knowing the lingo talk talk talk about leaving

in the pics: hurting your foot in samoa is a very bad thing; high school group from seattle, in full samoan attire, back at seattle(?) airport; kids in samoa love the camera..adults...not so much.

11/9
Things got set a lot more over the weekend. Well, I mean my leaving samoa. I leave on December 5, 2009. that’s coming soon. No need to keep it a secret. I already told my samoan family. Now everyone in five villages know when I’m out. First to Australia, and then back to the homeland—my mom is expecting me for Christmas, and it will be good to be home.

I have almost a month to
1. finish completing resources for computer teachers next year.
2. tear down and pack myroom
3. mail package home
4. create some kind of presentation using the pictures I’ve taken over the past two years.
5. go to all the farewells, as is samoan custom.

Exalt the Lord…praise, raise up. Sing your loudly out.

Today was a good day. Almost finished with my final exams—only two more weeks I think. The boys worked on re-outlining. The world map on our school wall. I went for a bike ride to the top of the mountain. I usually gauge my days by how much my back hurts, and how itchy I am. And if I have any fruit and/or veggies. Now I’m rolling in apples and oranges, bananas and cucumbers. Only thing missing was a sunset swim—I came back to my school too late. Now I’m going to see if I can bang out the PC Description of Service…well, a first draft at least.

Word study: dignity..worthy..worth..merit/(excellence)..(laudible)/character..distinguishing feature..piece of character/ reputation
White people who are trying to “help” other people seem to talk about dignity a lot.



11/5
Car commercial…Great Wall Wingle…oh no! the first “high power/flashy” car commercial I’ve seen in samoa. (Is this progress?) you know. The one with the car zooming through “wild country” desert, swerving around another car to show off the traction. Skidding to a stop around the other cars—complete with the large dust swirls. Everything that makes you (well, a man) want that car.

Movie: Catch me if you Can
Tips for being a good con-person:
1. smooth-talking (eloquent, persuasive)
2. knowing the lingo
3. power of the clothing
4. showing confidence
5. knowing when to look lost
6. well placed flirting/compliments
7. quick thinking in tight situations
8. learning from the best

Repetition is key in samoa—right now the TV is trying to drill the importance of movement/dancing into viewer’s heads. I have seen the commercial 8 times in the last 30 minutes. Or so it seems that way. Dance to make your body strong.

Suasusu—white milky liquid put into the eyes when they are red and watering…breast milk???

Toughest two minutes in sports: fireman’s 2 minutes. I want to try that someday.



11/2
Book: Survival Kit for living overseas
Three most important factors for your success overseas: sense of humor, low goal/task orientation (also the ability to put your type A personality to sleep for a while), Ability to fail (you will fail, not all failure is bad, as long as you learn from it).

Never a dull moment…water leaks through roof and drops on computer. Right before final exams. The bottom of the computer was soaking wet. …water dripping off of it. Very lucky it still works. Ok for now. My practical exams start this afternoon.

Final exams start this week. I try to work on stuff to prepare the Malaga (travel..back home). Oh I got a call from my friends who I will visit in Australia hopefully I know when their daughter is leaving. I will go with her. Now I just have to buy my ticket. I’m waiting for mealofa fares (Christmas specials). I don’t know if that’s going to happen.
I’m subbing for someone’s suega (test). Talk talk talk ..to much talking in the classroom.