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!