she comes over to my chair when I eat at the table and wants to be picked up. My biggest concern right now is not really knowing how to contribute to the family—to reciprocate (HP rock on). Kim suggested options of giving $200/month, or buying small things that the family needs (soap, school supplies, cell phone “top up cards” kid toys), and the second option might be better. She said things will adjust with time. With time. I’ve only been here since last Thursday, 12/13.

We went to town today by bus—four of us from the family. We bought a lot of groceries. The van taxi ride back from Apia to Tafagamanu (31km) cost $52tala +tip.
The taxi stopped at a gas station. Gas in Apia runs $2.71/liter. Is it 4 liters/gallon?...that would make it $10.84/gallon.
I saw a sign for Teak trees: $1 tala/tree. Hmmmmm…how much does teak furniture run in USA? A lot if I remember correctly.

12/18
Yea…today is spend-some-time-at-my-school-room day. Note to self: bring some toilet paper. I sprayed Mortein (the all purpose bug stopper “high performance”) in all the corners and cracks. A large black gecko came crawling out from somewhere. I’m not sure if he got a whiff of the orange scented poison. I hope he goes outside.

I tried a few things on a computer in the lab. I accidentally downloaded the 5-day trial verion of Abexo registry cleaner; I wanted the free version. I need to get it from internet at the PC office now.

Intermitent buckets of rain today. Hope you don’t caught in one. I love the sound of rain.
I’m listening to some Adrian Belew right now. Lots of guitar + some nice drumming. My external speakers (that use wall power) are not working…annoying. It was in the big bag that was on top of our land cruiser when we moved…in the hot sun for 4 hours. Could be the reason. I’m going to take it home to test it. We’ll see…speakers may be “rubbish” now—the samoan word for trash.

At dinner I learned the meaning of the Samoan saying “a crab will have to check with it’s legs.” Same thing as “I’ll have to check with my family and get back to you. The matai (head) of the family is the crab and the others in family are the legs.

GSI crows to 30 voices loud

12/17
I met the owner of GSI—a very busy store in Apia. He is Chinese, doesn’t want to learn Samoan because Samoan has such a small usage across the globe. That doesn’t seem to be a good way to integrate into the community. But his business seems to be doing well. He said he is too busy to study or read, but wants to learn more English through conversation. Maybe I could learn some Chinese while I’m in Samoa. That would be odd. He has been here since 1990, when there was only one paved road in Samoa. He says in the last five years there have been many many big changes. He told me that just because the economy is getting better, doesn’t mean people are happy. He said he has observed that TV is bringing many changes in attitudes and thinking. American influence seems to be pressing hard into Samoa.

I’m in Apia with my host father today. It’s interesting to see places I wouldn’t normally go—Division of Internal Affairs to meet the lady who does trainings with Pulenu’us (village mayors). We also went to the Registry of birth/death/marriage office, the RSA club (lots of pool tables), and the GSI store with Chinese food and ladies accessories upstairs…unique combination.

People ask me what music artists I like. I usually can’t name them, but say I like music for it’s instrumentation—eg lots of good percussion/drumming/syncopation. Today I remembered about the names…here are some artists I have on my mp3 player right now: Phil Collins, Bjork, Moby, Manu Chao (French music from my old housemate), Electroslide, Govinda, Holden. I like good percussion.

Opening my eyes after a nap I see: roosters crowing, birds flying through our fale, a hen with babies (and the laying of egg this morning), occasional dog (family really tries to keep the dogs out of the house), cats x3—who don’t seem to care about the fluffy things bouncing about.

I realized I’m putting a lot more “stuff” on my body after my shower than in the states: the chapstick, antibiotics (I sliced my finger on coral when I was swimming), antifungal cream (so the athlete’s foot doesn’t start growing eyes to look back at me), and mosquitoes roll on (cause the mosquitoes like me a lot).

