Field Trip and Famous Females!

Field Trip to the National Park

All of us in the NPS office- we were the first school group to be in the new facility!

A few weeks ago we had our field trip to the National Park of American Samoa!!  Although planning it and the actual execution of it was stressful and we were seriously cramped for time, it was worth it.  I handed out 40 permission slips for my most well-behaved students, and I only got 25 back  (despite the complaints that I got from 100 of my students about not being able to go on the field trip and that they had bugged me all year to go on one...) so it was nice to have a small group of (more) responsible students with me.  The bus ride there was a highlight- the road to Vatia goes over extremely steep mountains, and a foot from the wheels of the bus are cliffs that go straight down- sometimes to the ocean.  It was kind of like a rollercoaster ride.  All I could imagine was putting some snow on those slopes and throwing on a pair of skis!!!  Some of the smaller roads/driveways that I saw I kept mistakenly thinking," HOW do they get up there when it snows?!?!"  Then I remembered.  Hahah.  My students were pretty excited as they looked out the window from such an elevation- we could see all of Pago Harbor and beyond!

Most of the students had never been to the National Park before, and they don't go hiking, so we went on a short nature walk guided by the park ranger and learned about the Samoan history of the area.  We also got to do some birdwatching- watching my kids use binoculars was hilarious.  Pua (one of our rangers who had come into our classroom to talk about National Parks before) led the short hike (which was by no means "short" by my students' standards) and he spoke in Samoan to the students about their ancestors who had lived there. We got to see a star mount and a grinding stone, but I'll have to go back and get the story in English! The responses I got back from them on their finals about the field trip, or the National Park presentation we had in class, or the NOAA presentation we had in class (extra credit questions) were extremely positive.  Now everyone wants another field trip- I think we may try to go to the Ocean Center in the spring to see the "Science on a Sphere" presentations.

Valerie and our one parent chaperone! Fa'afetai tele lava!

They were hiding as we walked back up the trail, apparently trying to scare our group

Yeaaaaa La'au!

Pua having everyone close their eyes and listen to the sounds their ancient ancestors heard when they lived there

Mealelei in the new NPS office

Jeff, Wilson, Phoenix, Faia'ai, Ricky, and Petelo 

The Miss South Pacific Pageant  was really awesome to be a part of! We got fancy "backstage usher" passes with our names on them (sent from New Zealand!) and had a few days of planning/rehearsal and then had the real thing!! We had to get special black & white puletasis made. Miss Fiji was the reigning Miss South Pacific from last year.  We got to meet all the girls and talk with them a bit, and see their GORGEOUS clothes/traditional wear up close.  The contestants were:
Miss Samoa
Miss American Samoa - Arrielle Maloata who lives right behind us in Malaeloa
Miss Hawaiian Islands
Miss Aotearoa (New Zealand)
Miss Tokelau
Miss Papua New Guinea
Miss Cook Islands
Miss Fiji
Miss Solomon Islands
Miss Tonga

They were all really nice and thankful for our help backstage (it got crazy at times- like when they were all supposed to be out on stage but only Miss Hawaii was there!!!). There were corporate tables only for this event and they were $750 per table- with beautiful bouquets, beer, wine and everything.  I helped out at the exit door from the stage, so I basically opened the door for them as they came off stage and made sure nobody went near that door.  It also meant I got to peek and watch the show from the back- or at least what I could see!  

Listening to Pua as he shows us Pola Island

Kristina, Amber, and I had a great time talking with Miss AmSam- obvi- and we had seen her at many events on island so far.  She's in the army and said she's really not a pageant girl at all, but got kind of persuaded (read: forced) into it. She's super bubbly and also beautiful, and was really funny.  I was partial to Miss Fiji- she seemed like an environmentalist- studying journalism and marine affairs at the University of the South Pacific- where my fellow science teacher, Wayne, went.  It was all in the news about how Miss Fiji should have won. All of their traditional wear, and their talents, like dancing or singing, were just amazing. Miss Tonga is a social worker, and did a great job but ended up not placing.  It was cool to experience a pageant unlike the ones full of super skinny white girls in the states- all of the contestants were so beautiful in their own way, and a lot of them come from very modest upbringings,  and their families still have very little money.  The way they chose to describe their clothing- by talking about what parts of the natural world inspired them- they usually talked about the ocean, turtles, sharks, etc- was so cool.  I love the islands!!  

