more pictures..new haircut

more pics..

image fades to a rippled red cheesy

in the pics: my year 9 students had a project to draw a picture and write the definition for a piece of computer hardware..I will put the best pics up on the wall..soon.

Some images don’t fade so easily. The little red headed bird with his head in a white flower, the family of pigs saddling across the road in front of our car, the sunset that lights up the whole sky and water.


4/25
Coming to apia/….i’m going to the city, with all the city sensations—sights, tastes, smells…last night was pizza (yummy cheesy bbq and Milano), and then fast faster fastest cars of Fast and Furious ummmm number 4. I guess that’s the end because our hero slows WAY down…but I won’t give away the ending if you haven’t seen it yet.

Today is brought to you by the Ball ‘O matic in Niles, MI, which the lady and the shop gave me when I bought some cucumbers and tomatoes. The coin does look like a Samoan one tala coin. Also brought to you today by the all American converse patch, which I found on the road. It looks like someone cut it out of a shoe.


4/16
I still don’t want to hit my students, but I did hear of a few ways other PCVs are exerting ultimate control. I tried the “wall-sit” exercise with one of my cheeky students. She laughed at first, but I had her do the wall sit for about three minutes. It was interesting to watch her eyes, a kind of shock-surprise-this really hurts that I wasn’t going to hit her for goofing off, but still disicipline her. She has been quieter since then. I guess that is rather effective. I will also find two medium sized rocks and have the cheeky boys hold them at arms length for…we’ll see how long they can stand it. I’ve also had other students write letters to me explaining such things as not listening, forgetting homework. I think most students just laugh at the hitting and have an excuse to tafau (hang out) during detention. Hitting also does not encourage motivation to learn, or even be “present.”


Red rippled Sunset

A small snack.
A small sleep.
I awake and see the sun descending behind trees.
It’s time for a swim.
I step through the tall grass.
The boys only cut short the “rugby grass”

The water is low today.
Rocks at the reef expose their jagged edges.
I step into warm water made cold only
At the surface from a nearby stream
Sun is lowering
Water is a shimery yell-orange
Red patch in the sky expands
Shimmering reflection bleeds red
A single rock creates perfect
Ripples of red expanding back to me.
Time is brief, red quickly fades to
A dull gray, a fish jumps.
Crickets begin their nightly song.
It’s dinner time. Return tomorrow for another
Episode of the red rippled sunset.

--Matt crichton
4/16/09

residual effects of blue/green sea enjoys a full tummy

in the pics: my friend Kat making bread, and pizza. it was yummy.

4/15
Ahhh…full tummy (beef soup with rice—soupo povi ma alaisa), and tara. A cool shower after riding my bike to the top of the mountain. I went to help with reading class for primary school kids, but only 10 showed up. We usually have about 35 or 40. so it was cancelled. I said i can’t usually count on samoans to do anything for me, and jane said “where did the pessimism come from?” no pessimism, just what I’ve experienced and observed.


4/14
A good day: sports day at Peace chapel: touch rugby, soccer, netball, apply bobbing, a hike up a mountain in apia, and then a yummy spaghetti/cheese/avocado/cucumber dinner with wine and friends.


4/11
I went to the beach on my side of the island today with my friends Kat and Richard. As the car came out of the jungle and I saw the beach fales and blue/green sea stretching as far as I could see, I wondered if it really was real. I’ve been in samoa for 17 months, and it still doesn’t feel real.being in a place like this. I tried to let the water bump me up and down and absorb it’s essence. I’m not here that much longer.


4/10
Negative residual effects..aahhhhh the “I didn’t use my credit card for a while so Bank America issued me a new one” episode is still not solved. And BofA also cancelled my checking account. So I get to try and open a new one from Samoa—with my mom’s help. I appreciate her helping. Before I left, I gave her power of attorney, but she can’t open my accounts without my calling and signing papers. Big deal, power of attorney. Means give them more money, huh…? I think I want to get my skype account going.

Today is Good Friday. It’s good because it’s raining, which makes it cooler. It’s not so good because I’m still fighting this head/nose/throat cold that I got last weekend after having wet shorts on for too long.

rainy, blustery day makes heros observations difficult

in the pics: the making of cocoa samoa. step 1: take the beans out of the yellow/orange/red shells (suck the beans first if you like sourness); step 2: put the beans on the fire, stirring frequently; step 3: as they cook the outer shells will be taken off. step 4: crush the beans into a paste; step5: (sorry, no picture) mix your cocoa samoa with hot water, and sugar if you want pur in cup, and let your dark chocolate taste buds endulge.