The Enya reaches global. I just heard the popular Enya remix, between many different Chrisimasi remix blitz, and NZ news. I didn’t bring any Enya with me;(

If the stickers on my water bottle tell my story—it would go something like this: state parks, because I like nature; Ilomantsi Runalaulaian Pirtti, because I like Finland and poetry; UNEEK, because I am unique; Peace Corps, because this is what I am right now and I like my world; Bikeworks, cause I like bikes, kids, and my community.


12/15
30 voices lifted high. A late Saturday afternoon. Choir practice at the EFKS church in the village. I want to learn some of the songs. As I look through the church doors, I see orange reflection—of the setting sun—of the damp concrete. Of the ocean (sami) lapping waves to the left stretching out to meet the sky in the horizon. Waves (galu) crash on the reef out in the distance—which means no large crashing waves for me to listen to;( Coconut trees flap in the breeze (savili). Manaia savili! Sound of voices overlaid with falling rain.
Josh groven (you lift me up) is popular here—was playing before the adult choir’s practice began. I heard the remixed enya song a few days ago..first time to hear that in a while.

It still feels weird that this is where I will stick for two years—living at Tafagamanu and teaching secondary school at the neighboring village of Savaia. The last two months have been spent living out of bags and moving frequently—between the hotel and training village.

I was unpacking my large green duffle bag today. I haven’t used anything in it for the two months I’ve been in samoa. I’m living with the Mayor (pulenu’u) of Tafagamanu, but I also have a room on the school grounds to use. So I can have some family time—with the many sounds—they like to have the TV and radio going at the same time. And babies crying, dogs barking, random chickens walking through the fale (house). There’s also three cats. Let’s be one with nature…but I can also have alone time at my school room…well except that Poka always goes with me. I’ll have to say to family, sometimes just me. Beginning of February many many many kids run through the school. May be very hard to find quiet time. We’ll have to make some quiet time.

There is so much to say. Everything is new again….well except for what I already know about the language. Today was the first day to check out the computer lab. 12 computers, windowsXP, no internet, 3 or 4 printers, 3 ceiling fans, really needing a registry cleaning an defraging. I see many possibilities. Only time and effort will tell. I’m curious to see what’s on the CD other ICT (information and communications technology) volunteers put on it. I taught Poka what fonts are—did an activity…something to add to my list. Poka actually knows a lot about computers…lots to learn.

I think my family (especially Tuala) gets a kick out of my eating habits. Yesterday we had potatoes and fish. I put my fish and potatoes in a cup of broth…yummy ..just like the fish stew my mom used to make when I was growing up. The apple chunks and peanut butter may be a palagi thing too. My understanding of palagi is a non Samoan…or maybe a “white” person. Not sure…

Today Nofo and I walked..a long walk and I realized 85% of what people say still goes over my head. I need to take my dictionary everywhere with me. There are sentences where I need just one or two words to understand.

Another big thing to do later in evening is watch the GoMobile (one of the cell phone companies—along with Digicell) hiphop competition. Poka says the winner gets $5000 tala. The dancing was OK. Dancing on the Step UP movie was better.

Shooting stars say Hello to family

12/13
Today is moving day. I am going to a village called Tafagamanu—next to Savaia. A few images stick from our car ride: surf crashing, rising skyward to say hello; little pigs scurrying off the road; dense jungle; Lalomauga church roof tucked away in the deep jungle.

I ‘m living with the village mayor. His name is Tuala. I will be living here at least until the beginning of February, when school starts.

I saw five shooting stars tonight on a walk by the ocean. Nofo says I’m Lucky. I just think it’s cool to see shooting stars.