A photo the National Park took for us-- I think it was staged...but when I showed them the picture they SWORE they were looking at a bird!

My puletasi for the Miss South Pacific Pageant

Unfortunately we were told that we couldn't take pictures and part of our job backstage was to stop people from taking pictures- but then the very people who told us to not let that happen started letting people take pictures. That's Samoa for ya.  So we didn't get any pictures- just 1 of us volunteers in our fancy black and white puletasis.  As usual, we were given lots of food after the show. Miss Samoa ended up winning, Miss American Samoa got 4th runner up. I was super surprised by the results and that Miss Tonga and Miss New Zealand didn't get honored for what I think they deserved.

Olepa, Ashley, Me, Mealelei, Gabriel, Miliama, and Silao

Cheeky boys & Miss!

Amber, Petelo, & Ricky after the hike

On another note, I got a necklace from some of Kristina's students today, a note from one of my students/ running club boys wishing me a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year and about every well wish you could ever think of, and just overall renewal of knowing I should be here. Some of the cheekiest answers I got on final exams were, "I don't know Miss, Merry Christmas, I love you" (which was the same senior's answer for more than 1 question....).  I always tell them never to leave questions blank and just write ANYTHING and they will at least get a point for not leaving it blank, so hey, he got a point. There were so many "Merry Christmas" notes at the end of the finals- you would hardly ever see that in the states!!! Or maybe I've just forgotten high school. I had to sub for another teacher's class today and proctor their final, and everything that the students said to me, and their concern for my return in the spring semester, has made me feel really responsible for these students' educations, and I once again realize how difficult it will be to leave in June.

I still need to write about the Leone High School Taumafai Swing Choir Concert...which was amazing. I have some great video from it... and our Western District Choir - the Christmas Program that I sang in and was on TV for!!!  Headed to NZ on Sunday...... too many stories to tell upon my return!!!

Sending my thoughts from American Samoa to Samoa, Fiji, and Connecticut and wherever you all are!!

There are many other things I would have liked to be posting about right now- the Miss South Pacific Pageant, Leone High School Swing Choir (my students were AMAZING and that will take a whole other blog post), our field trip to the National Park, but I think it's important for me to take some time and reflect on what is going on back near home in Connecticut.

After Wednesday and Thursday off from school as cyclone days (in which we only got some rain and wind, but Samoa (formerly Western Samoa) got hit and totally devastated), we went back to school this morning (for a half day, since we aren't really in the clear of gales, flash floods, or storm surges from the now Category 5 Cyclone Evan which is headed for Fiji). Seeing the news about how Evan has destroyed many of my students' extended families' homes in Samoa has been hard; when I asked them if their families in Samoa were okay, most of them said "no", and that they were without food and water or they simply could not reach some of them.

Back in Leone, we had collected rain water to flush the toilets with (because when the power goes out we don't get water), made sure we had flashlights, plenty of food, drinking water, etc, and made preparations to have a cyclone party all night (aka guacamole, chicken, drinks etc).

