08/07/07
Samoa lies along the Tongan Trench which is one of the most active earthquake areas in the world.. Although earthquakes are frequent, they are deep in the ocean and are hardly ever felt on land.
Last night, we had earthquake. It wasn’t great as earthquakes go, but it was Mary’s first.
Friday, August 17, 2007
A Bunch of Bananas
08/06/07
Last week our host family set out a bunch of bananas just before we were to depart for a week in Apia. During our rush to leave, we forgot them. When we returned a week later, our host family said that when they looked at a banana they were reminded of us being away. They said the entire village was very sad about the Peace Corps one week absence.
How can one properly describe the Peace Corps impact and the connection with the people of this small remote Samoan village of Manunu? There is an air of melancholy and sadness in the air and we still have two weeks to go. The leader of the village told me that for many villagers, these months have been the happiest of their lives. Wow!
Last week our host family set out a bunch of bananas just before we were to depart for a week in Apia. During our rush to leave, we forgot them. When we returned a week later, our host family said that when they looked at a banana they were reminded of us being away. They said the entire village was very sad about the Peace Corps one week absence.
How can one properly describe the Peace Corps impact and the connection with the people of this small remote Samoan village of Manunu? There is an air of melancholy and sadness in the air and we still have two weeks to go. The leader of the village told me that for many villagers, these months have been the happiest of their lives. Wow!
A Minor Rebellion
08/06/07
The pressures of what are seemingly endless assessments and tests coupled with the very structured environment of the training schedule and the rules of the village emerged in the form of a minor rebellion. We were told by our trainers that the village church was expecting us all to participate in the church service for our last Sunday in Manunu (Also Samoan Father’s Day). Being told what to do for something many felt was an optional choice, caused some of the volunteers to refuse. In Samoan society, when the pastor tells, you are supposed to do. It is not a matter for debate or questioning.
The custom of not being asked or given a choice is a one Americans hold dear. Yet here we are in a very different place, trying our best to integrate into Samoa where authoritarianism rules. I guess we do have a choice as to how deeply we actually want to be part of Samoan culture; what part of our own culture do we want to put into our back pocket. These are very difficult decisions to make and a minor rebellion is to be expected as part of that cultural transition.
The pressures of what are seemingly endless assessments and tests coupled with the very structured environment of the training schedule and the rules of the village emerged in the form of a minor rebellion. We were told by our trainers that the village church was expecting us all to participate in the church service for our last Sunday in Manunu (Also Samoan Father’s Day). Being told what to do for something many felt was an optional choice, caused some of the volunteers to refuse. In Samoan society, when the pastor tells, you are supposed to do. It is not a matter for debate or questioning.
The custom of not being asked or given a choice is a one Americans hold dear. Yet here we are in a very different place, trying our best to integrate into Samoa where authoritarianism rules. I guess we do have a choice as to how deeply we actually want to be part of Samoan culture; what part of our own culture do we want to put into our back pocket. These are very difficult decisions to make and a minor rebellion is to be expected as part of that cultural transition.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Stepping Outside the Training Bubble
08/05/07
The main event this past week was our group’s first visit to our permanent villages. This is where we are to spend the next two years. The experience put us face to face with people and location with which we are to associate. For some, the revelation of housing, scenery, and village leaders exceeded expectations; for others that life beyond our nurtured training environment is going to be a real challenge. For all, we are being transported to the world we volunteered to enter.
For those of us in the VBD, Village Based Development Program, there is by nature an ambiguity of what our projects are to be. We are kind of like seeds, blown by the wind, and expected to take root and flourish in foreign soil. Many wonder exactly why they are there. Yet it is very immensity of this challenge that characterizes the spirit of our group.
The main part of our Peace Corps training is completed. The remaining two weeks in Manunu Village consist of reviews, rehearsals for our farewell village fiafia, with final swearing in as official Peace Corps Volunteers on August 22nd.
The main event this past week was our group’s first visit to our permanent villages. This is where we are to spend the next two years. The experience put us face to face with people and location with which we are to associate. For some, the revelation of housing, scenery, and village leaders exceeded expectations; for others that life beyond our nurtured training environment is going to be a real challenge. For all, we are being transported to the world we volunteered to enter.
For those of us in the VBD, Village Based Development Program, there is by nature an ambiguity of what our projects are to be. We are kind of like seeds, blown by the wind, and expected to take root and flourish in foreign soil. Many wonder exactly why they are there. Yet it is very immensity of this challenge that characterizes the spirit of our group.
The main part of our Peace Corps training is completed. The remaining two weeks in Manunu Village consist of reviews, rehearsals for our farewell village fiafia, with final swearing in as official Peace Corps Volunteers on August 22nd.