My new Samoan family…lots to say. I like them. They have made me feel very welcome. I may be in a different situation than other people. I’m living with a family, in their house; I have a corner of the fale—lots of sea air;)

Tonight I created my new family tree. My mother is Sofa’I is 59. my father, Tuala, is 61. Tuala has been the Pulenu’u (Mayor) of Tafagamanu for 5.5 years. Each term is 3 years. He has been the secretary of the school committee (Failautusi Komiti Aoga) for more than 10 years. Poka (who is my new shadow) is 16, and will be in my year11 computer class next year when school starts (Feb4 I think). Solomona is 24, is a DJ, a fisherman, and wants to study medicine;he lives with his wife (Telesia) in a fale next to ours; they have two kids—Ina and Le, who live with them and us. Sepa is 23, has two daughters; her husband and one daughter live in another village. Peni is 18 and works at Yasaki in Apia; he is the 4am alarm I hear. Ina is two years old, is the loud one in the family, and is not shy around me…very outgoing. Nofo is 36 and works at AST in the electrical department/division. Nato is one year,3months, and is shy. Le is one year,9 months (tasi tausaga, iva masina). We have three dogs: powder, shadow, and foster. Samoans don’t really treat their animals very well, but I love animals and I think the dogs love me. They always run up to me to be petted…I guess that is a strictly Palagi thing. We have three cats too; I don’t think they have names. There are numerous pigs and chickens. One of the pigs is named Ina also. Sepa and Telesia are the cookers in the family. There are eight people (including me!) that live at home (nofo I le fale), and three little kids. Five people live in other villages and NZ and Australia. One son died;(

Swearing In and Mr. Sympathy lost the hook

12/12
Our swearing in today at the training village. Good speeches—Kim (the PC country director) talked about attitude as being the most important thing in determining a PCV success during their two years—and in anything we do. It’s one of the few things we have total control overà and Kim is leaving soon;( George, the US Charge d’Affaires from the US embassy reminded us to represent the US in a positive way. And the long lineage of past PC volunteers we are joining—throw your rock in the water. Watch the ripples move away. The picture has two newly minted PC volunteers and two mothers/grandmothers from the village. People in my PC group thinks it’s interesting that I like rocks—hot rocks. Have you ever had a hot rock massage? Hmmmmm.


12/10
Today we created our group’s mission statement…the “group 79 successful PC experience.” I think most of us just wanted to get done with training, but there was some good input from people. The session was led by the infamous Kevini adapting the evolutionary theory. Here is what it evolved into:
>
We are happy to be close to the end of training, so we can get to our sites.

This is a picture of me and Rosie, who will be a special education teacher.


12/09
I just watched a movie: “Sympathy for Mr. Vengence” a Korean movie Rosie has really been wanting to see, and Max has it on his computer. Interesting coincidence—a person in the movie was cremated—same thing that happened to Andrew. A very depressing movie about Kidneys, Kidnapping, and Killing, but no references to the KKK..how about a C…for conscious(ness).

One thing I keep getting reminded here is there are no hooks. In America, I liked to hang my towel on the hooks in the bathroom. No hooks here;(

Goodbye;farewell to loved language woes

yesterday evening an entire bus load of people said goodbye to Malu and Sue as they boarded the plane for LA and MO. it was a teary eyed moment. I was sad. They rented a bus and they picked me up from in front of the hotel. I wish them well.

12/09
Malo soifua lau susuga…a formal and respectful way to say hello, good health sir/miss.

Learning the language is only going to happen by using every opportunity to practice, ie..talking with the front desk worker at the hotel, the taxi driver (I took both those opportunities yesterday and today). I noticed that I am the last one to talk in a group…not good trait for learning a language that is so auditory.

Leata (one of the hotel staff) helped me figure out what ladybug is Samoan: fitifiti (in spoken language, replace T with K: fikifiki). It is still interesting to me to observe the debate/conversation/discussion that ensues sometimes when a word needs to be translated. One English word can have many different Samoan counterparts.

I went to Peace Chapel Christian Fellowship church this morning. I liked it. It was very much like a Vineyard service in America—a band with keyboards, guitar, drums and singers. The message was about values. I learned that wisdom in Samoan is faimeatonu.