Although we were excited about the possibility of getting a hurricane, we are so lucky.  A cat-2 hurricane passing quickly over us could have been exciting- but only because I know we would  be safe in our well-built homes and because I am an adrenaline chaser who enjoys storms and because I've been lucky enough to have never experienced the true devastation of a hurricane.  However, I found out after a night of sleeping at Kristina's on her couch (because the hurricane was supposed to hit us in the middle of the night at that point and we weren't sure what the repercussions would be, so we figured it'd be best to be in the same place) with a little bit of high winds (hardly at all) and rain, I realized that I am TERRIFIED of high winds!!!  So, if the hurricane had ever hit, I probably would have crapped the bed.  Unfortunately, Evan not hitting us meant it just SAT over Samoa (again, not American Samoa) for 2-3 days and flattened it.  2 children drowned, and there was 1 other fatality thus far.  And Samoa doesn't have the kind of aid from the US that American Samoa gets- so they are virtually on their own (though I hope not) to rebuild from this.  It made me think about the woman in Samoa who I've sent a microloan to through Kiva (for those of you who don't know what KIVA is, you should check it out!! http://www.kiva.org/), a fisher(wo)man, who needed money to fix her boat.  She has started paying it back, and now I wonder if there will be a long gap before she continues to.  I have many questions-  is her boat okay? Is she okay?  Can she start work again right away? Is her family alright?  What other businesses/livelihoods have her and her family lost from the storm?  Cyclone Evan was the 2nd worst hurricane to hit Samoa in recorded history, and our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbor islands.

Now, Evan is headed straight for Fiji- another island nation that we got to know some about through the Miss South Pacific Pageant (I think Miss Fiji should have won!)- but now it's a category 5.  Fiji is preparing to basically be decimated.  I wonder what it would be like to KNOW your small island nation is about to be destroyed and there isn't too much you can do to prepare for it.  I guess it could be similar to the way I think of climate change....we're pretty much screwed, but we still need to hope for the best.

This also made me think about how these small island nations in the South Pacific are largely forgotten from any news back home. We had only about a days warning for Evan, and are now wondering about this other tropical depression to the East and how we would ever know if it even had turned into a tropical storm- the weather stations here are slow and even NOAA - who has a weather station here- doesn't have much focused on this part of the world.  Hearing about the destruction in Samoa made me realize that I really have developed at least a small connection thus far to not only the island of Tutuila in American Samoa, but also the South Pacific and general, the people here, the way of life, etc.  I'm troubled and sad about what has happened to Samoa; I can't imagine how I'd feel if it was this island that was really suffering from the hurricane.  Now I can begin to imagine what it felt like for the WT volunteers in Leone when Leone was destroyed from the tsunami in 2009.  Part of my heart is in, and will probably always be, in the South Pacific.

This morning, Kristina told me there was a school shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, but I didn't realize the magnitude of it. Once I got to school and started looking at the news, I soon had to close my computer so that my students wouldn't come in and see that I had been crying.

This makes me think about a lot, some of which is even too personal to write about in my blog- which I generally share everything in.  All I wanted to do during school was talk to my parents and give them a huge hug, and jump into a foam play pit with 20 elementary schoolers and play with them all day (that says a lot, because I don't even love little children the ways all of you probably do at this point in my life!).

American Samoa has its own set of issues and problems, but we do not see school shootings here.  While on the bus on my way to use the internet, I saw all the people outside in the rain sitting next to their banana/papaya/taro/flower/coconut stands, and it made me think once again about the stark contrast between our society at home and my current life here and what Samoan life is like.  
Home: lots of money, lots of stuff, lots of education, lots of violence (in certain places, but in general more than here).  
American Samoa: not much money, not much stuff, a developing educational system, but not much serious crime.  I get that there are many, MANY reasons why there is such a difference, and that things like crime rate can also be attributed to the fact that the United States covers a HUGE area in comparison to this tiny island, but I still can't help but think, "this kind of thing would never happen here".  And for now, it certainly wouldn't here in Samoa.  Sure, kids throw rocks at each other after intense football games and beat each other up during school (often times while both are laughing), but a gun massacre involving children would simply not happen here. Is one place better than the other?  Absolutely not.  But seeing both cultures from inside and out has helped me to understand how my values fit somewhere in the middle- a place where I've felt most of my life.... in most situations.... "in the middle".  It's like that cookie commercial where they squeeze the cream in the middle and start singing, "smack dab, in the middle! Squeezed in the middle....).  

