matching bags for preschool

in the pics: road switch: my samoan family, and making waves in the Wall Street Journal (thanks to my grandpa); Two kids from my samoan family; samoan money is very colourful...sorry no $100.

10/1
Tafagamanu (well all villages) need a preschool. I’m sitting in my Samoan family’s house watching the little kids (toddlers?) running around. There would be five kids (just in our house!) old enough for preschool. Oh there are many development opportunities—if I was staying here longer. It seems many times the thing you want to develop is not on the list of the people you are trying to work with.

Samoa may be a good (easy, relaxed, laidback, chill, simple way of life) place to live, but not until I have lost this urgency I have. Doing things….faster. that may not be the best way to put it. Life flows differently in America and other western countries. I want to work with people in my home. Well, in samoa there is this “last minute” syndrome. Many times people have come to me wanting help, but the thing is due or needs to be done that day or the next day. so maybe there is some urgency in Samoa.

Having to change bags (and backpacks) and have less pockets—I no like. Ahhh the English is getting away from me. I really dislike not having lots and lots of pockets to put things in. My old shoulder bag = 4 pockets. New bag = 3. I am grateful to my friend for making a new bag for me. today is just a day to gripe…it’s more about the backpack status…old backpack = 9 pockets. Other backpack = 2 pockets. The zippers on my old faithful are finally giving out. I hope I can get the bag reconditioned when I go home. That’s something that’s not going to happen in Samoa. What can I say? I like to be organized.

The PC experience will find that thing you are timid about or don’t want to deal with, and make you practice it—if you allow it. Wow..that makes it sound almost like a crucible. It’s not that bad. For me, it’s my personality of being quiet most of the time. To be here in samoa and be quiet all the time, will get you no where. I have found I talk louder now. Maybe that’s exclusive to teaching. I don’t know. The other thing is my not liking people asking me for money. Well I get to practice that at least 5 or 6 times a day. my family asking me for money, little kids asking me for money, teachers asking me for money. Well, not really asking—“mai sta tupe” means give me money. PC trained us not to give money, but bring gifts. So that box of chicken I bought for my family is just one example. There are other examples on my blog. But it never seems to be enough, or it’s the wrong thing. I guess it’s hard to be satisfied in Samoa.

Maybe someday the text and pictures on this blog will match. I’ve noticed that I post the text for one thing, and I don’t post pics until three weeks later.