4/6
Seattle high school students came to Faleaseela (a village close to me). only two weeks, but I think they got a pretty good sense of what Samoa is like. Probably a lot of sensory overload. Although I felt a little bad that they had such a lax schedule for the first few days, since the pastor was away in NZ and Australia. But a relaxed schedule is also good when you are in a new country—many new sights, sounds, and smells. Which reminds me—I was very impressed by their observations about the village and people—on the first day in Samoa. A student said the colors were very bright and alive. Maybe I’ve lived here so long I’m getting used to the bright color—or have forgotten the grayness of Seattle—but I though –yeah, bright. I don’t think about that much—except when I see bushes with the (bright) white and red flowers. I’m glad they could come. I hope the relationship between the village of seattle and faleaseela continues for a long time.

My favorite (well, my only TV show) right now is Heros. I am watching season three right now on the computer, not the TV. We don’t have a TV at my school, so I don’t watch much tv, or see many movies (at all), or look on the internet (the fast fast hippity hop hop of dial up). Heros always has interesting narration..one was about hope and urgency. There is not usually not much urgency in Samoa, but when there is urgency (usually at the last minute), all hell can break loose. That’s just the way the culture is here, which is one thing that has made it hard for me, who likes to see a bit into the future about what will be happening and be prepared.


4/1
A blustery, rainy day here in Samoa, well at least my neck of these coconut trees. Stark contrast to the last 20 weeks of bright hot sunshine with the lightest trace of breeze. Today is what I’m used to when being close to the ocean. The strong wind, droplets of water shooting through the air. The only thing I miss the strong scent of the ocean—maybe I’ve been near the ocean so long I don’t notice it anymore. Ding ding—the bell signals the end of first period. Year 9.3 (the weakest year 9 students) are computer-bound in period 2.

Samoan Observer, 24th March, 2009…Overseas remittances through Samoa Commercial Bank…Jan-March 2008 = $110,874. Same period 2009 = $849,294. The “global economy downturn” doesn’t seem to be affecting families sending money to Samoa…New Windows (no not the windows in the frames on your walls, the “other” windows) Server 2008 R2 “with petrol prices rising and a slow economy, investment in remote access to various systems is the way of the future.” So true….outlets for being with other human beings [is very important]..boys need to do activities to feel a sense of belonging. “rather than saying ‘we should all stop watching TV, let’s teach young people to analyze and evaluate what they see and realize that everything they see is not reality.’” Do samoans really think all things on TV are true? TV can be very convincing you know…

Seattle students come to samoa with crazy old pics

in the pics: giant bags of skittles, fancy chocolate covered blueberries and cherries comes my way via seattle group; the board in my room, with pics and drawings and other stuff; brooms and bananas in Apia.

3/29
My friend Norman asks me if anybody dies in America during the day—if anyone is shot…hhmmmm I didn’t really know how to answer this question. He said he was watching the news. The daily paper in Samoa is following in the footsteps of American papers—putting sensational events on the front page—is that the only thing that sells.
Here is the web address for the Samoan Observer:
http://www.thesamoanobserver.com/

I’m at norman’s house to help him write a paper about nature vs. nurture. I help him with computer assignments and get music from him.a.nd play the drums that are in his father’s church..and hang out/

I finished an interesting book…called Wake Up Call…about 9/11…a mother and widow gets tough on Washington and the people who pull the strings.
“always give people the room to do the right thing. Always leave the door open.”
The widows and I live our lives so as to not have any regrets at the end of the day.
“mom, sammy is in the moon. He died like daddy died. It’s just the way life goes.”
Just expect to have more sadness than happiness and then you cant’ get angry and disappointed.
Lose what is priceless and everything else is cheap.


3/25
Students from Seattle are in a neighboring village. I was on a bus headed to the airport—at 4:00am this morning. A boom boom bumping bus to exact—the bass was boming and the shocks make me be bumpity bump. Ten high school students (who have been here less than 24 hours). We had a meeting today. One question: what is one observation about samoa? I was impressed by the insights: importance of family and being close physically; but also seeming OK with children overseas; samoans OK with “boredom”—not doing anything, where Americans may not be as comfortable with this; bright and brash colors and smells; samoans being OK with playful touch (but not OK with hugging, kissing).

It’s fun when I can close my eyes and feel itchiness ripple across my back. Part of my skin is moisturized with lotion, another patch is kept dry with powder, another has fungus killer on it. I feel like a Petri test dish growing different things.

I didn’t tell the samoan people I was married—now they want to marry me off to a woman who is a teacher and has a brother married to a seattle woman (ex-peace corps volunteer)—that would be convenient, wouldn’t it? Marry for love, or for moving up? Why does that phrase so turn me off? Can’t two bright stars meet in the middle of the light field? I want to be with someone I can relate toooooo opposite and it doesn’t work.