I've always been "in the middle"-torn- sand or snow, hot or cold, forests of Vermont and Maine, or oceans, and coral reefs and scuba diving.  And those are just the "either/ors" that I've most recently been fumbling through my brain about.  Samoa has so much that I want to have forever- coral reefs, marine-related jobs, a culture so unique and different from my own in so many amazing ways (an outstanding emphasis on the arts, family, and the simple things in life, not focused on material goods...oh and food (but that is no different than in the Cleaver family), and the ability to let me be part of a bigger change in a place that is transitioning into the larger global context while still trying to keep its traditions and culture close).  But home has its own pulls that I don't even need to bother mentioning- family, friends, seasons, higher education, the Celtics *cough*, and so much more.  

Some things that we make a big deal of at home just don't matter here. And it's hysterical and awesome (though sometimes scary).  Like seeing people driving SUVs around with babies standing up in the front seat with the windows wide open.  Or- no can opener? Not a problem.  Just chop the aluminum can open with a machete. Easy and done.  Or- why do we need running/hiking shoes?? "Can't we just do it in flip flops?"  Samoans are a hardy bunch.  There is mountain hardy- brawny- and there is island hardy. Two different kinds- but neither stronger than the other!! Many of the things I see here we would see as ridiculous, dangerous, or ethically wrong, but they just aren't seen that way here. But Samoans have every right to look into our culture and say to us, "that shit is fucked up!!!!" pardon my English.  One big fear of Samoans moving off the island is all the trouble they may face, or get into themselves.  A common comment about moving to the states is fear about the violence they hear about on the news.  On an island that is 40 miles long with about 60,000 people on it, there are certain things they worry about here ("make sure that when you fight Tafuna after the football game that you don't hit your cousin...but you can hit his friends....", or "be sure to ask your parents if you're related before you start dating") and certain things that are our own American problems- like that of a school shooting and the tragic death of 20-something elementary school children.

Amber's current Facebook status says it best (although if I could just bring the seasons, all my family and friends to here, THEN it would be true for me):
 "Things like this shooting make me want to stay in Samoa forever."

This tragedy makes me think about a lot more, but this was meant to be a short journal entry. Anyway, Amber told me a Mr. Rogers quote that is very fitting right now (and I love Mr Rogers, so what could be more comforting): "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world."

It is so true.  There are so many helpers.  The police officers, doctors, nurses, teachers, people who try to treat and prevent these things from happening- social workers, therapists, counselors, psychiatrists, and parents.  This makes me so thankful for all these people out there- and I can proudly say I know many people in all of these professions.  They are all heroes.  

This also makes me think of how much support, love, and compassion people who witness these kinds of things have shown.  The responses I saw even just on Facebook in a few hours were unbelievable.  I'm sure all of you have read many that brought tears to your eyes.
(hopefully none of the following people care that I've stolen your stuff.... there aren't any copyright/plagiarism laws in Samoa, so too bad for you if you didn't want it on here!!)

A fellow WorldTeacher on Manu'a:
"My hearts breaks for all the loved ones of the people involved in the tragedy in CT. Being a 4th grade teacher, this couldn't hit closer to home."

A friend I went to Umiami with and was with last summer in the Bay Islands:
"I made sure to hug my wonderful third graders a little tighter today...my heart goes out entirely to those affected in Connecticut. How someone could cause that much harm to a child really blows my mind. I am deeply enraged and saddened by this senseless and evil act. Please send good thoughts and prayers their way, I couldn't even begin to imagine how much those affected are hurting."

And my best friend since the first day of 6th grade, and current elementary school teacher:
"Thoughts and prayers are with all of those families, students, and teachers in Newtown during this terrible tragedy...I am blessed to be in a profession where those I work with are like me, who are so passionate and care about their students so much that they would give their life for the kids, our kids, that we teach each day. Love love love my 2nd grade babies and all those students at WR ♥"

Best friend from college, a social worker in Colorado:
"A tragedy that defies all words and reason... my heart hurts for the families and community of Newtown."

