Lost in translation

I don't even know where to begin. I don't think the best writer in the world could even begin to describe the last week of my life. So, I guess I will apologize to everyone at home because much of this blog will be lost in translation.
We arrived in the small village of Ma'asina last Saturday afternoon. The village is maybe a quarter of a mile long with all of the fales lined along a road looking out on a large ocean bay. Behind the houses is a massive mountain covered with rainforests and a massive rock cliff on the right side. There are also 2 gorgeous waterfalls streaming down the side of the mountain. It was probably the most overwhelming and unbelievable place I have ever seen. When our vans pulled into the village we were ushered into a sort of fale, which is basically a large room with a roof and no walls right next to the water. The people of Ma'asina were waiting for us and we had a traditional ava ceremony. Afterwards the women brought us breadfruit mixed with some sort of sugary mixture and coconut juice. At this point my buddy Chris who was sitting next to me leaned over and suggested that we pour a little coconut juice out for the poor peace corps volunteers in Kazikstan. After our light snack, our trainers announced our names and our host family names and we grabbed our luggage and headed to our host family's houses. Sally and I were paired together again and our host family lives pretty much right across the street from out training fale/center. Our compound is made up of 3 fales and a little cook shack of sorts in the back. Walking up to the house was totally overwhelming and exhilirating. There were children, pigs, chickens, dogs, and cats running everywhere. There is a nice little volleyball court in the front and most of the area in between the houses and behind them is covered in lava rocks. We went inside the first house where our host mother and father's room was. Our host father is the talking chief of the village and our host mother is so happy and animated. Neither of them speak any english...or they haven't spoken any to us yet. When we walked into this house we walked into a big sort of living room I guess, which is where we ended up having all of our meals. Our host parents room was off to the right. If you walked straight across the room you would go into the kitchen area and then Sally's room was the second one on the right. Continuing through the house you can walk out the back door and take a sharp right to head over to the fale where I lived. My fale was pretty much a big room with no walls, except for my room which was all closed in. My room was a very nice size with a mosquito net and a mattress on the floor. Our toilet and shower were right behind the house I stayed in. After we dropped off our bags we went out front to play frisbee with some of the kids. Between 6-630 the church bells sounds for everyone to go the their houses for evening lotu (prayer). After about 15-20 min my host brother blew a conch shell which signaled that everyone should be in their houses. This is then followed by about 30 min of prayer. My first experience with this evening lotu was completely overwhelming (sorry I know I keep using the same adjective, but it is really all i can think of to describe the situation). There I was sitting on a floor in this fale next to the ocean surrounded by wonderful Samoans who have graciously taken us into their houses. They have so very little, but yet they were all so happy and thankful for eachother and everything that they do have. I was just so in awe of their way of life I almost cried about 5 times. After lotu was dinner. In Samoa it is tradition for guests to eat first while everyone else stares at you. We also ate on the floor siting cross legged. At any rate, we tried to not seem awkward and stumbled through dinner with our 4-5 Samoan phrases.
I think that most of you would not be surprised to hear that after a week in the village my best friend is an 8 year-old (her name is Saliuega and she is the bomb!). But, some of you might be a little surprised that I spent my Saturday night sitting in a Catholic church with about 10 Samoan children screaming samoan songs at the top of their longs. It was awesome! They wanted to "teach" us the songs before church the next day...It was hilarious! I also must confess that i fell in love with a Samoan while I was in the village. His name is Vitale and he is the son of my host brother. And also he is apporx 1 1/2 years old and the CUTEST thing I have ever laid eyes on. When ever he would see me he would just sort of have this blank stare and then I would smile at him and he would jsut get this huge grin across his face, everytime!! One of the last days of the week I was going to class and I gave him a hug goodbye and he actually cried when I left! When we left the village at the end of the week I tried to smuggle him out with me, unfortunately I got caught.
It rained a lot during the week, but we were able to take walks after lunch most days and by the end of the week almost everyone knew us and would wave and call "Malo Lola ma Seli" when we walked by.
We have our volunteer visit this week where we go and stay with other volunteers for a few days and observe their life and work. I believe I am going to Savai'i which is the "big" island. I think I will be taking the 1 1/2 ferry tomorrow morning. I can't wait to check out Savai'i and hang out with the PCV's there. But for now it is back to class in Apia.