12/08
Lot’s of things to say…it has been two weeks in the village.

It was a teary eyed time last night as said my farewell speech to my Samoan (training village) family. I gave them the invitation (to the swearing in) and money PC gave me, and a copy of my poetry book. But it feels weird to know that my Samoan mom and dad will be moving to Missouri in three days. I get to see them off at the airport. That will be cool.

I’m getting to spend some extra time with one of the language trainers (about 40 hours), because I did not pass the language proficiency interview (LPI). Well, whatever…I can make excuses, one of them being I wanted to spend more time with my family than our schedule and homeworks allowed. And I also want to talk more with the trainers. So I will be “provisionally” sworn in. Samoa is so big on relationships, I want to know the trainers a little better than I do now. That was one of my feedback suggestions: trainers should share more about themselves, but then someone just said that trainers need boundaries…so what, no boundaries..well, now I’m just babbling. Just lost at chess, and I’m really tired. After a day in the hot sun at the all volunteer day playing soccer, eating fisherman burgers and a hanging out…ahhh..what a way to spend a Saturday—I mean Aso Toanati.

It was very interesting to see what kind of sicknesses are in Samoa. I have seen something called Ati Loto—a skin rash, that my Samoan mom actually is a healer for. She is a massage person, and used a plant she has in her yard to press into the guy’s skin. She made a point to tell me that people have to come to her as soon as they see something. I think he waited a few days too many. Makake is another skin problem that creates white bubbles around the neck. When they complete the full circle, the throat locks up and the person dies. A relative of my family came to visit us and we went to see another Samoan healer in our village, and she massaged the baby’s skin and spit some chewed up plant into his mouth. He was not a happy baby.

Geek in Meditation at the sea

picture comments: the two boys are Ni (a relative) and TJ my sister's three year old. I told them to smile (ata).
Sina and Pine are twins--eight years old.

12/06
I have learned to much in the past two months. Two months huh?? It feels like a lot more time than that. It (the language) has always been a struggle for me. It comes easier for others. I do know I’m making progress and today we all find out if we can really speak at an intermediate low level—for our language proficiency interview (LPI)—the big test during our two months.

I sit here on the sea wall in Apia and wait—I’m last at 11am. I still get sad when I see the ocean—I want to dissolve in it—but that goes into other stuff. Good luck to everyone…even if we have been a little complainy. It’s hard when I don’t get time to reflect—well—here is time—and I need to find a new journal soon. I’m on page 96 of 101.

Let’s talk about attention. Everyone wants attention. Who gets in Samoa? The older you get, the more you seem to get here. Younger people/kids don’t really get attention. That’s not how I operate. I’ve noticed I love to say smile and say malo (hi) to kids. I love to see people smile. Many Samoans seem to ignore young people. Dogs get rocks thrown at them. I feels weird to be afraid of dogs. I’ve had dogs bark at me, and have had to pick up a rock and yell “halu” but I haven’t had to throw any rocks yet. I really hope I don’t have to throw rocks. The little kids at my host family in our training village were very shy (ma) for the first few times we lived at the village. By our last time in the village, all the kids were doing yoga with me before dinner. Even Lotu (the one year old) was trying on his downward dog. Speaking of yoga…I have not “released” my back since I’ve come to Samoa. For me, release means my back muscles can relax to a point where they don’t feel tight to me. Back in the states the things that did this were swim club, power yoga, sprinting, and my three hour workouts. I haven’t done any of those since I’ve been in Samoa, but I have made a point to include what I can: a morning walk/run, and a little Frisbee and yoga before dinner. Do what you can.


12/03
Christmas jingles—well how about Christmas remixes—the latest examples is the Macarena song remixed against five or six different classic Christmas songs. It was actually pretty good—it had a good beat. I hope to collect a CD or 2 of popular Christians songs/remixes.