And then Obama's words, which have much truth:
 "As a country, we have been through this too many times. We're going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics."

I'd also like to share one of my favorite songs- one that was kind of a "moral compass" song if you will- during my time with Common Tides in the Bay Island of Honduras, and has followed me across the world.  You know you're with good people when they like good music, and I can thank my Common Tides buddies for being just awesome good people!!  We listened to (and I was introduced to) a lot of Matisyahu.  Many of you know it, some may not. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRmBChQjZPs

Sometimes I lay under the moon
and thank God I'm breathing
then I pray don't take me soon
cause I am here for a reason
Sometimes in my tears I drown
but I never let it get me down
so when negativity surrounds
I know some day it'll all turn around
because
all my life I've been waiting for
I've been praying for
for the people to say
that we don't wanna fight no more
there'll be no more wars
and our children will play
one day

Love love love you all, thinking of you and everyone else too!
Sara

November updates- Beauty Pageants, Christmas Choirs, and Thanksgiving!

So I promised to post again "soon"...within a month is good right?  "Yes, Miss".  I know I said I'd write about Spirit Week & Halloween, Tisa's Barefoot Bar Annual Tattoo Festival, and football, so I will briefly touch upon those. But most importantly.... Thanksgiving!!! Asofa'afetai!!  And our awesome Christmas Choir (yes, I'm singing....).

Spirit week was nuts, there were different costumes for each day of the week.  We had a twin day (Kristina and I dressed up as twinsies in our ridiculous fish dresses that we found on island), a business day (didn't partake in that one- just wore a puletasi..that's the only "business" attire I have here!), a vampire day (got some fangs), Yellow fever (which is green and yellow Leone spirit day), and a free-costume (wear whatever you want) day.  I chose to dress up like a Samoan dude- since dressing up like the opposite sex is huge here.  I had one student dress up as a WorldTeacher- she made an ID tag that said "Miss Cleaver" on it!  Hahahha.  I had another boy dress up as an REALLY good Samoan girl- high heels, stuffed bra, everything. We took a picture together :)

The student on the right is being a WorldTeacher (Miss Cleaver) for Spirit Week!

We switched!!

We then had a crazy assembly, as usual, on Halloween- when I dressed up like a hippie in my tie-dye shirt (from Maine) and blue tie-dye skirt  (from Vermont) and wore my headband.  Can't remember if I added the Tevas in for a perfect Vermonter hippie touch.

Ava ceremony with Miss American Samoa

During Orientation, I had sworn I would be at Tisa's at least once a month.  It's basically the only place on the island where you can wear a bikini, and drink wonderful drinks by the ocean.  Tisa is clearly a wicked awesome person - in the words of a true Bostonian.  She's a huge conservationist, and her boyfriend "Candyman" is apparently a hotshot fishermen who knows tons about the fisheries and sustainability around here.  Unfortunately, I hadn't been back to Tisa's (it's way on the East Side) since orientation, and during Tattoo Fest would not have been the time to talk to either of them.  So I'm definitely going to need to make a trip back on a less busy weekend and spend some quality time with both of them and hearing all about marine conservation on the island.  The Tatau Festival was so cool though.  We got there at just the right time- right before the prayer and introduction, as well as the ava ceremony with Miss American Samoa.  I had a really long video of it all, but for some reason it won't go onto my computer from my camera. There were people from all over the world there to see the festival- a few palagis who had been born in Samoa and came back to see it.  I watched some people get tapped (the traditional Samoan method for getting a tatau), and others just get regular tattoos (like Mike!).  After soaking in some of the Samoan cultural experience to be had that day, I grabbed a pina colada and headed down to the beach with the other WorldTeachers. It was "seki a" to just be having a chill day by the ocean with a drink in my hand.  Tisa's reminded me of what all the bars in Honduras were like- right on the beach, full of ocean-deco, and wonderful, ocean-loving people.  Made me miss the Bay Islands. 

