info #7

Samoa is a tropical, humid, climate that has wet and dry seasons. I believe I will be arriving right when the wet season starts. Samoa also has a cyclone every 10 to 11 years. Maybe I’ll get some cyclone action. I wonder when the last cyclone hit…
“Samoa cyclone”
“there will be time for naps on weekends and if you like to look at the stars, a whole southern sky to discover.”
Welcome to samoa, a land of raw beauty and “intense traditional culture”.
Taking anything too seriously, yourself included, will only bring frustration so we have been laughing quite a lot.

“Village life is generally relaxed”. Let’s get some work mixed in with that fun shall we?

I get two days of vacation each month, so about 24 days each year. I hope to come home to the states at least once during Peace Corps. I may not get to both Oregon AND the east coast, but my mom is first priority. I also want my mom to come and visit me while I’m in Samoa.

Keep in mind also that what you bring probably will not make it back to the US, so don’t bring anything you would be heartbroken to lose.

Contact matthew in Samoa

Contact matthew in Samoa
My email address remains the same:
Bigchainring at hotmail.com

The Samoa country desk office in Washington DC (Nathan everhart) can connect you with information (in non emergency situations)
800-424-8580; press 2; then extension 2522 or 2523.
Also 202-692-2522 or 202-692-2523

In family emergencies, contact the office of special services.
During normal business hours call 800-424-8580 x1470
After normal hours and weekends/holidays the special services duty officer can be reached at 202-638-2574

My mailing address while in Samoa will be:
Matt Crichton PCT
Peace Corps
Private mail bag
Apia, Western Samoa
South Pacific

Mail between the states and samoa averages about 2-3 weeks.
Make sure you include WESTERN samoa.
It is good to write “God is watching” or “God bless this package” on the box.
Packages can take up to 2 or 3 months to arrive, and air mail doesn’t really mean faster.
A smaller box works better. Up to a 12x12x16 seems to do well getting to Samoa.
I’m going to try and set up Skype on a computer in Samoa; I found out that my Verizon Motorola Razr is NOT SIM card ready;(…

info #6

“Being perceived as well off” is something I may not be used to, will have to adjust.
I have to learn about a “lifestyle that reduces risk”…something I don’t think about much right now.

There are influences of new Zealand and Australia in Samoa and these administrative systems will affect things. I may be using Australian and/or new Zealand oriented curricula. I wonder if that is any different than curriculum in the US. Some people may not be interested in what I’m trying to do (I’ve already experienced this!). however, what may appear to be apathy on the part of some co-workers may actually be embarrassment from not fully understanding the concepts or rationale in a certain task.

You may be wondering why I’m doing this crazy thing, giving up so much to go to a strange place. There are a few reasons. Is it worth it to sacrifice so much? I think it is. I want to learn Samoan. I want to learn about another culture, to be part of the culture as much as I can. I want to make friends with some people that are different than I am…we are all human beings at the core level.

Samoa is a country that benefits from family sending money to them from abroad. People may buy things they would not ordinarily be able to afford—like computers, flat screen tvs, iPods, iPhones, and other fancy gadgets.

Peace Corps has been around a while, and from what I can gather, they have a pretty good training system set up. It has a commitment to “institutionalize quality training”. I like that.

info #5

Safety
Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good health and safety of every volunteer. PC Medical programs emphasize the preventative, rather than the curative, approach to disease. The main health issues in Samoa for volunteers include diarrhea, skin infections, and upper respiratory system problems. Lovely. But as a volunteer, I must accept a certain amount of “responsibility for my own health”. I hope that people who know me would say I try to stay healthy as much as possible. Most important of these responsibilities in Samoa include taking preventative measures for skin fungus, heat rash, cumulative exhaustion, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal illnesses. Many diseases that affect volunteers are preventable if proper food and water precautions are taken. PC medial officer provides volunteers with a medical kit that contains basic items that might be needed during service. I hope I don’t get sick or hurt before I go to Peace Corps, it might affect my “eligibility to serve”.

Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a partnership with you. Know the vocabulary to get help in an emergency. Carry a dummy wallet. Interesting tips. Make sure appearance is respectful of local customs.

When “anticipating peace corps volunteer service” review all safety and security information..
You will come to Samoa with all the safety knowledge you have gathered over the years and with all the “common sense with which you are blessed”.
Befriend as many people and families as possible. The more friends you have, the less likely someone will be to mess with you. Personal safety means seeing yourself as Samoans will see you. Adopt a “safety conscious life style”.