Back in America, I liked to plan a week or month in advance. From what I’ve experienced so far, samoans don’t really plan for the future. One day at a time. They don’t seem to talk about what has happened in the past either.

Another feature of the Christmas time in samoa (at least in our training village, Lalomauga_) is the loud sound of the boom boom—in Samoa called “fana’ofe”—bamboo gun. It sounds like canons going off, but one cool effect is what sounds like a sonic boom that wraps around the mountain.

Here is my daily routine in Lalomauga: go for a walk/run (usually with my little brother, Iapela) about 6 or 6:30am. Shower—I love the warm bucket showers with the sun breaking over the mountain. Breakfast with my mom and dad. Training starts at 8:00am with language, cross cultural, diversity. There is morning and afternoon tea with yummy snacks that other volunteers bring from their families. Since coming to Samoa I’ve been drinking about two pots of tea each day. Lunch at home 12-1:30pm class out at 5 or 5:30pm volleyball or Frisbee (fa’atifa) until 6:30pm, when the evening shell sounds and everybody heads home for family prayer. I have learned a short prayer in Samoan). Dinner. After dinner: homework (mea ‘aoga), TV, or suipi. Then read a book—if I have the energy. Right now I’m reading a book about nomads. Lights out about 11 or 11:30. a few nights I have been reading and fallen asleep with the lights on. Someone turns them off for me. The switch is in the other (main) fale.

Ants are strong! I saw one carrying a piece of something that was three times its body size…and they are everywhere. I forgot a lollipop in a pocket of my backpack—pulled it out four days later—the ants were giving it lots of love. If you’re headed to Samoa, bring good Tuperware and lots of double locking zip lock bags.

Some words Samoans (at least our trainers) don’t know: geek (I have a t-shirt that says “geek” on the front of it, labels are for jars on the back). I told them it was a term that is commonly used for someone that really likes computer stuff. Also “bon appetite” we couldn’t get a comparable phrase in Samoan. And “preventative”…I love yoga because it prevents so many physical ailments, and I like to feel healthy… “soifua” means good health.

We had our complaining session recently with the trainers about the training. We’ve been put under a lot of stress and people are starting to break…well, no, that may not be the word I’m looking for. How about more than we thought it would be. But one trainee said in response, “if you’re unhappy, why did you come?” HP, our training manager said some things that I thought were really cool: “what it takes to be successful.” I think a lot about this..because feeling successful is a key to happiness. “Your training for service” yes, this is/was very hard/intense/long/mind frying, but this is the training that will make us more effective. Someone told me that JICA volunteers (Japanese) don’t get near as much training as we do. I think we will appreciate this training later down the road when we are at our site. HP also said “training as your most stressful (peak) experience.” That reminds me of yoga training. Level2 was crazy hard, but it was so awesome. This training is hard too, but it’s hard on my brain/mind. Yoga training was hard on my body. If this is the peak experience, well then, the whole next two years should be easy. But I don’t think that will be the case. But this training has given us many useful things(ok…tools) we can use. For me, there has been so much I haven’t had the chance to reflect on each one and think about how I could use it. Also, we haven’t been put into the environment we will be in long enough to apply any of this training stuff…well, the language is already being applied.

Christmas Jingles will travel heavily

comments about the pictures: Malu (my mom) is cooking cocoa beans for cocoa Samoa, a big treat in Samoa. When Malu went to America, she took about 25 bags of cocoa Samoa to relatives, who really like it! Malu likes to stick her tougue out for the camera as well;)

Tavale, my sisters husband is squeezing out the coconut juice to make the cream that tastes so good. we did this motion in one of our dances (sivas). Sue (my dad) is getting the "stuff" (I don't know what it's actually called) that Tavale is using to sift the coconut through. I don't know (ou te le iloa) the name of the plant. i thought it was a cool picture. and I may never see him again

:(((

12/01
Here are some uppers: a morning mountain shrouded in clouds and mist before the sun grazes up over it. Creates a very bright outline of mountain. Mountain as it fades into the darkness. A family of dragon flies darts overhead as we throw Frisbee late afternoon….hmm feels like I’m trying to write a poem.
Downers: eating separately, seeing abuse of young people, being very very very tired from training.

