pics with firedancing...or dancing and fire?

in the pics: I went to a siva (samoan dance) ..well to watch the dancers. complete with some of that exciting fire dancing. no hip hop here. there was a cool drum and dance piece...sorry nothing "electronic" here, other than the use of the CD player.

pics with kids

in the pics: some of the kids in my life right now...all good smiles especially for the camera.

pictures only this time..

in the pics: the tattoo; some more sports at our school..where i watched for the whole day;( i'd rather do something

samoan language in firefox's fireplace

pics: cricket action and on the bus

9/15
Hey…real time posts…I’m typing this in the internet café..usually I’m typing this at my school..and it’s days days days until I post it on the internet.

Yo! An old peace corps volunteer created a web page with recordings of people speaking Samoan. This is the real dookie, the real stuff, the real deal, authentic samoan language. Go and check it out. Listen listen listen, because I’ll be back soon and need to practice my samoan. Thank you to danger danger hotrod.

http://www.waste.org/~danger/samoa_language.html (aaron’s samoan language)


internet explorer...to fire fox..the internet cafe i use now doesn't have IE...so we'll try the fire fox thing...seems to load fast, but my blog is giving me errors with this code:

speeches, tattoos, close the service...mint chip icecream?

in the pics: hot cricket action, come and see it..i didn't do much with the cricket team. the students laughed at me when i tried to bat..oh well...not my thing i guess; one of my students, tasi, also notorious cricket buff; our cricket bus; one of the teachers, faatonu and me at a cricket match...fun fun fun.

9/04

It’s Friday. But a special Friday—the last day of term 2. that brings me that much closer to going home. The banana flavored ice cream here is not the same of Mint Chocolate Chip…after a sauna;) things I’m thinking about:

0. Project for next term: a school yearbook. Our school only has about 100 students, so the whole book will be 10 pages double-sided (I hope). I think it would be a good “stretch” project for my students. And we do OK on that, and have enough time (between tests and end of year stuff) there is the project to create a presentation using all those pics I’ve been taking over the past two years of school related stuff. And students (and big kids) really like pics, and music. I emailed some people at home to ask them what 2-3 questions jump to mind about samoa. A few responses: what is the largest crop in samoa? Is the ocean there very warm? What are three top places to take a visitor? Stay tuned for the answers.

1. Going to visit some friends in Australia on the way home. There is a mealofa fare (special rate) for people flying in December. I’d better buy a ticket soon, if they are aren’t all sold out already.

2. Grad school grad school grad school. I looked at graduate school before doing peace corps. I even took the GMAT for business school. Now I have the “go to a very far away place” thing out of my system (at least for now), and grad school seems to be what happens after undergrad. I printed the list of schools that have a PC Fellows program, but lots of questions such as: “are the only grad school options public policy or teaching?” “what degree would help me most working at a nonprofit (since that seems to be where my past experiences land)?” “are there professors doing the work I’m interested in?” “how can I narrow my interests down enough to choose one program?” (on that note there are a few programs on the list that offer joint/dual degree programs.) “how can I do GS in the northwest?” “is it really that important to do grad school in the NW?” that’s where I want to settle, anyway. That’s my home. Or so I think right now. “how can GS really be connected with my work?”

After a semi-quick perusal of the list, I circled schools in NY, NC, MI, OR, VT. I would like to GS in either Oregon or Washington (University of Washington, are you listening). I didn’t see UW on the list. Booooooooo.

3. Peace Corps close of service (COS)…happening mid September. That marks the three months group79 has left in Samoa, although at least one of us will be staying “a bit” longer. COS happens at coconuts beach resort—that’s over in my neck of the woods…well, sort of. Keywords: leaving, review, future, readjusting (ah…that lovely word I heard so much about before I began this adventure), the end (what has a beginning always has an end, doesn’t it?)

4. On that note of future things: my resume. Old objective: “to obtain an exciting peace corps position.” Well, I would say that objective has been achieved. What’s next? Right now, I couldn’t tell you…work or school; work and school. Probably the latter. I did some word mining in my resume and came up with: technology, implement, train, team, publish, grant, design, leadership…so we’ll see where that leads me.