Getting tapped

Miss American Samoa at Tisa's- Ava ceremony

We then packed 15 palagis in the back of a pickup truck, and went for a ride way out on the East Side to get some of the best burgers on island near Mike and Jessica's house.  They were about to close but stayed open for 15 people worth of business!!  We took some pictures while waiting for burgers, and then began the long shuttle home back to the West Side.  I have a hysterical video of that car ride- Samoans had never seen so many palagis in one truck!!!

The burger place

Me and Stephanie at the burger place

Me and Kristina at Tisa's :)

Tisa (notice her awesome traditional Samoan tataus) and Veronica- our field director

Praying before semi-finals

Football.  Our varsity team made it to the Championship after beating Fagaitua- which was quite the upset.  We played Tafuna in the Championship- our arch rivals, unless they are playing an East Side school like Fagaitua, then we are friends. I still don't get it .  All I know is I don't like them- they are my football equivalent of the Yankees. Tafuna is the largest high school here and the kids are TERRIFYING.  A lot of students go there just to play football, so we were definitely the underdog.  Tafuna has won a lot of championships and we haven't won for several years, so we really wanted it but it just didn't come out in the game. I've actually picked up a bit about football since being here- not quite in the dark so much anymore!  We had another insane pep rally the Friday before the game- Miss American Samoa also came to that (she was a Leone alum, from the village right behind our house), and as Miss A.S. she comes to all the island's major events.  Only 2 of my students got suspended for taking shirts off, licking their nipples, and trying to hump the fa'afafines who went up on stage to dance.  At the time though, no action was taken- they were too hilarious to stop.  This is Samoa.

Psyched that we won!!! 

                                                           

On to the championship against Tafuna!!!

We played a miserable game- lost by 30 points or something ridiculous.  But the spirit here is SO big.  I loved being a part of something that big again (football was big in Miami, but I didn't love it, and hockey was big at UVM but the spirit was always somewhat lacking there).  It reminded me of an LHS Basketball game multiplied by like 50,000. Parents, cousins, students, faculty, and staff all cheered their hearts out and there were so many different shirts with players' pictures on them, signs, banners, big foam hands and football helmets, and even stuffed lions (Go Leone Lions!).  The stadium just boomed with noise from both sides.  Also cool was that the week before the game, students went all over the West side and put up signs and Leone banners, so our whole village was decorated green and yellow.  I had a shirt made with all my players' names signed on it, and the coaches gave a few of us "For Life"  shirts ("Once a Lion, Always a Lion") to wear.

With our Lions spirit- a student gave me the flag!

Praying before going on onto the field- nice huge lion in the stands??!

It was sad seeing football season done, but I am getting excited for basketball!!! Especially because I know all the rules.

Lions vs. Warriors

Samoan Thanksgiving- Asofa'afetai (Day of Thanks)

Before the Turkey Run- I won a turkey and a duck!!

            The Wednesday before Thanksgiving we had the Turkey Run at Leone High, which was bittersweet.  I got 1st place for girls (I'm pretty sure I'm the only girl who even ran the whole way... so don't be too pleased!!) We woke up around 3am and walked in the pitch black to school (the stars were MAGNIFICENT and we could see the Milky Way so clearly!!).  Dogs made me nervous but we didn't have any problems- most likely because we walked with Amber and dogs have learned not to mess with her anymore- she doesn't take any crap, since she's been attacked by a bear before when she worked for the National Park Service, so dogs aren't really an issue for her.  Plus we walked with Drew too, and dogs think he is just the tastiest- he's been bit a few times, once attacked really bad by a pack of dogs and had to go to the hospital.  Anyway, we got to the school and the race started around 430, and I was running for the freshmen class since I'm an advisor for them.  It was about 4.5 miles, and a lot of it was in the dark- some places had absolutely no light so I kind of dragged my feet trying not to sprain my ankle in a pothole!!  At first I was with a group of people, but after the first few water stations and after the first mile I was totally on my own.  I was terrified of dogs at first, since I didn't know the route and wasn't sure where they were, but the group of really fast 20 or so guys in front of me must have already riled them up enough that people came out and calmed their dogs down, because I didn't have any problems.  It was such a pleasant run, so quite and peaceful out. As I got to miles 3-4, the sun started rising and I was just turning towards Sliding Rock in Vailoloa (on the ocean) to see the sunrise over the Pacific. I was totally alone and it was GORGEOUS.  I have to admit I slowed down for the few, wishing I had my iphone once again to take a picture, haha!  My 2 running club boys came in 2nd and 3rd for the whole race- I was so proud!  I think there were made 100-150 people in the race and there were maybe 20 boys in front of me.  For not running much, I was pleased with my performance!  The administration makes sure that basically every family goes home with a turkey (there were SO many turkeys to give away!!!), so there were a lot of awards haha.  We were at the school until about 9am (in that time there was also about 30 mins of Zumba), and I got a turkey and a duck.  We had Moana use the turkey for the Thanksgiving BBQ the next day, and I still need to figure out what to do with the duck. 