Today the blue in my four color pen died…sad, cry, well..now we have three colors left. Four color pens are very important to me. I have seen a four color pen in Samoa …sweet. Now, if “they” only made a 5 color pen..how about a 10 color pen?

My new mantra is “don’t drink while walking”;) well that’s been a hard one for me. Samoans don’t eat or drink while walking. That’s all I did when I lived in boston for lunch time. I don’t remember ever eating while sitting in a restaurant…well except for when we had staff lunches. I’m a walker and eater…well..i guess not in Samoa.


11/27
What a cool night. I watched (TV) the opening of the World Weight Lifting Championships being held—right here in Samoa. There were traditional sivas (dances)…and fire dancers! I played partner suipi—we won! Watched the moon rise—reminiscent of Sleep Hollow—creepy with misty clouds. The clouds stretched out as fingers sweeping up the stars—just for a minute, then all gone. Tomorrow is “culture day.” The boys go to the plantation, and the girls cook stuff.

Speaking of cooking and eating—since in being in Samoa, I feel I’ve been eating a lot heavier food—much more starches, a lot less fruits and veggies, but I’m eating much cleaner. There is not nearly as many preservatives and artificial whatchamacallits when you kill the pig (pua’a), and cook the pig on the same day. Dig up the taro (talo), boil the taro, and eat the taro with the pua’a. living closer to the land means there are a lot less chemicals. Although I heard that Samoans are now using many more pesticides to kill bugs;( the pua’a and talo are a far cry from the Fishman burger I really like to get when we are in Apia. It is a fish sandwich—double fish, double cheese, egg, and some cabbage and tomato (I think). It’s yummy, but I’m definitely ready for a good sleep after eating one. There are some Chinese cheese snacks that contain MSGs…mmmmm…tank up on MSGs. Makes me wonder if my body will reject American food when I go back?! Well i’ve heard that the readjustment process back into American life is the harder part(as opposed to the getting used to the new culture).

Someone asked me to explain what I mean by people who have a hard or soft edge…hmmmm…that’s hard to explain. I think of hard edge as a square and soft edge as a circle (li’o). but also how soft are the edges? How fast does one reject something if it doesn’t fit into your view of the world, or for you computer geeks, do you allow it into your database of perception? I would say most Samoans probably have a very soft edge.

It’s interesting to see how people react to training—including me. It is so intense, and I’ve been burned out a lot with no way to “reset.” Someone in our group said “on par with bootcamp.”

I just met Scott—I couldn’t hear what he said for his Samoan name. Samoans speak soooo quietly. I need to learn the phrase to speak up. Many Samoans I meet speak to me in English (fa’apalagi), so I speak to them in English. Someone said to me it is rude to speak to someone in Samoan when they are speaking to you in English.


11/25
Samoans seem to be pretty humble people, so when we take half and hour in church to read the names and amounts each family and person offered…interesting. I guess this is a source of pride, or keeping up with the Jones’s, even if it means you go into debt.

Samoan culture seems pretty rigid—people have very defined roles based on gender and/or age. Independence is not really a word that is used or lived. I wonder what happens to a person/spirit that doesn’t fit into that box. The author of the poetry book (a woman) talks about declaring independence. Do people do that much around here?