5. important words to me: God, education, technology, youth, movement, service, inspiration. What about business and community?

6. Adding to the tattoo…we’ll I don’t know. I’m working on my own designs. I like something with waves, since I see waves everyday—I live at the ocean. I’m not complaining or anything.

7. Farewell speeches…lauga fa’amavae. Goodbyes seem to be important in samoa. And a goodbye forever might be really important. In our PC training we were given some pages on how to create an appropriate speech. Let me pull those dusty pages out now;)

9/3

The $50s and $100s rolled aplenty today. The day of settling accounts, paying IOUs and late bonuses. I think the goal is to walk out with more money (even if you have loans) than you came with.

Playing the heart is sturdier in Samoa

in the pics: a nice picture of palms swaying in the breeze; a cold coconut, so nice on a hot, sweaty day; a BIG two story house, not the norm in samoa; another house with...is that tattoo designs on it?...why yes it is! the photographer's shadow, cannot escape..


8/29
I met another PCV at the market. She was walking fast and talking on her phone. We talked for a short time. Then she said “gotta run.” That phrase stuck in my mind for a while. I have never heard anyone samoan say that—even the palagis (white people) who live here. There is no rush rush—at least out here in the village where I live. I sense a bit of rush rush when a car from the city comes to make a delivery at our school. Apia is wanting to be a big “city.” Things move faster, people, cars. There are new sites and smells.

Things in samoa are “sturdier.”

What is hard: planning—not knowing what’s going on until the day or two before. Me—type A personality. Samoans—very type BB personality.


8/28
Today I got pricked and poked. Oh a tattoo I mean. On my virgin skin. My first tattoo. I like it. The students seem to like it. What will my mom think? It’s a small taulima—a band around my right arm. I’ve spent two years in this place and I want something to remember this experience—something that no one can steal, or borrow and it’s very hard to make it go away. I don’t need anything fancy, but a ring (a circle) is an important symbol for me.

Departing words of Tupua Tamasese Lealofi: “My blood has been spilt for Samoa. I am proud to give it. Do not dream of avenging it, as it was spilt in maintaining peace. If I die, peace must be maintained at any price.”
Those are pretty powerful words. Samoa is still a peaceful place. Cool. Peace is very important to Samoans.

I asked my students to name the shapes of playing cards…they did good and the heart seems to be called “love.” And it’s Microsoft Ware we’re using on our computers. China uses a computer, and we don’t slap our feet on the floor. Such are the answers I see on the exams. Spices things up a little bit I think.

I guess I will always have a “boss”—so it’s good to know that I like a boss who gives me a lot of freedom—of which my current boss doesn’t. but I think that is more the culture here in samoa—keep your people very close. I like to roam around, not stay in one location.

reports with more than just the dry after taste in your mouth

in the pics: more food, special spaghetti sauce and lots! of cucumbers; where will you go in samoa, road signs abound, well, not really; two shots of a "fancy house" in samoa. i was impressed. A banyan tree. I"m reading a book called "Leaves of the banyan tree" ..very interesting.

8/18

Report time…doing the PC trimester report…some snippets. Sorry if it’s dry…but might give you a different feel for what I do.

Community integration…I feel I am integrated into my community. When school is in session, I live at the school, and eat dinner with the vice principal's family and play with the children, suipi with the vice principal. I miss the students who used to live at school and help us, but now live at home. I’ve learned that Samoans want to have something of yours in their possession. I feel that might be a samoan thing. But they rarely return my things—I have to go and get them…that is still irritating. My teachers keep asking me if I am getting an extension. I tell them it is past the deadline. They want me to stay, but I feel that two years is a good length of time to do some capacity building and sustainability training. And it’s time the teachers did the computer thing without me. it’s time to go home. I tell them I miss my family—mom and grandparents. Most recently my teachers are texting me dirty jokes…is that a sign that they accept you?