To ease the transition into Samoa you may need to make some temporary compromises in “how you “present yourself as an American” and an individual.
Be proud in “demonstrating the richness of American culture”.
Making jokes is a good way to keep things light and avoid uncomfortable conversations. Fa’a Samoa uses a lot of humor. “my usually response is a smile or a wave that puts the villagers at ease. Keeping an open mind, positive attitude, and a great sense of humor all contribute to success.

Anyone entering into the “Samoan monoculture” is seen as a visitor and treated with respect.

info #4

It will be important that I have a positive attitude, genuine interest in learning, be flexible, and self-motivated, have a willingness to try hard, and being true to myself. I’ll give it my best shot.
The Fa’a Samoa—Samoan way of life—may be different than anything I’ve been used to…that’s one reason I want to do Peace Corps.
In Samoa people eat taro, breadfruit, yams, potatoes, rice, canned corned beef, fish, oka, Samoan chicken soup, palusami; there is limited fresh meat. Also in abundance is papaya, bananas, coconuts, mangoes, avocados, pineapples, star fruit, and rambutan.
Samoa’s economy is agriculturally based-primarily on the cultivation and exportation of crops such as cocoa, copra, and bananas. And in the last few years, fishing has become a big industry. But more recently, the tourism “industry” has been springing and spurting up in every direction.

Peace Corps volunteers can be the center of attention. “Constantly being the center of attention” can be difficult. “being a novelty in the community” comes with much gossip, but I’ve been told that the novelty wears off as we get into community life. But “coping with unwanted attention” at the beginning may take some getting used to.
But it can be easy to lose sight of why a volunteer came to serve.
I’ll be learning about the “intricacies of the matai system”, appreciate the symbolism of tattoos, become part of the aiga (family system), and build long term friendships that hopefully won’t end when my time in Samoa is done. I can also get in on the cricket, rugby, volleyball, or learning the songs and dances.
I’ll learn where Samoan people are coming from more deeply than just two weeks would afford me.
Another volunteer says “treat people with respect, and they will appreciate and reciprocate.”
In Samoa, there is an expression, “O le ala I le pule ole tautua,” which means, “the path to a leadership position is through service.”

info #3

Samoa has a culture based on respect, and family life revolves around respect, love, and reciprocity. Traditional male and female roles are displayed.
We will be expected to show respect to all elders, Peace Corps related or otherwise.
“Learning samoan” will be essential. I have not started working on it yet.
PC volunteers have a high standing in the community, so we will be expected to “understand cultural protocols” at work at social activities.
Each school and village will have its own rules of conduct.

“A lot is said by the way you dress.”
The dress for both men and women are lava lavas—long, wraparound skirts, also called sarongs. Men wear a button shirt, and women wear a blouse. Samoa will be hot and probably humid, so lightweight, quickly drying clothing is important.One thing I was surprised to read is that I should not have anyone of the opposite sex stay overnight at my place. If they want to visit me, it’s best if the neighbors make the arrangements. I have a feeling that neighbors will be very important. Remember, everyone knows everyone else’s business. Fun.

info #2

History
peace corps came to samoa in 1967.
The PC program has been used to “raise the level of competency” of science and business teachers in Samoa—to “build the capacity of educators”.
“building the capacity of educators”
Volunteers are committed to building understanding and capacity.

Peace Corps encourages volunteers to engage in a secondary project related to one of the global initiatives—including HIV/AIDS education and prevention, municipal development, environmental diversity, and girls’ education. Much of what I do around this will be determined after I’ve been there a while to see the needs and opportunities and on my own talents, skills, interests, and initiative. So maybe I could start a youth Frisbee league, or soccer club, or maybe a percussion corps.

“resources may be limited”
I’ll work closely with the “information and collection exchange” (ICE) unit in Washington DC, which I think I’ve been on before, looking at curriculum for activities.
There are six ICT peace corps volunteers I’ll be working with. Three will be stationed on the island of Savai’i in the school, and three will be in a more rural setting on the island of Upolu.
Working hours in the schools are 8:30am-2:30pm M-F, and some holiday and weekend work.
From what I’ve read, I think it will be very important to be involved in activities to help me integrate into life in Samoa—such as visiting families, volunteering at local store, singing in the church choir, bingo, tutoring, playing sports with kids, working on the plantations, fishing with community members, etc. these are “valuable activities for building relationships” and trust and “identifying community assets”—“useful for community integration”
I sense I will be “working in an unstructured setting” a lot of time.

info #1

One of my main goals is to “transfer skills through Capacity building”
I will be serving as an “Information and communications technology (ICT) volunteer”
I will serve as a catalyst for “computer literacy acquisition”
I’m part of the 79th group of PC volunteers in Samoa.
I will be challenged by “living in a developing country”
I’m excited to finally “hold this possibility in front of me”! but consider how my “enthusiasm about peace corps” service might waver through the process.