Bucket of Diamonds

While I was standing on volcanic rock looking at the bluest water I had ever seen with the whitest beaches behind me and palm trees swaying in the wind, a fellow trainee walked up next to me and said, “We seem to have stumbled upon a bucket of diamonds, huh?” I think that pretty much sums up my first week in this beautiful country.
Saturday we had our Fiafia that the other PCV’s put on. I’m not really sure how else to describe this, but wonderfully filling and ridiculous. I met quite a few very unique people and it made me that much more excited about spending the next 2 years of my life here.
Sunday our schedule said “1000am - Cultural Exploration” This roughly translates to - get on a bus and hang out on one of the most gorgeous beaches you have ever seen. Our group spent the day swimming, sleeping in the beach fales (or thatched roof huts open to the breezes), trying to crack open coconuts on washed up coral, snorkeling, exploring, and just enjoying the serenity. I think the pictures might do a better job describing just how breath-taking this place actually was.
Tuesday started out a regular day with classes starting at 8am, but after lunch we were scheduled to have “Water Safety Training.” Well, obviously if you are going to live in Samoa you will need to know how to swim in currents and know what fish are poisonous, etc. So, if you are already working on all of that, why not take a boat out and go snorkeling on the coral reef? I love the Peace Crops’ logic. So we spent the afternoon Tuesday playing in the waves and the snorkeling. I would like to just say here that the ocean is so cool! Yes I already know what a dork I am, but seriously I have never seen so many beautiful fish! We also even saw a super poisonous stone fish, which is like a chameleon and blends in with whatever it is next to. Luckily we were with a few PCV’s who study marine biology and could point all these things out.
So, to sum it all up, life has been rough, send cookies. We will be heading to Ma’asina, our training village on Saturday. From what I have heard it is a gorgeous village right on the water. I am extremely excited to be in a rural area and live with a Samoan host family. So far I have yet to meet a Samoan who wasn’t smiling or eager to say hello. At any rate, no complaints here, but mail and care packages are always welcome. Could def use some decent coffee grounds for sure! Kisses to all!

Paradise found

Just a few pics from the beach we went to on Sunday after the Fiafia. Crazy weekend, lots of fun meeting the other volunteers and playing on the beach Sunday, Internet cafe is closing so more later. Water Safety tomorrow so more playing in the ocean!

we like it hot, hot, hot!

Thank God I grew up in Virginia! People are dropping like flies from the humidity here. We are constantly covered in a sticky layer of sweat and there a certain funk that has started to resonate from everything I touch. But to be honest, I’m pretty OK with it. All of our classes are outside under a thatched roof in the courtyard of our hotel, which is approx 10 steps from where I sleep. Luckily our hotel room has some kickin’ air conditioning. Yesterday was a pretty fun day overall. In the morning we talked about life and work and many people in my group found out what schools and villages they would be working in. I, on the other hand, got called out to “please see me following this meeting.” How did I already mess something up?! Calm down mom I’m not coming home. Apparently the curriculum is changing in regards to special education and our trainers were curious what other “skills” I possessed. Well, aside from building forts and playing in the woods I mentioned to them about my dorky love for history and that I could possibly teach children math and science on the basis that they had absolutely no understanding of math and science to begin with. I also have spent a lot of time talking to the volunteers that arrived here in June and are based in the villages which just sounds amazing, so I mentioned to our trainers that I would love to be placed in a rural area if at all possible. At any rate, I am no closer to knowing where I am going to be, but I am totally ok with that. Honestly, I cannot say enough good things about the Peace Corps as an organization and I am not just saying that because I know that they read these, but they really do have there stuff together. Leata, our language teacher is one of the most wonderful and animated people I have ever met. Yesterday she took all the girls out shopping for fabric and then took us to a tailor to have pulasi’s (traditional tops and bottoms for women) made. Then after lunch we had our first language lesson and our group was divided into 3 groups and got to have classes in our air conditioned hotel rooms. Leata was my teacher and I can honestly say I have never had so much fun learning a language! We laughed through the entire lesson. Leata kept reminding us over and over again that “i” is the smiling letter because you have to smile ever time you say it.

At any rate, we have our first Fiafia tonight which is basically a big celebration with dancing and other ceremonial activities. The other PCV’s are putting it on for us and should be a really fun party. In sum, everything is wonderfully warm and exciting on the other side of the world. More to come…

Talofa!

