Our New Home

August 23, 2007

This is our new home in the Village of Iva for the next two years. We are very fortunate to have such a nice place constructed for us by the villagers. This is a remote village on a rural island, so communication and almost everything else known to us is unfamiliar.There is so much to tell about all our new experiences and environs. I hope you learn with us about this place called Samoa.

Our New Home

Front Porch and Local Gathering Area

Dinette and Work Desk

Future Cooking Area

Shower, Toilet, Vanity, Water Filtration Area

Master Bedroom Suite

Front View

Rear View

Main Street (Only Street) Iva

Catholic Church across the Road

Some of the Children

Swearing In Ceremony, Manunu

8/22/07

After twelve weeks of training, today marks our official induction into the Peace Corps. We are to become “Peace Corps Volunteers, PCV”.

The morning began somewhat auspiciously. On the journey from our Apia Hotel to Manunu, we approached a speed bump. Instead of slowing down our hired bus continued on towards another bus which was on the speed bump. It suddenly became apparent WE HAD NO BRAKES! As our bus served to avoid the bus ahead of us, an oncoming pickup appeared at the speed bump. Without even downshifting we hit the speed bump at full speed miraculously squeezing between the two vehicles. Unperturbed our diver continued on. After yelling at him to stop, the bus finally came to a halt on an upgrade. We quickly disembarked thankful we had avoided a real tragedy.

The Village of Manunu was decked out for our ceremony which was held in the church. There were speeches by various officials, staff, and a speech in Samoan by Lini in our group and one in English by me. A big lunch was served followed by more hugs, kisses, and gifts.

Somehow the whole event was muted. Maybe we were tired of it all and simply wanted to move on to our permanent villages; maybe the goodbyes to our host families were just one to many. The whole event, although well done, didn’t have the impact we had anticipated months before. But at least now, we were Peace Corps Volunteers.

Upon returning to the Peace Corps office in Apia to pick up our bicycles, mosquito nets, water filtration systems, locks, door entry codes and other stuff, bedlam reined. No one seemed to know or care about us anymore. It seemed like staff were preparing for the next group as we struggled.

That night the current volunteers held a nice pizza party for us at the hotel. We were now part of their world. It was the end of us being “Trainees”.

Official Manunu Departure

8/18/07

Just when you think you can’t take anymore celebrations and goodbyes, the village has a huge ceremony the next morning for our departure. The village paraded out to us and to our amazement we were presented with all kinds of food, including a freshly slaughter cow (a major honor), a huge cooked pig, many smaller cooked pigs, taro, canned mackerel and corned beef. Then there was another round of tears and hugging and kissing. We all were overwhelmed and exhausted by this final event.

On August 22, we again return to Manunu for our swearing in ceremony. Who knows what awaits us?

Final Fia Fia

8/17/07



For the past two weeks we have been practicing for our going away fia fia, never quite realizing just what a night is was going to be. Our ladies had to learn a traditional Samoan dance to the song “Red Hibiscus”, our men a traditional Samoan slap dance, and together we rehearsed a short religious play spoken in Samoan. As you may see from the practice photos, we were not always in sync.

The actual fia fia is really a huge event done outside in front of the church. It seemed that everyone in the village either sang or danced. It lasted for over two hours. The dancing and singing were truly amazing. The men’s performances exuding strength and virility, the younger women beauty and grace, and the married women sang traditional songs. Each group would pull some of us out of the audience to join them. The men tended to favor our younger female volunteers while the married women grabbed our males. The unmarried woman Samoan girls just remained lovely and elusive. I was pulled out and suddenly this woman jumped up on me, knocking off my glasses. It was that kind of night. A night when traditions ruled and inhibitions tabled.

We in the Peace Corps seemed to thrill the crowd. Each villager bragged about the performance given by their “Pisikoa”. Unfortunately, the lighting was terrible and the flash on my camera not strong enough to capture the event. Well maybe even if I could have taken pictures, it still would not have captured the night. As they say, you just had to be there.

Ladies Rehersal

Men's Rehersal

Ready to Perform

Men Set to Go

LPI Language Proficiency Exam

8/16/07

Today marks our final and most important assessment, the Language Proficiency Exam. The Peace Corps wants us to score at least at the Intermediate Low Level of the LPI index. This level is one in which we should at least be able to survive on out own. We are to be able to tell people about ourselves, find our way around on buses and the ferry, shop for food and items, and ask other people about their families, etc.

The test is conducted in 20 minute sessions by an independent tester and is recorded. Our group all passed. Of course, they are many who greatly exceeded the minimum level.
The pictures may give you some idea of the tension as we awaited our term. Mary was the first to go, and had the rest of the day to relax.

What? Us Worried?

Mary, the first to be tested
Waiting for their turn in "The Box"

Leaving Manunu

8/18/07

Just when you think you can’t take anymore celebrations and goodbyes, the village has a huge ceremony the next morning for our departure. The village paraded out to us and to our amazement, we were presented with all kinds of food, including a freshly slaughter cow (a major honor), a huge cooked pig, many smaller cooked pigs, taro, canned mackerel and corned beef. Then there was another round of tears and hugging and kissing. We all were overwhelmed and exhausted by this final event.

On August 22, we again return to Manunu for our swearing in ceremony. Who knows what awaits us?

Villagers Parade Towards Us

A Village Orator Makes Presentation

Our Gifts of Food

Yes, It's a Whole Pig

Holy Cow! Is That a Cow?

It Takes a Truck to Make a Meal

Good Byes.

Last Manunu Fia Fia

8/17/07


For the past two weeks we have been practicing for our going away fia fia, never quite realizing just what a night is was going to be. Our ladies had to learn a traditional Samoan dance to the song “Red Hibiscus”, our men a traditional Samoan slap dance, and together we rehearsed a short religious play spoken in Samoan. As you may see from the practice photos, we were not always in sync.

The actual fia fia is really a huge event done outside in front of the church. It seemed that everyone in the village either sang or danced. It lasted for over two hours. The dancing and singing were truly amazing. The men’s performances exuding strength and virility, the younger women beauty and grace, and the married women sang traditional songs. Each group would pull some of us out of the audience to join them. The men tended to favor our younger female volunteers while the married women grabbed our males. The unmarried woman Samoan girls just remained lovely and elusive. I was pulled out and suddenly this woman jumped up on me, knocking off my glasses. It was that kind of night. A night when traditions ruled and inhibitions tabled.

We in the Peace Corps seemed to thrill the crowd. Each villager bragged about the performance given by their “Pisikoa”. Unfortunately, the lighting was terrible and the flash on my camera not strong enough to capture the event. Well maybe even if I could have taken pictures, it still would not have captured the night. As they say, you just had to be there.

Ladies Practicing "Red Hibiscus" Dance

Men Practicing Slap Dance

Ready to Perform

What Can I Say?

It's Showtime!