star fiafia 13 different ways

in the pics: fia fia fever...two fire dancers strut their stuff; the food.samoans know how to do food and we palagis try to imitate; the group 79 pic. 10 volunteers survived and some even have smiles;)

10/17
I sliced the end of my index finger on my shaver feeling around in my backpack—trying to find the chapstick. I have a feeling that particular cut is going to be very troublesome. I use that finger a lot.

Fiafia last night. samoan style party—(welcome to new PC group 82) with singing, dancing a pretty lady, and LOTS of food. It felt kind of weird to know that would be the last fiafia (at least PC related) I would be a part of. (sorry, no oily body for me. I played the drums for one of the dances. (oh yes, I’m ALWAYS up for drumming)

Did I mention food? Plates and plates and plates of palagi food—and one dish of little bitty pieces of taro. I took one piece. My plate was a very large heap by the time I finished loading it up. It all tasted very good. And that, along with the few beers I drank made me very sleepy. So I went to the hostile, brushed my teeth, lay down, then sliced my finger, then had trouble going to sleep. Darn it.
Hostile—a samoan fale style house the PC rents from a family, so volunteers that live away from the city have a safe place to sleep.

Thoughts on development….a slow slog.
Upena (fishing net)…get more fish easier.
My family recently got a fishing net. Tonight there were three different kinds of fish on the table for dinner…plus one I’ve never seen before..a type of puffer fish??? I wonder if that means the samoan fishing boat (pao pao) will not be used any more…

Doorknobs…on the doors in my samoan family’s house. I don’t usually close the door anyway. I’ve slept with no door or the door open since they remodeled. Now I can lock my door—but I don’t think I will even close it. I’m use to no door knob.

Speed bump…in front of our house. I just laughed because it seems when you are the pastor and the mayor and the high chief, so many resources come to you—food, churches, fine mats, speed bumps…maybe not in that order.

Watching the NZ news—a baby was found in the gutter—today’s breaking news. Is this the future Samoa is hurdling towards? I hope not.
Development sometimes keep others….well I didn’t finish my sentence and I have no idea what I was thinking.


10/10
I watched a movie recently…13 conversations about one thing. A movie about spirals, and how one small gesture can change the momentum of a tsunami. A bit of a whack movie with a _______ and a _________ ending (I’m not going to spoil the ending). We’ll see if you understand after watching. Unless you’ve already watched. Here are a few words of wisdom:
Happiness is only average,
When you don’t get your share.
Wisdom scoffs like everyone else,
When the answer you’re looking for
Is only a mantra.
Make amends for a happy ending.
The answer you’re looking for,
Is in the smile.
Having faith in something is to important
As family is to relationships.


A piece of paper does not do the light justice. A picture of the stained glass at University of Portland (Christ the teacher) chapel kept in my journal for two years. Something to sustain me. Until the day of the real thing…



10/05
Another random thought: if I ever own a café or restaurant I want two things: many different kinds of chairs/couches (some people like it hard, some like it soft). And iced rooibos tea, with a bit of lemon. Yummy. Although I’m sure it tastes better when your hot and sweaty—like most days. So it may not work so well in the middle of winter in Minnesota.

The large clam shell…good for a necklace. Add a few rings.

Book: Leaves of the Banyan Tree
“taking everything within reach and shaping it in your image.” Something about that way of being really bugs me. What is it? That is opposite of how I operate. Or so I think.

“as you lie on the ground and look up to the stars, void of city lights or noise, you will probably come to the realization that you haven’t actually missed much at all, in fact, I’m sure you’re gained more than you ever imagined.”
Although you may not know it at the time.
(Peace corps times newsletter; issue 3; 2009)