I made it! After a glorious 10 hour plane ride and extremely fat ankles I am sitting in an internet cafe in downtown Apia, Samoa. What a crazy day! We were greeted at the airport this morning by some very groggy looking volunteers form the Peace Corps. Most of them have been here since June, but a few have been here a year already. The other volunteers gave us all beautiful lais and put us on a bus to go to our hotel. They were all really fun and excited to tell us about what they have been doing in Samoa. Most of them work in the small villages which sounds amazing. Once at our hotel we had breakfast of papya and eggs. Then after a few classes we loaded on the bus again to go to a school where some volunteers worked to have an ava ceremony which is a religous ceremony done in villages where everyone sits in a circle and prays and drinks kava juice. We of course had absolutely no idea what was going on, but the we got to drink some kava out of a coconut shell which tasted kind of like muddy water, but made your lips and tongue go a little numb.
It was all a bit overwhelming, but amazing at the same time. Apparently the next 11months will be very intense training until we swear in as offical volunteers on Dec 13. This Saturday the peace corps apparently throws all the volunteers a party so we can all get to know eachother and hang out in town. At any rate, until then I will hopefully get some sleep and find my creative brain cells so I dont sound quite so bland for everyone at home. Oh one other thing...packages!!! Anyone who feels the need to send me some air mail or a little surprise my address is
Laura Hanks, PCV
Peace Corps
Private Mail Bag
Apia, Western Samoa
Miss you all dearly!

Californication

It is Tuesday morning and almost impossible to believe that yesterday morning i woke up in my bed in Charlottesville and Sunday morning in a bed in Fredericksburg with Ned and Carlisle. Well, I am officially a Peace Corps Traineed, not quite volunteer status yet, but exciting none the less. I arrived in LA yesterday about 1030am local time and checked into my hotel. I am sharing a room with another volunteer named Sally who is from upstate New York and also working in the special education program. At about 2pm yesterday we checked in with the peace corps and began our staging classes. There are 16 of us in our training group with only 4 girls, which I found surprising. Everyone seems really cool and there is so much energy in the room which is really cool to be around people equally excited about the 2 years we are about to embark on. Last night we finished about 6pm and I was lucky enough to meet up with katie heitman and Louis Marquis, 2 friends that I worked in Wisconsin with, for dinner. Great to see familar places one last time in this smoggy city.
Today we have classes all day which concentrate on safety issues, fears and anxieties, getting to know everyone, etc. We are checking out of the hotel around 7 or 8pm and then all heading to the airport together where we will get on the plane at 1145pm and arrive in Samoa at 545am. Once in Samoa we will have 10 days of training while we stay in a hotel and then we will move in with our host families.
Phew! Sorry this is very dry, but the internet is expensive here and I am trying to get it all out. At any rate, I was freaking out a little yesterday once I realized that I really did sign up to do this and it really is going to happen, but at the same time I am very excited. I feel like we already have a great support network within our training group which will probably come in handy in the next few days. I am not sure how else to express the barage of feelings that are going through my head right now, but I do know that I am looking forward to getting on that plane and spending the next two years on a beautiful island with some pretty amazing people! With that being said...here we go!

ps- On an unrelated sidenote, my poor little sister had to go have surgery on her ankle after she broke the bottome of her fibula playing rugby. Those of you that do know her I am sure she would love a call and your love.

planning and procrastination

AAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!! That is all there really is to say about packing and reorganizing everything you own to prepare for a 27 month journey. I have spent the last week anaylzing and reanalyzing what was absoutley necessary to take...just so everyone is clear a vegatable peeler is NOT absolutely necessary. So after to saying goodbye to some very dear friends in the northwoods of Wisconsin, attending a going away party, running millions of errands in town (I walked 10,929 steps today thanks to my new pedometer...yes it is necessary), boxing up everything that is not coming with me, moving out of my room so my dad can create his ideal office space, and rocking out with some sweet southerners at a Skynard concert I think I can say I am ready to go...sort of.
So why am I going to the middle of the pacific for two years? Why not?! For the last 23 years of my life I have been blessed with a loving family, a roof over my head, wonderful friends, and food in my stomach. About this time last year I realized I had been taking almost all of that for granted. I wanted to give back something to people less fortunate than I and hopefully make some sort of an impact. My hope is that in the 27 months I am in Samoa I can help improve at least one person's life. yeah, I know it sounds cliched, but I am looking forward to reaching out toward an entirely new group of people and i am sure I will have my share of adventures along the way! But, for now I am looking forward to reliving glory days one last time this weekend at UMW. More to come...