Wow, its been awhile eh? Well, a lot has changed and a lot has stayed the same. I guess I should go back to the bike ride around Savaii. Sally and I met at Dylan’s place in Tuasivi a couple miles from the wharf on Sunday night May 6. The next day we rose bright and early to bike up to Sarah aka Texas’ place in Avao on the north/east corner of Savaii. It was a very nice smooth bike ride with no hills and we made excellent time so we stupidly thought we were a lot stronger than we actually were. Fun to see Texas’ place. She lives next to a nice little touristy spot and I found some nice beach fales where I am planning on staying with the family in August. She has a cute little house in the middle of her family’s compound where we hung out. Tuesday we rose a little later as it was pouring down rain in the morning and headed out for Asao on the north/west corner. Now you would think that after working at a summer camp for 7 years (did I really just admit that?) I would be able to read inclination on a map, but alas, no. So that day pretty much sucked. We curved inland a bit and up and down a lot of mountains (ps- there is only one road that goes in a big circle around savaii so there was really no chance that we could get that lost…). We also thought since the day before was so easy and we were clearly in such fantastic shape that we could take a little detour to see the Dwarf caves. Unfortunately this “little” detour turned out to be off trail biking straight up a mountain for about 45 min. When we finally got up there we found 2 Samoan men who were very eager to lead the two of us into this 4 foot wide hole in the ground. This was about the time we realized this might have been a bad decision, but it’s too late now, so down we went. The caves were actually pretty cool. It was basically a huge underground pathway with water dripping all over and at one point there was a short little water fall we had to slide down into a pool of water that was up to our shoulders. Good thing I wore my backpack. Oh and to all those who like to make fun of me for carrying a headlamp around, I have never been more happy to have one on me in my life. Anywho, we some how got out alive although I ripped my lavalava all the way up the back and had nothing on underneath but my bikers, which may not sound like a big deal to those in the US, but around these parts thats about on par with modeling for Playboy.

Well, we made it to Asau to find out there were no beach fales there and we would have to go another hour straight up a mountain to get to Falealupo beach fales (the same place we stayed for new years). So that sucked, but we made it and that night was the most terrific thunderstorm I have ever experienced in Samoa. Good thing we left all our clothes out on the line. I am sad to say that my “Bucky” shirt became a casualty that night. The next day we slept in and enjoyed the few hours where we didn’t have someone asking us to dance for them or help them with their homework or come over to their house so they could feed us more and we actually read our books and enjoyed…silence…

That afternoon we headed down to Salailua where Derek (pcv) lives with a family. Some of the Peace Corps boys were also biking around the island and we had been seeing them all along the way, but they were a bit faster than us so we never biked with them for long. At any rate we all met up at Derek’s for a nice little dinner and whatnot. The next morning we just had to go about 3 hours to the wharf but unfortunately it started raining and just didn’t stop. Sally and I sucked it up and headed out. Unfortunately for those around me, when I am in situations such as these, i.e. exhausted, wet, and generally not very happy, I go into a sort of camp counselor mode where I try to see the good in everything and cheer up group moral by doing something really obnoxious like singing very loudly and saying cheeky things to every Samoan we passed. Luckily Sally put up with me for 2 months during training so this kind of overly obnoxious behavior didn’t faze her too much. So we made it to the wharf and finished all 120 some odd miles of that big old island. Unfortunately batteries here hold a charge for about 2 hours so I have no picture to validate my effort, but I swear it happened!

The second week of school break we were supposed to have our early service conference at Faofao beach fales with the group of volunteers I came here with (group 77) but wouldn’t you know it, the Samoan head of state, Malietoa, goes and dies (look up Julya Stey’s blog if you would like to see some really great pictures of the event. The parade with his body went right in front of the Peace Corps office). So, we only had one night at the beach fales and two days of language training because the state funeral and national holidays were Thursday and Friday. Pretty good to see all the group, except there were only 9 of us there and our original 16 is actually down to 11 come Monday L On that note, I have had to say goodbye to 7 people who have decided to go home for one reason or another in the last 3 weeks. It has been quite depressing to be honest as many of those people were good friends. We are all trying to look on the bright side of things, which is that a new group of volunteers is coming on June 6 and June 9 is the Fiafia that we put on for them. I don’t know if you any of you remember me talking about the Fiafia that I went to when I first came here, but it kind of blew my mind as it is the first impression of the volunteers. For this Fiafia I get to lead the Sasa which is a dance where everyone is sitting except for me. I get to stand and direct the group as to what dance to do, all while running around screaming and yelling and you know, doing what I do best, being in the spotlight. So Im looking forward to that.

School “started” this week. I am trying to get a reading program started this term as there are quite a few girls who are dying to read books, but just never really had the opportunity before. We will see how it goes. At any rate, been a rough couple weeks with people leaving and whatnot. But, Im hoping that things will start looking up soon, of course, packages full of chocolate and inter tubes never hurt…

somewhere over the rainbow

Quick update with Trisha Tokanoa- Been in apia since Monday because I had the pukie/poopies (and that is the actually scientific term, go ahead jim look it up) from some suspect crab I ate Mon afternoon. Besides from the effects of said pukie/poopies having an air conditioned hotel room wasnt half bad. Got caught up on the 3rd season of Lost with Davey-Dave who also was a great nurse, buying me crackers, apple juice, and two containers of conditioner (didnt notice that one wasnt shampoo...close enough...my hair is very silky smooth).
Hopefully going back to the village today. Supposed to start up homework hour for the high school kids this week, maybe can get it going tonight, even though it is the last week of the first term. This Fri is the last day before our 2 week break. Yahoo! Schoooooools out for...what season is it? Oh yeah, hot and sweaty. Going to Savaii on Sat for Cinco de Mayo since Samoa is so into their Mexican cultural...riiiiight. After the festivities will be heading off to circumnavigate the island with Sally and some others. Ok gotta run people need computers and I need deoderant. Hugs and taro!