Anyway, we came home and I fell asleep for a few more hours- legs exhausted. Was surprised I didn't actually get too too sore, but I stretched more than I ever have before haha.

Utumea- perfection?

            For Thanksgiving, Alison drove us up to Utumea to meet the Purcells at their family's beach.  The beach in Utumea, like many of the beaches in American Samoa, is private- just for the families who live in the village (nobody really keeps track of this, but it would be looked down upon if a random palagi showed up at the beach!).  The Purcells have told us we can go there whenever we want- which is awesome since it's such a beautiful beach.  One of my favorite students lives in Utumea, and we saw her swimming there with her family too.  Kristina, Jill, Alison, Amber, Drew, and I all met the family at the beach near their relatives' old house- they have all moved off island since, so the house is abandoned.  I'm not sure if both the houses there were theirs, but one was totally destroyed by the tsunami.  From Utumea to Leone was hit really bad because of the way the bay is shaped, and there are still FEMA tents and a lot of damage from it, though they are now fixing the road.  All of the Purcells were there, so it was nice to hang out with the kids a bit and have some Thanksgiving BBQ :)

Purcells land in Utumea

House destroyed by tsunami in 2009

Fema tents on the way to Utumea

Taking in what I'm thankful for :)

Our Thanksgiving table!

Dad- I need some help with my lobsters.... you make them much better!!!

Even in Samoa, bbq isn't traditional Thanksgiving, but I can't complain about getting to snorkel  on Thanksgiving.  Doesn't happen every year!  There was a Little-Mermaid looking rock in the water that Amber and I acted out the Little Mermaid scene from when she comes out of the ocean and the wave crashes against the rock.  Not a bad Asofa'afetai.  Very lelei (means nice).

Miss South Pacific Pageant & Christmas Choir

So, one thing about Samoa is that you kind of just end up being involved in some random things that you don't really know how you got yourself into.  We are now helping out with the Miss South Pacific Pageant (contestants from 10 countries all over the Pacific, from Micronesia to Australia, Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, the Cook Islands, etc).  It's a HUGE deal, and we've met Miss American Samoa several times at events all over the island.  Usually they have tables for the public, but this year they only have corporate tables and they are running for $750 each, which is ridiculously expensive for Samoa.  Us girls are helping Moana out and just got our special official "Backstage Usher" passes with our names on them!  We probably won't get to see much of the show, but it should be exciting nonetheless. We are getting the required puletasis made, and have rehearsals this week.  It is December 8th, so a post after will be necessary!