One seattle student talked about the racism against the samoan and Maori people in NZ—I can think of a few reasons: not knowing about someone leads to fear…hate…untrustfulness. Many samoans are moving into NZ territory—and especially if they excel at something it would make the palagis uneasy. Also if Samoans do not “hold up their end of the deal” it might make people “not happy.” The NZanders may be the minority in certain places in NZ—that would be kind of scary.

It is crazy seeing old pics—especially peace corps volunteers doing the gang symbols young people like to flash for the camera. What crazy, zany, not to be missed experiences I have had. Experiences I don’t really know how to process at the time, but I feel there is a lifetime to “process and unpack” all that I have seen and done.

bit by bit info for the faamati

in the pics: 10 students and 2 teachers came from a high school in seattle to visit samoa. they also came to my school. it was a fun experience, and the second year University Prep has come to samoa; also..the rain..which can be pretty hard and LOUD when it wants to be...no drizzle here.

3/24
In samoa, people gain information bit by bit it seems, usually more bits as they get older. Many times information is gained through talking with people. Like a slowly expanding world limited only by the people who one talks to. Kind of like an RPG (role playing game).

In america (or any country with easy/fast access to the internet) people, even young people—have instant access to a HUGE amount of information about almost any topic. Information is gained by reading and email with other people. Just not as much face to face.


3/22
It breaks my heart to hear of violence, pain, attempted suicide because of what the eyes have seen, what the body has experienced. But in a way, it’s a weird coincidence I’m here in this place right now.

3/21
So how do I feel about being in samoa? It’s good, but some days it just goes. My fasts are not as quick and my stillness is not at deep in this culture. That may be sad, but that’s what I feel. Swimming and biking are still good. My back is rarely totally relseased—doing butterfly stroke with fins in the ocean is one exception…so awesome, especially when I get a close close up of the coral right before I surface again.

Saturday morning on the “new” bus (an old pasi o vaa), but it works, and it has the booming bass samoans dig. I’m going to play tennis with my friend Kat.

Afea taunuu tamaiti Seattle?
When do the seattle students arrive?

March is Fa’amati month. As much as I’ve been able to figure out is villages with methodist and EFKS prepare the house for the pastors. I’m not sure exactly what the list is, but my sense is it’s a lot. Faifeaus get a lot, are highly respected.

In samoa, a lot of determined if you’re married or not—much more important than I thought it was. You are considered “laititi” (young) until you are married, then you are matua. I guess even if you’re 18 and married you are still matua. It’s not age, but marriage status that determines so much.

Tattoo of my aerobics, with a side of mutton flaps

in the pics: cricket is in full "swing" at our school. the boys have played 3 games, and won three games. I guess kids on our team are good. I know two have played internationally. it's exciting. i have not watched them play in a game.

3/20
My village has started an exercise/aerobics program…Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the late afternoon. Every time I ride by on my bike they “grab” me to teach them some moves…well, not that I have any good moves. There are kids, and senior citizens, but very few young adults and middle-aged people. We need to get some new music for the dancing. I have some music that might be just the thing. And yea for friends in America who send me web sites with good aerobics information and give me dance CDs.



3/11
I write my emails in Microsoft Word, and by the time I get to the internet, I have no emotion of the email, just a copy-and-paste-send thing…very time delayed.

I feel different—I'm not caught up writing my thoughts down on paper. For me—that’s important. Tonight—I bought 6lbs of mamoe (mutton flaps) home today. Everyone is happier when there is enough food. I shared some cocoa samoa with one of the teachers, a time to sit back and do nothing…and then my type A personality kicked in again and I went for a swim around the giant clam’s protected area (fa’asua).

I’ve started drawing tattoo designs (in the back of this diary). I guess I want some inspiration—re: what kind of tattoo for me. I want to be part of the “tag and release” club of Samoa.

the smiling thought monster runs after me, has no food

in the pics: my friend Kat at a dance; one of my students Ruta and the same dance; The vice principal's family.

3/11
I write my emails in Microsoft Word—and by the time I get to the internet, I hahve lost the emotion of the email, it’s just copy—paste—and send.

I feel different—not caught up writing my thoughts down on paper. For me—that’s important. Tonight—I brought 6lbs of mamoe (sheep—mutton flaps) for my samoan family. Everyone is happier when there is enough food. I shared some cocoa Samoa with one of the teachers, a time to sit back and do nothing…and then my type A kicked in again and I went for a swim around the protected clan area. (faasua)


3/9
I have a headache. I didn’t ride my bike up the mountain or swim in the ocean—that’s probably why. My stomach has been bothering me last week and this week. I feel like it’s because I’ m not drinking much milk. High school students from seattle are coming. Fun fun fun. It is very hard to pin down information in Samoa. I (feel like i_) can’t ask direct questions because it would be offending.