Poetry's counterpart cooks on high bandwidth

11/19
Volunteer visit with Steven...
Steven (Setivi) works at a primary school called Vaitele-Uta (also the name of the village). He is the computer teacher in a lab with ten computers and “broadband” internet. Internet companies charge by the MB here, so it can be very expensive. And I’ve seen someone getting kicked out for doing video stuff—i.e. high bandwidth work. He lives on the school grounds—so it seems kind of secluded. The two main people he talks to outside of school are Afa (a 21-year old Samoan who really likes computers). It makes me think about whether I really want to live alone or with a family.
The other big thing is that Steven doesn’t use a frig or stove. He uses a rice cooker a lot. It cooked pasta and can of tomatoes very well. Steven’s school is the largest government school with about 360 kids and 20 teachers. The computers are rather new because school is part of the school net program, which provides computers and internet to five schools in Samoa (as part of the pilot program).

Steven talks about volunteers not being a push over—I’d like to know (iloa..in Samoan) more about that. He says trainees seem to be too worried about offending Samoans. I don’t want to be a pushover, and I don’t want to take on too much too soon…my school wants me to teach computers…and maths, and physics. We’ll be playing a lot a rugby and ultimate Frisbee to demonstrate the math and physics. Samoans are very handson, so that is a good thing. So am I.

Steven has found a counterpart in Afa, who runs the canteen at school. A counterpart every PCV is encouraged to find to work on the sustainability/capacity building/skills transfer. The idea is that the PCV will teach all the skills they have to the counterpart, who will continue the work after the PCV leaves. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. I just had an interesting conversation with another trainee about an American coming to Samoa and the expectation that is placed on them to “know” what they are supposed to be doing—in our case, teaching. We all want to do well, and sometimes it might be a little too much. But I think we have valuable resources in other volunteers who been-here-done-that, and current volunteers. And this is a great learning process, as we teach and learn at the same time. That’s one of the big things that attracted me to PC.

Afa may be good for teaching computer classes. It sounds like a promising situation—the principal supports it. And principals seem to have a lot of power in Samoa. Everything needs to go through them. Steven said if you really need to learn Samoan you will. For a PCV that teach primary school, or are village based development. If you teach secondary school—where all teaching is done in English, it may be more challenging to learn Samoan. I still want to learn Samoan.

My current reading….Who’s Looking Out for You? By Bill O’Reilly. Interesting. He has interesting views. I think he’s a “conservative” he says “the so-called “justice system” in America is not looking out for you,” not equal justice. He seems to support families and minorities. I had parts I wanted to type but one of my agreements is no typing while I’m in PC. Bottom line: look out for yourself. “art of self-protection” “flirt with tolerance”….a few interesting pieces of the book.
Also reading “In Search of Nomads” By John Ure. Now I want to go find some Bakhtiari. It seems the women are an adventurous type. It’s nice to take my mind off of training and the push to learn Samoan.

A couple of us (PCT) have been talking about the PC reputation when volunteers leave early. I guess a few people are not happy—a few PCV who were placed at SchoolNet sites have left early. Bottom line. When a school starts to rely on a PCV, and they leave early, everybody hurts. I don’t like it.

Older people—listen up! Samoa is a place where age is respected, so an older volunteer will be listened to more—and get more done. This may not be the case in America. Check it out—older people are needed. peace corps has a 50+ “initiative.” My experience at Training, Inc suggests that for profit companies don’t want to hire older workers. That’s too bad in my mind. A lot of experience and wisdom going to waste.

Does having things given to you through aid and relatives in other countries promote idleness? I think people have priorities—our training village built a church by themselves. It’s interesting to hear stories of what works and what doesn’t.

I found a sweet poetry book called “To a Young Artist in Contemplation.” By Sia Figiel. Here are few lines that inspire me: Listen to the starts…awakening to this woman…taxis zoom and zoom…when dogs to not howl…poetry of rain…empower this native…unbelievable lightness of not being. Her writing is very raw…how mine seems to be when I write “for real.” Some other writers she mentions: albert Wendt. Junot Diaz. Poetry can be so revealing.

A few things I wish I could say in samoan to some people i’ve met: “I’m not happy about the hitting. I want you to succeed. What does success/happiness mean to you?”