I am also now involved in the Christmas Choir for Leone High School. For those of you who know me, you know that singing is not my strong point. That doesn't mean I don't do it- like all the time- but the last choir I was in I was forced to be in- 7th grade.  Anyway, all Leone staff are to participate in the program that we will put on- I'm not sure for who, but I'll be there, singing in Samoan and dancing. We get out of school at 1:40 every day for a few weeks to practice after school in the burning hot cafeteria after school.  All of the music is in Samoan, as are the instructions, and there isn't really sheet music, just music that says the words on it and doesn't bother to mention when to repeat words, or even what part we are supposed to sing (Kristina and I are altos- though sometimes we think we should be in the back with the all-male tenor section).  It's crazy how the fa'afafines can sing the soprano part- which Amber also sings, such high notes!!  The fa'afafines sometimes like to mess around and sing the soprano part and then use their real man voices to chime in with the bass- it's hysterical.  Anyway, Kristina and I spend most of the time laughing. We've gotten the pronunciations down for the most part, but never really know when to sing, so we've started just paying close attention to the loud, talented females that accompany us in the alto section.   Though the Christmas songs aren't the ones we are familiar with, we are singing some familiar melodies- like Ode to Joy, but with different Samoan lyrics, mostly about God. Scratch that- it's ALL about God.  Haven't been to Church in a while, so it's probably best.

Here's one of our songs:

Iesu e lo'u olataga

Ou te fefe ia te ai

E ui I faaosoosoga

E te faamamalu mai

Oe o lo'u Alii

Lo'u Alii mamana

E te faamalosi mai

O lau lava afioga

Ou te manumalo ai

Oe o lo'u Alii ou te manumalo ai

E ta'ita'itonuina

I le ola e tumau

Ia sauni ai viiga

Ia te oe e faavavau

Me and Kristina at the Teacher of the Year Dinner 

Tutuila WorldTeachers at the dinner in our puletasis!

On Friday we had the Teacher of the Year banquet in Utelei, for a teacher at Tafuna High School. All the WorldTeachers attended.  One palagi teacher at Leone almost got it this year, so we supported him getting his award for Teacher of the Year at Leone, and we supported Mr. Gopal in his past award a few years ago.  The people who received awards had to dance siva and got lei'd many times- they must've been quite weighed down with flowers- literally their heads were buried while they gave speeches.  What's more unbelievable (which I should be used to by now but am still amazed), is the amount of food we each got.  There were about 8 of us at each table.  NHS students from Samoana High started bringing out trays of food- we all figured that there would be like 2 trays per table for us to share. Nope. We EACH got our OWN tray.  The food actually wasn't very good, but then they ALSO had us pack up one whole other tray to bring home with us!  One will never starve in Samoa.

We thought it was 2 per table.........

.....It was ONE TRAY PER PERSON!!! 

After the dinner.... before they made us take more food home

Kristina at airport beach- first time our skin is fully exposed to the sun!!!!

One last note- a few weeks ago we went to Airport beach- where we could actually wear bikinis since nobody else was there!!!!  Such good snorkeling. My underwater goPro ran out of battery, but we caught some pics of me trying to remake Castaway with the raft and Wilson we found on the beach, probably had been used for Palolo.  Aiport Beach is a little hike to get to, and within the few minutes it took my sunburn began.  We all FRIED that day.  Samoan sun is nothing to mess around with. Most times we are outside we are trying to hide from it's heat and intensity.  Unfortunately, since we were in the water so long, we didn't realize we were all getting fried. Plus, the airport and tarmac is right there, so the intensity of the sun reflected off the airport and water is like 34920432 times worse.  To say the least, we all spent the next few days whining every time we moved that our skin felt like it was being torn off, peeling dead skin off, and reapplying aloe.  Will try to not make that mistake again.

trying to find a place where I won't sink onto coral.....

Getting the raft ready for departure.....

......aaaaand FAIL.

Walking back from Airport Beach

My new goal for this month is to start taking more pictures- I know I have a lot in this post but I think about all the things I wish I had documented (or will wish I had within the next 6 months!). 

Anyway, time to go lesson plan and try to do some ab exercises to get rid of this little Samoan stomach I've developed.... love you all and miss you!! Happy December and enjoy the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!!  The holidays are definitely a difficult time not to be home, in fact, these past few weeks have been the first time that I've really felt homesick for a more lengthy period of time, but there are so many events to be a part of here that it's hard to ever feel left out!