Success stories…I guess my biggest success I could have is to train teachers at my school how to teach the computer topics and maintain the computers. Towards this end, I have created a document detailing what it is I do in the computer room everyday—the teaching and the maintaining of the computers. I’m more worried about the maintaining of the computers because if one computer dies for some reason (and a computer could stop working for MANY different reasons) it could sit unused for a LONG time waiting for MESC to come and repair it. I don’t want that. I’m training two teachers and our typist to maintain the computers. I am still trying to do the classes for teachers, but lately it has been difficult—cricket practice, and the principal not reminding the teachers. My latest idea is to create some activities that teachers can do on their own time, since the computer lab has become a popular after-school hangout for teachers.

I've also been helping to university students with their computers and writing papers in English. That has been a fun side activity.

Planned activities…The biggest activity that I am completing right now is the year12 IA for computer studies. Because of the swine flu,my time table has been squished. We do not have as much time...I don't think the quality of the final products will be as good, but we'll do the best we can.

I also want to continue helping with the reading with primary school students (15 students, once a week, 1.5 hours). I am planning to do a yearbook at my school, with each class completing their own page with all their classmates in one page. I think it would be a good "data integration" activity. Later, if there is time, I want to do a PowerPoint project using pictures I've taken throughout the year, stories from the students, and maybe some music. we'll see...

Challenges…So far, there has not been any co-teaching, or other teachers taking computer studies when I have been away. I want to know if there are anyI feel that to have at least two or three co-teaching sessions would be a key part of the sustainability. Another challenge has been the hitting of students that still happens at school. I see the smarter ones being held back by the “box” that students are put in. I have cheeky/disruptive students do a 3-minute wall sit or push-ups, or write me a letter about why they have been disruptive.

The teacher training has been "hit and miss"...it has not been consistent. I want to know if there are other approaches that are effective when training is not on a consistent time table. What could I entice the teachers with?

Apart from school, when I heard three of the dogs at my samoan family’s house get shot, I really wanted to go home. I tried to explain to my father there is a different way. You don’t need to shoot dogs that annoy you or you have no more use for.

My bike has been broken for a while and it has been very wet (raining) for the last few weeks, so I have not gotten enough physical activity. That has been hard.

I've been attempting to talk with my principal about corporal punishment. Recently I gave her suggestions of what I use in class to keep students attention and and curb disturbances (ie. the cheeky students). She read them and then gave the report back to me. I thought it had good ideas in it. The reason I keep trying is that she keeps telling me the students in her class cannot express themselves adequately. I have told her that I think it is because they are scared of her and the physical abuse she uses with students. I want to know if there are any suggestions for increasing self-expression. I also want to know if there any examples of teachers who have changed their classroom discipline procedures and seen better outcomes (more self expression).

I have been showing two of the teachers at my school how to do basic (and not so basic) computer repair and maintenance. Basically I"m trying to show them everything I do to keep the computers running. One day I was showing a teacher how to replace the computer's battery and he said to me, "I'm not a computer technician." I guess that's true, but someone will need to fix the computers when they break, and so far our school has not had to call the ministry's computer helpdesk because I have fixed all the problems. I think someone that can fix the computers who teaches at the school is a much faster option than waiting for the ministry. I want to know if there is anything I can say to my teachers to encourage them.

Lessons learned…I have had many lessons, some I feel I cannot put into words right now...only will come when I look back at this experience. I'm too deep in the middle of it right now. I have many good ideas, but I've learned my principal just wants me to teach computers. so I can stick to that. It is hard to be proactive when the culture is very reactive. I'm not used to waiting for people to come to me. I want to go out and make it happen, and sometimes I hit the wall of lethargy.

I have my students who are disruptive or have not completed their homework write me a letter describing the problem and why it happened and will not happen again. i think this is an effective tool that gets students to think and express themselves.

to love more in a "value added" world

in the pics: a picture of a yellow samoan flower and flag at my school; food food glorious food: I stayed at a friend's house (a palagi) and made crepes and lamb curry...yummy in my tummy;) i don't get that very often.