3/7
When I first came to sAmoa, I noticed many people in photographs didn’t smile. I wondered why. After living here a year and seeing how they live I understand why (maybe). Life in samoa is hard; it is hot all the time. The pictures and postcards tourists see of white sandy beaches anda sunsets is not the ‘real’ Samoa—maybe a very small piece of it.

Another couch surfing episode. This time having nothing to do with couches or surfing. A guy from the Ukraine sends me a message through CS website…wanting to exchange postcards. Ok. I just got his postcard, and mailed him one today.

Samoans [[[really]]] like to sing on the radio. Every time I turn on the radio, I hear someone singing. It’s nothing for them to spend 10 minutes singing into the radio…well, I mean singing.

Computer teachers meeting at the Teuila Hotel…white male peace corps teachers,..and Samoan female teachers. Hmmmmm.

Two big changes at school this year: no food prepared by families for the teachers to eat at the interval (recess). And no smoking in the staff room. Now I eat less and also inhale less smoke. I see a less less trend here.

put lotion on your flu, son

in the pics: three pics of me me me..i'm still alive and kicking, and having a pretty good time too.

3/5
I never thought I’d put lotion on my hands in Samoa (because it’s soooooo humid) but here I am—after my shower—lotion on hands and feet.

“oh but you’re on a budget” my friend kat says. Well, if there’s one thing the samoans have instilled in me, it’s the recognition that it’s sometimes nice to not worry about the budget.


2/28
Oh…I don’t like having “fancy” journals because then I feel I have to write fancy thoughts and fancy words in them. I have no fancy words, just what’s happening. Here’s what’s happening: more swimming in the ocean, my village has started an exercise program mon, wed, and Friday in the afternoon for about 45 minutes. I’ve been the teacher twice. It’s been a while since I’ve done any kind of aerobics. It’s good to see people especially the older people shaking what they got.

Last night we had a dance, or a fundraiser for the new church my village is starting. I think we raised about a $1000 tala. I got to shake my booty so that was fun.

Now it’s saturday morning, I think I’m finally getting over my flu, my friend kat is visiting my samoan family, and it’s going to be a bright, hot, sunny day.


2/23
Today is monday—I have 3 classes with students and one class with teachers. Things never cease to amaze me—usually no teachers come for computer class if the principal is not there—but today there were 7 teachers!

New Journal cooks pig with a side of Pringles

in the pics...my samoan mom at a siva, she danced with me once and was crying; Poka, one of my family members is a "fafafine" meaning 'wants to be a girl'; the son of my samoan father and his family Sia, Mona and kids Le and Ina.

2/22
The first page, of the new journal. Not just any journal, a Moleskin journal. A long historyr I read follows this little black book; a book used “to capture reality on the move…a reservoir of ideas and feelings.” I’ll try not to disappoint.

This journal is one of the things that was in a package my mom sent me,
Among other things: a valentines day card, a book about finnish heritage and customs, a Danielle Steele book for my principal, a bag of wooden blocks, which I think is supposed to be a mind-teaser or brain-buster, articles from the Daily AStorian, and the alumni magazine from University of Portland (which has good stories). This was on a trip to Apia, which justs to give you an idea of what I do in the main (well, really the only “city”). I woke up at 5:30am to catch the 6am bus, but a taxi stopped and offered me a ride to Apia for only $10—usually costing $40 or $50, but I think he was on his way to Apia any way. (even in Samoa a cat scratch will puff my skin). I arrived in Apia (about 7;30am) at the veggie/fruit market and bought some bananas and tomatoes. Then I had breakfast of keke pua’a—a fried round doughy thing filled with ramen noodles and pieces of cooked pig (pua’a). I walked along the sea wall, enjoying the waves crashing against the rocks. I walked to my favorite minimart—the one that has the yummiest cinnamon rolls, but it was still too early and they are not the 24 hour type of market. So I walked to the peace corps office. We had just gotten new computer (an “office refresh” they call it), and the internet just happened to be on. So, I got to use the internet to: email the group of seattle students coming to visit samoa, check the status of a tax stimulus package, download an MP3 audio music mixer program, find reports on the significance of inclusive education (for my friend who I help with computers and English), upload my 25 random thing to facebook (finally),k and go through the rest of my email.

Then I picked up the latest edition of our PC volunteer newsletter, got a bike part that I needed, looked for a book from our resource room. Oh and I almost forgot to print out computer studies prescription and yearly plans for my school (flash drives are so handy and durable). Then I headed back into the main part of the city to buy oranges and a newspaper for Tuala, my samoan father—a chore (fe’au) as it is called in samoan. Through town to a hotel where I played tennis with some Japanese volunteers. Then I ate lunch with them, bought mayonnaise, Pringles at Frankies Hypermarket (not sure why it’s hyper). I hopped on the bus, then asked the bus to stop so I could buy a cake for our church on Sunday. I came home and took a nap.