I made it!!!

I finally started a blog to document my adventure on the wonderful islands that make up American Samoa in the South Pacific. I have never had a blog before, so this is new to me. I am very excited to share this adventure with my friends and family back home and all over the world. Please enjoy!!!!!! :)

I arrived in American Samoa on July 16th late at night around 11 pm. About 23 of the other WorldTeach volunteers and I met in LA for a day and then were greeted at the airport in Pago Pago by wonderful WorldTeach staff and other Samoans. Nearly the entire island of Tutuila is now aware that the Palagi (white people, pronounced Palangi) Worldteachers are now on island. When I was at a small grocery store the other day a friendly man working there asked if we were teachers and was very kind and appreciative towards us because he has a daughter in high school now and is happy we are here to help. WorldTeach seems to have a good reputation on island, and the people here are INCREDIBLY friendly. They may be a bit shy at first, but once I say HI or Talofa ("hi" in Samoan) to them, they respond very positively and respectfully. Many of them wave at me first too! From what I can tell they really are wonderful people. I don't know if I just have the experience of Ghana behind me making all of this easier, if I am still very much in the honey moon stage of culture shock, or if this island truly is the "island of happiness" as one of the DOE (Department of Education) speakers told us today, but so far I really love American Samoa adn the people here, and it does seem to be more developed than Ghana. I know it will have its ups and downs and teaching for the first time will certainly have its challenges, but I am determined to make the most of this experience! I hope to learn a lot and also help this wonderful island out in whatever way I can.

Here are my initial impressions thus far. Mind you, everyone's experience is different and beautiful in its own way.

1.) I have been saying Samoa wrong. I will have to tell you how it really sounds when I next talk to you. I am trying to learn how to speak Samoan right now, but many people here seem to speak English fairly well.

2.) The majority of Samoans are not too concerned with their size. The norm is NOT to be small and skinny. (Yay!! I don't have to obsess over that for a whole year... and if I come back very large, DEAL WITH IT! ;) ).

3.) They have dark, long, poofy hair and tattoos are normal... Samoan tattoos.

4.) There are two McDonald's in American Samoa (both on Tutuila).

5.) Fa'afetai means thank you!

6.) THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND ISLAND LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL!!!

7.) Yes, I have already seen a lot of h.s. football players... much like if I were still at Boys Town.

8.) Have I mentioned that everyone seems to be extremely friendly and inviting?!

9.) Many of the homes I have seen have tombs in their back or front yards. They bury their loved ones right next to their houses.

10.) Fale means house. Now it is mainly referred to open shelters with pillars and cool, round roofs.

11.) Right now the weather is pretty much amazing! It does get warm and sticky but has been breezy and even cool the past few days. It will get warmer.. much warmer from what I hear. The sun is certainly not always out, but things do get even more beautiful (and warmer) when it peeks through the clouds. There has been a short but good rain shower everyday so far.

12.) The bathroom showers at Nu'uuli (the voc tech h.s. where we are staying for orientation) have much to be desired but work!!! And that is all that really matters. :)

13.) They are not called sarongs. They are lava lavas!!!

14.) I haven't gotten bit by any stray dogs yet and don't plan to. Two of them barked at me and came at me a bit on my job yesterday, but I just yelled hula? at them and ran faster (though they said running can trigger them... meh..) :)

15.) If you have not gone for a jog along the Pacific Ocean you have not LIVED!!! (personal opinion) Nothing can beat jogging in a cornfield in Iowa (because that is my roots), but it is freaking AMAZING to run with the blue sky above you and the waves from the ocean crashing just below you.... WOW.

I could go on and on, but I better not. This is just my first impression, and I am sure to have many more experiences, feelings, and judgments along the way. I am happy to be with such an AMAZING group of volunteers... they truly are incredible people. No one can ever replace my friends and family, but I am always open to meeting new people and developing relationships with them, and this has to be one of the best group of people I could ever hope to get to know. We are all pretty similar, and I already feel myself coming out of my shell more and more and being happy with who I am while learning and changing all at the same time. It is a beautiful thing.

I will write more later!! Lots of Island Love sent from me and all of American Samoa to you! <3

DISCLAIMER: The views on this blog are not that of WorldTeach.