8/13
I read the “PC Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009” a very good idea. But as a read recently…ideas are easy, implementation is hard.
“the act of volunteering has inherent value.” Yes yes yes.
“…to promote world peace and friendship by helping…”
“meeting the basic needs…” sometimes I wonder if teaching computers is really a “basic” need…well I guess in the future it will be a ‘basic’ need if computers are going to be everywhere and all the time.
“how the PC can utilitize information technology to improve—program efficiency, effectiveness, and coordination and communication among volunteers.” …sounds like something I would want to do…as a job after pc..just a thought.
“…in which they have maximum value-added for the host country.” Palagi wording …value-added I mean.
2010…$450,000,000
2011…$575,000,000
2012…$700,000,000…that’s a lot of money we’re talking about..but I wonder if the PC budget would ever get close to the military’s budget.


Today at a staff meeting my principal told the staff there are two SROs (I think they are like the principal’s direct supervisor) and a palagi (a white person) from NZ are coming to our school to observe us in action—using new techniques from NZ. I think her exact words were “we’ll give these things from NZ a try.” Should be interesting.


I finished another book: the Gift; by Hafiz…cool poems. Here are a few pieces I like:
What is the root of all these words?
One thing: love.
But a love so deep and sweet
It needed to express itself
With scents, sounds, colors
That never before existed.



The heart is a thousand string instrument.
Our sadness and fear come from being
Out of tune with love.
The heart is
The thousand stringed instrument
That can only be tuned with Love.


The wise man learns what draws God near.
It is the beauty of compassion
In your heart.


God wants to see
More love and playfulness in your eyes
For that is your greatest witness to him.

When all your desires are distilled
You will cast just two votes:
To love more,
And be happy.

Laughing about human values and "my people"

in the pics: some of my students, always more than willing to pose it up for a picture; big machines invade apia--to begin the big task of redoing the water lines; my desk at school in my room...a camera, book, laptop, among many other things; the 7 year old girl--vice P's daughter. I will miss her when I go.

8/12

I found this on my internet travels (I would say wanderings, but I don’t have enough time on the internet right now to “wander.” )

“We are raising money for one of the most important gubernatorial races of our lives. It is completely embarrassing to me that what I believe is the greatest state in the nation, Oregon, has one of the highest unemployment (3rd), hunger (3rd) and homeless rates (1st) in the country. We have to focus on creating jobs and building our economy.”

This is very distressing to me. Samoans are very big on “their people.” So what about “my people”? My people are very far away now. My mom is very far away now.

Saw one of the “new” movies in town—harry porter—or that’s how it was spelled on my ticket stub. If that was a stamp, it would be worth lots of money. It was a good movie, but kind of an abrupt ending…or is that so you will want to see the next installment?

I was reading another PCV’s blog…her village banned the practice of giving large quantities of BOXes of tinned fish (pusa apa). Hmmmm…I wonder how it is affecting things, and I wonder why the village decided to do that? When their pastor goes to another village, does he refuse any pusa apa? My village still has the regular practice of giving anywhere from 10 to 15 boxes of tinned fish (eleni) when a pastor visits. I think that is a huge strain on families who do not have ‘extra” money. There is not very much disposable income in the “regular” samoan family. I say regular because more and more I see late model/new cars driving around—money from overseas I’m betting.

That same volunteer had a good observation that made me laugh … “and you need the ability to laugh when things are not funny.” Very true.

Another volunteer…a comment about having students doing exercise /training in the hot sun with no water/food. Yes yess yes…there was one of our students who passed out doing exercises in the sun. she was not “flopping around limply” she was just limp. Aand weird friendly people…I think I may have that virus. I’ve been told I’m very friendly. Am I weird? Only if you look too close.

Latest essay topic I’m helping my friend Norman with: “discuss the importance of human values and how it contributes to better teacher-student relationships.”

Hmmm..that is an important topic.