12/2/09
How nice to step back into the warm, humid air and meet old friends. Everything is green! I find it exciting to hear what people are doing, and look forward to meeting the new group of volunteers as they finish their training.
Four months doesn't seem like a long time, yet I am getting the feeling of the many changes being implemented by Peace Corps. As for me, I feel like the "delete" key has been press in my brain's memory. Everyday Samoan words and phrases seem to have vanished. Samoan phrases pop into my brain and I can't remember what they mean. How can this happen so quickly?
At the present time, my schedule is as cloudy as my memory. I will just have to blame jet lag.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Mary
12/1/09
My wife, Mary. Isn't she beautiful?
As I leave today for three weeks in Samoa, I have her to look forward to upon my return.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Turning 68
11/28/09 
Today is my 68th birthday. Sixty eight is just one of those birthdays of little importance or significance. It is not a prime number, square root, nor does it mark getting a driver's license, being able to buy liquor legally, a new decade. It has no hidden occult meanings, double andante, or even a tee hee. It is like Pooh Bear. It just is. But that is what makes being sixty eight such a wonderful experience. It just is. Something to enjoy the essence of being.
A person can't get enough of "just is's" in life.
A good book, coffee, warm bathrobe, your mother's afghan, a bowl of mini frosted shredded wheat.
Today is my 68th birthday. Sixty eight is just one of those birthdays of little importance or significance. It is not a prime number, square root, nor does it mark getting a driver's license, being able to buy liquor legally, a new decade. It has no hidden occult meanings, double andante, or even a tee hee. It is like Pooh Bear. It just is. But that is what makes being sixty eight such a wonderful experience. It just is. Something to enjoy the essence of being.
A person can't get enough of "just is's" in life.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Blood Pressure Monitors
11/27/09
Today a shipment of twelve Blood Pressure Monitors with large cuffs arrived for me to transport to Samoa. These were donated by Homedics, Inc. of Commerce, Michigan as arranged by Jim Metz, a current Peace Corps Volunteer on Samoa.
Today a shipment of twelve Blood Pressure Monitors with large cuffs arrived for me to transport to Samoa. These were donated by Homedics, Inc. of Commerce, Michigan as arranged by Jim Metz, a current Peace Corps Volunteer on Samoa.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Thankful for Acid Rain
11/26/09
This Thanksgiving Day, just before the US Senate's Health Care Reform debate and the upcoming Copenhagen Summit on Global Warming, I wondered what happened to acid rain? For those old enough to remember the panic 1970's, acid rain was changing the composition of our lakes and threatening to destroy the forests of the entire world. The United States was one of the main culprits in SO2 emissions, the main chemical in producing acid rain from coal burning power plants.
In 1980 the U.S. enacted a study of acid rain which produced amendments in 1990 to the Clean Air Act requiring gaseous reductions and established a cap and trade system designed to reduce emissions in a series of phases by 10 million tons by the year 2010.
Overall, the Program's cap and trade program has been successful in achieving its goals. Since the 1990s, SO2 emissions have dropped 40%, and acid rain levels have dropped 65% since 1976. In 2007, total SO2 emissions were 8.9 million tons, achieving the program's long term goal ahead of the 2010 statutory deadline.
The EPA estimates that by 2010, the overall costs of complying with the program for businesses and consumers will be $1 billion to $2 billion a year, only one fourth of what was originally predicted.
What does acid rain have to do with Thanksgiving Day, you may ask? I guess it is to be thankful that there are some people in government with the capacity for the social good and the courage to do the right thing, may they not rest in peace.
This Thanksgiving Day, just before the US Senate's Health Care Reform debate and the upcoming Copenhagen Summit on Global Warming, I wondered what happened to acid rain? For those old enough to remember the panic 1970's, acid rain was changing the composition of our lakes and threatening to destroy the forests of the entire world. The United States was one of the main culprits in SO2 emissions, the main chemical in producing acid rain from coal burning power plants.
In 1980 the U.S. enacted a study of acid rain which produced amendments in 1990 to the Clean Air Act requiring gaseous reductions and established a cap and trade system designed to reduce emissions in a series of phases by 10 million tons by the year 2010.
Overall, the Program's cap and trade program has been successful in achieving its goals. Since the 1990s, SO2 emissions have dropped 40%, and acid rain levels have dropped 65% since 1976. In 2007, total SO2 emissions were 8.9 million tons, achieving the program's long term goal ahead of the 2010 statutory deadline.
The EPA estimates that by 2010, the overall costs of complying with the program for businesses and consumers will be $1 billion to $2 billion a year, only one fourth of what was originally predicted.
What does acid rain have to do with Thanksgiving Day, you may ask? I guess it is to be thankful that there are some people in government with the capacity for the social good and the courage to do the right thing, may they not rest in peace.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Besieged by Sales
11/20/09
America is besieged by sales. Everyday has become a Black Friday. My mailbox is stuffed with offers one can't refuse. It is as if the more you spend the farther ahead you are. Everyday the media burps coupons, discounts, rebates, two for ones, and free offers than I have ever experienced in my lifetime.
My quest now is not to get the lowest price, but to see if I can find anything at retail.
America is besieged by sales. Everyday has become a Black Friday. My mailbox is stuffed with offers one can't refuse. It is as if the more you spend the farther ahead you are. Everyday the media burps coupons, discounts, rebates, two for ones, and free offers than I have ever experienced in my lifetime.
My quest now is not to get the lowest price, but to see if I can find anything at retail.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Jimmy Fatso's Call for Help
11/19/09
Jimmy Fatso, aka Jim Metz, before going he went "Samoan" at a visit to Mt. Matavanu which erupted from 1905-1911. Samoans say "Not to worry".
