July 27, 2007
The next day after Culture Day, we gathered again at 6:00 am to do a joint project with the village people of Manunu. Today is final step of a three part process teaching us ways and techniques which we may use when we are at our own village sites.
During the first step we watched as our trainers meet with the men’s and women’s councils. A management matrix helped to select a joint project with the criteria that the project had to be completed in one day, would cost no money, and would be done jointly with Peace Corps providing labor.
A week later, we met again to determine who would do what and what resources were needed.
Today we did the work. Some cut the grass along the road, some swept, others planted shrubs (just a stick in this soil and it grows), some repaired a barbed wire fence, and others filled pot holes with rocks and soil, while still others pulled weeds from the road. Each village family had to provide at least one strong young man, or else they would be fined.
I had a little trouble understanding why the villagers spent so much time and labor pulling weeds from the middle of the road while trash along the side of the road was not picked up. I still have a lot to learn about Samoa.
The next day after Culture Day, we gathered again at 6:00 am to do a joint project with the village people of Manunu. Today is final step of a three part process teaching us ways and techniques which we may use when we are at our own village sites.
During the first step we watched as our trainers meet with the men’s and women’s councils. A management matrix helped to select a joint project with the criteria that the project had to be completed in one day, would cost no money, and would be done jointly with Peace Corps providing labor.
A week later, we met again to determine who would do what and what resources were needed.
Today we did the work. Some cut the grass along the road, some swept, others planted shrubs (just a stick in this soil and it grows), some repaired a barbed wire fence, and others filled pot holes with rocks and soil, while still others pulled weeds from the road. Each village family had to provide at least one strong young man, or else they would be fined.
I had a little trouble understanding why the villagers spent so much time and labor pulling weeds from the middle of the road while trash along the side of the road was not picked up. I still have a lot to learn about Samoa.
Before
After
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