Village Locations, Group 78
08/05/07
Peace Corps Volunteers listed with their Samoan names, home state, assigned project village, name of Samoan island, Peace Corps job (VBD, Village Based Development; ICM, Inter-Coastal Management) :
Peace Corps Volunteers listed with their Samoan names, home state, assigned project village, name of Samoan island, Peace Corps job (VBD, Village Based Development; ICM, Inter-Coastal Management) :
Donna “Tona” Barr
Hawaii
Poutasi/Upolo
VBD
Jacob “ Iakopo” Burney
Colorado
Gataivai/Savaii
VBD
Kaitlin ”Kate” Everett
New Jersey
Tafua/Savaii
VBD
Hannah “Ana” Goldman
California
Apia/Upolo
ICM
Benjamin “Peni” Harding
Virginia
Neiafu/Savaii
VBD
Christian “Keli” Heath
Oregon
Saoluafata/Upolo
ICM
Erin “Lini” Jenkins
Maryland
Apia/Upolo
ICM
Safiya “Safia” Mitchell
New York
Mauga/Savaii
VBD
Mark “Maleko” Miller
Tennesse
Safai/Savaii
VBD
Renee “Lenie” Moog
Orgeon
Masina/Upolo
VBD
Justin “Iusi” Newum
Tennesse
Utalii/Upolo
VBD
Crystal “Lisi” Ochoa
Texas
Mulifauna/Upolo:
BVD
Mary “Malia” Shuraleff
Minnesota
Lotofaga/Upolo
VBD
Nick “Niko” Shuraleff
“Minnesota”
Lotofaga/Upolo
VBD
Paul “Paulo” Sylvester
Oregon
Masina/Upolo
VBD
Shane “Sani” Twilla
California
Satitoa/Upolo
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Dogs of Samoa, Update
Samoa is trying to encourage tourism and is preparing for an influx of foreigners for the South Pacific Games later this month, but the dogs of Samoa pose a problem. They can not distinguish between friend or foe. They can attach anyone at anytime.
To reduce the chance of dog bite, the authorities have shot over 600 dogs in Apia and other resort areas this year. More would have shot, except they ran out of bullets. About 1,000 other dogs were "put to sleep".
Samoans use dogs to guard their homes and to alert them of strangers. Almost all the dogs in Samoa belong to someone, usually several. The dogs are hardly ever fed. Commercial dog food in non-existent. To control the dog population, people routinely kill female puppies. This leaves a lot of hungry, horny male dogs roaming around town and villages. Maybe that is why they are so aggressive?
If you ever come to Samoa, leave your pooch at home. Your pet is no match for even the puniest Samoan dog.
To reduce the chance of dog bite, the authorities have shot over 600 dogs in Apia and other resort areas this year. More would have shot, except they ran out of bullets. About 1,000 other dogs were "put to sleep".
Samoans use dogs to guard their homes and to alert them of strangers. Almost all the dogs in Samoa belong to someone, usually several. The dogs are hardly ever fed. Commercial dog food in non-existent. To control the dog population, people routinely kill female puppies. This leaves a lot of hungry, horny male dogs roaming around town and villages. Maybe that is why they are so aggressive?
If you ever come to Samoa, leave your pooch at home. Your pet is no match for even the puniest Samoan dog.
Plans go awry
August 1, 2007
Today is the day for which we all have been waiting. Our two day trip to visit for the first time the village and the housing for the next two years. Everyone is quiet. Anxiety is the highest of anytime we have been in Samoa. We all wait in anticipation to be picked up and taken to our final village.
The first people are called and nervously walk out with their new host. Someone comes back to say their truck would not start. It needs a new alternator. They await the part as others are called.
One by one they depart.
The alternator has not yet been replaced.
We are still not called.
Then we are called and told that the mayor of our village and the person to be our host has just died. There is a big funeral planned. It is not a good idea for us to go this week. They need time to determine where we are to live. So we stay behind at the hotel in Apia while others go off to their new digs. It is planned for us to eventually go to our village sometime in the future.
While others are gone, we are to have more language lessons in anticipation of the language lessons we miss, if and when we ever go to our new village.
If this post seems disjointed and confused, you get a feel of what Samoa is like.
At least I have a few more days at the hotel computer and internet connect.
Today is the day for which we all have been waiting. Our two day trip to visit for the first time the village and the housing for the next two years. Everyone is quiet. Anxiety is the highest of anytime we have been in Samoa. We all wait in anticipation to be picked up and taken to our final village.
The first people are called and nervously walk out with their new host. Someone comes back to say their truck would not start. It needs a new alternator. They await the part as others are called.
One by one they depart.
The alternator has not yet been replaced.
We are still not called.
Then we are called and told that the mayor of our village and the person to be our host has just died. There is a big funeral planned. It is not a good idea for us to go this week. They need time to determine where we are to live. So we stay behind at the hotel in Apia while others go off to their new digs. It is planned for us to eventually go to our village sometime in the future.
While others are gone, we are to have more language lessons in anticipation of the language lessons we miss, if and when we ever go to our new village.
If this post seems disjointed and confused, you get a feel of what Samoa is like.
At least I have a few more days at the hotel computer and internet connect.
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