(They said the same about tsnumais)
I couldn't help but reprint Jim Metz's email about his efforts to "help" Samoans learn about the relationship between weight and health.
"Subject: Jimmy Fatso
Greetings Friends and Family,
Who's ready for Thanksgiving! I know I am. It's one of the few days where I am on one mission and one mission only. TO EAT AND EAT AND EAT, then EAT AGAIN!
Most of you are aware that my physical appearance has not changed much since high school. I still weigh about 150 lbs and those who know me well know that I have no shame when it comes to putting down some calories. But I never gained weight. Until about a month ago. For two weeks every night I ate with the village pastor, his family, and about ten chiefs. And we ate "real" Samoan food which is typically high in protein, fat, and starch. Let's just say that my personal buffet I received didn't include many vegetables. Nevertheless, I decided a long time ago to live by this code, or cliche. "When in Samoa, do as the Samoans." So that I did, I ate just like they did.I went straight for the pork, taro (root crop), and coconut cream baked in leaves. Bear in mind that this is extremely tasty food and while my taste buds are going crazy my body tells my mind to keep eating. I can feel my stomach expanding so I take a short break and wash it down with some high octane tea which has been filled with about 3 or 4 heaping spoons of sugar. I don't stop until after I am full. In other words I keep eating until they have stopped. After washing my hands I lean back and take a breath full of second-hand smoke from the smoking chief sitting upwind from me. It actually relaxes me a little bit and I go into a slight state of delirium.
It was Thanksgiving every day. I gained seven pounds. It was a miracle. Well not quite. That's what happens when you overeat. So what did I learn from my experiment? I learned that I can't hang with the big boys like I use to. Ha, what else? I saw for myself the cause of one of the fastest growing problems here in Samoa. Diabetes and Hypertension. The correlation between weight and health is for real and we all know it. But there are still some who haven't had the proper health education to make better choices regarding their diet.I have decided to make this my new priority for my last 9 months in Samoa. Along with about 4 other volunteers and local nurses we are going to be doing diabetes/hypertension awareness seminars starting next year. This is of course if we get approval from the government.In the meantime I am trying to do some fund-raising for the seminars as well as assist the hospitals get some new blood pressure and blood sugar testing equipment. I am asking for your help in making this possible. If you would like to know how you can assist with this project please email me back with the following information.
Name _________________ Phone ________________
Address ______________ Email ________________ ______________ ______________
A much more detailed project plan will be sent to those who wish to help. Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested. It's been great getting emails from most of you and I'm sorry to those that I haven't responded to personally. But I will do better I promise. I'll be thinking of you all over the holidays and to those of you with some extra cash, I only have 9 more months here so if you want to get away the time to plan is now!
Cheers,
Jim "
"Subject: Jimmy Fatso
Greetings Friends and Family,
Who's ready for Thanksgiving! I know I am. It's one of the few days where I am on one mission and one mission only. TO EAT AND EAT AND EAT, then EAT AGAIN!
Most of you are aware that my physical appearance has not changed much since high school. I still weigh about 150 lbs and those who know me well know that I have no shame when it comes to putting down some calories. But I never gained weight. Until about a month ago. For two weeks every night I ate with the village pastor, his family, and about ten chiefs. And we ate "real" Samoan food which is typically high in protein, fat, and starch. Let's just say that my personal buffet I received didn't include many vegetables. Nevertheless, I decided a long time ago to live by this code, or cliche. "When in Samoa, do as the Samoans." So that I did, I ate just like they did.I went straight for the pork, taro (root crop), and coconut cream baked in leaves. Bear in mind that this is extremely tasty food and while my taste buds are going crazy my body tells my mind to keep eating. I can feel my stomach expanding so I take a short break and wash it down with some high octane tea which has been filled with about 3 or 4 heaping spoons of sugar. I don't stop until after I am full. In other words I keep eating until they have stopped. After washing my hands I lean back and take a breath full of second-hand smoke from the smoking chief sitting upwind from me. It actually relaxes me a little bit and I go into a slight state of delirium.
It was Thanksgiving every day. I gained seven pounds. It was a miracle. Well not quite. That's what happens when you overeat. So what did I learn from my experiment? I learned that I can't hang with the big boys like I use to. Ha, what else? I saw for myself the cause of one of the fastest growing problems here in Samoa. Diabetes and Hypertension. The correlation between weight and health is for real and we all know it. But there are still some who haven't had the proper health education to make better choices regarding their diet.I have decided to make this my new priority for my last 9 months in Samoa. Along with about 4 other volunteers and local nurses we are going to be doing diabetes/hypertension awareness seminars starting next year. This is of course if we get approval from the government.In the meantime I am trying to do some fund-raising for the seminars as well as assist the hospitals get some new blood pressure and blood sugar testing equipment. I am asking for your help in making this possible. If you would like to know how you can assist with this project please email me back with the following information.
Name _________________ Phone ________________
Address ______________ Email ________________ ______________ ______________
A much more detailed project plan will be sent to those who wish to help. Feel free to forward this email to anyone you think might be interested. It's been great getting emails from most of you and I'm sorry to those that I haven't responded to personally. But I will do better I promise. I'll be thinking of you all over the holidays and to those of you with some extra cash, I only have 9 more months here so if you want to get away the time to plan is now!
Cheers,
Jim "
For those who wish to contact Jim directly, his email is: jmetz06@gmail.com and his blog is: jmsamoatrip.blogspot.com .
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