1.)
We have to boil all of our water. It is not safe
to drink water from the faucet. It is kind of a long process, but so far we
haven’t run out of water. We bring 3 huge pots (for all 30 of us) to a boil and
let it boil for at least 10 minutes then take it off the heat and let it cool
down for a long time then put it in a dispenser that we use to fill up our
water bottles and drink!
2.)
There are so many sad looking dogs here. Many of
them are mean too!! If you are a dog lover it would probably really hurt you to
see the condition some of these dogs are in. I have been barked at and chased
by a few dogs already… usually while jogging. We were taught to yell “HALU!”
(stop/go away) at them really loudly and meanly and then pick up a rock or find
a “pretend” rock to pick up and pretend to throw at them or actually throw at
them if you have to. If they get really feisty I am sorry but I will throw
rocks or whatever I need to. It isn’t smart to go anywhere far away or unknown
alone at night. If I see a big group of dogs I try to find a different path or
at least walk on the other side of the street. Some of them are just protecting
their (or their owner’s) territories and others are just nasty little devils!!
I am not a fan of dogs as of now, but I do nottt plan on getting bit at all!! It
would be amazing if someone came in to try to deal with all the stray dogs…
3.)
I currently have approximately 20 bug bites. (It
got up to 40 just a few days later!) Bahhhh! They do itch quite a bit, but it
could be worse… I have at least 10 just on the left side of my left leg… it is
a popular spot for the mozzies apparently. We have mosquitoes in the states
too, and I have certainly gotten bit plenty of times in my life, but it is just
so hard to avoid it here because we spend a lot of time outside, and our room
leads to the open air, so it isn’t like I go straight from my car into my
apartment building into my individual apartment behind the closed door of my
bedroom and can escape them. We are outside a lot, and windows are always open,
so it is very hard to escape them. There is no malaria here!!!! (knock on wood)
like there was in Ghana, but they do still have cases of Dengue Fever. It comes
from mosquito bites and makes you dehydrated, get a high fever, and feel like
your bones are weak and breaking apparently. It can go away as long as it isn’t
the blood kind that can make you bleed internally apparently with just sleep,
lots of water, and Tylenol. It does not sound like any fun but for the most
part can be treated and will go away in not too long. It is a common virus in
the South Pacific. I do not plan on getting that either! J
4.)
We have been lucky to have air conditioning in a
few off our classrooms here at Nu’uuli, but I certainly am not expecting that
in my classroom at my school in Faga’itua. Our house does not have either. I am staying
positive that we will be fine either way! I had no AC in Ghana, and managed
fine… until the power went out and the fan stopped. Then it got to be a bit
difficult.
5.)
We do not have any hot faucet water, but the cold
showers will probably be appreciated more and more as it gets warmer and warmer.
6.)
Other things I associate with a developing
nation (territory) are lack of reliable transportation, poor healthcare, some citizens
with a very limited global view, struggling education systems, pollution, unstable
government, corruption, etc. It is so incredibly hard to measure those things,
and I am no expert in the area, yet a lot can be understood just by looking and talking to people. It does interest me a lot! There
are some things about Ghana that were so wonderful and some people who were so smart and wonderful (Akosua) but then there were also many things the nation
struggled with… that is the same with the US and American Samoa I think… all
nations have their strengths and weaknesses. When I first arrived on island I was
questioning how much of a developing nation (territory) American Samoa really
is, but now that I have seen more and heard more about the society and
infrastructure, I really do feel that it is developing and that I have been brought here
for a reason! I have to trust that, and I do.
Here is a fun little compare and contrast that I have
noticed: People in the states honk because you missed a green light and the
person behind you has to get somewhere ASAP and is super annoyed and impatient
with you. People in Ghana honked ALL. THE. TIME… for any reason, usually to
make you move because they were not about to slow down for a pedestrian. But
people in American honk to say hello!!! I have seen it many times where I hear
a honk and then the person near me waves and is happy to see the person who
they know honking at them! Those are just MY observations.
I didn’t want the intention of this blog to be depressing
and scary. I just wanted to provide you with a better idea of my reality and
maybe get you thinking about how nice your AC and tap water is!!! J I will post pictures later of some of the reality of living here... I think it is important to be honest and open to others about that. It is INCREDIBLE here, but it isn't just beaches and blue skies. It is about to become much more real for me too because I move to my isolated/stray dog infested but gorgeous/friendly/quiet village this Saturday!!!!!!! Wish me luck! :)
Now for some cool waterfall pictures!! On Tuesday, July 31,
2012, I hiked to some waterfalls a ways behind the Rainbow Laundromat near Carl’s
Jr. in town (that is how Samoans describe things..) J IT WAS AMAZING!!! I went with
Raina, Bethany, and Sarah Foley! It was a nice little hike. We crossed a stream
in a few different places, got lost a few times, found huge swarms of giant
mosquitoes, and then we were there! There were about 12 Samoans and 6 other
palagis there enjoying the waterfall. I absolutely loved it. Adventures like
that make me soooooooooOOOOoooo happy. We also tried to climb to the top of the waterfall but
didn’t make it. It was very steep, loose rocks were falling, and it was
slippery. We really wanted to try, but none of us were experts (though Sarah is
super athletic and Raina is from Hawaii and a great leader on hikes!). We just didn’t
trust ourselves enough to make it without something bad happening. It was a
valiant effort! We swam in the waterfall for awhile and just took in the natural beauty. The water was cold, but
the whole experience was so thrilling and beautiful. Wli Waterfall in Ghana is way more impressive than this one, but just remember that the picture will never do it justice. Enjoy!!! J
What?? Am I home? lol We found these pigs on our way to the hike!
The picture to the left I posted just because I wanted to show how they bury their loved ones right in front of/behind their homes..
The start of our hike!!!! SO pretty!
Sarah Foley leading the way! :) I love adventures!!! ;)
WATERFALL!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful hike with wonderful ladies!!!!!
Our attempt at going to the top of the waterfall.. I am making it look pretty easy, but it wasn't... if my feet would have slipped it would not have been pretty. That hill to the right defeated us, so we tried another route and still couldn't figure it out... maybe another time!
All smiles. :)
I reallyyyyyyyyyy love this picture.. <3 I kind of blend in with the rocks... right after Raina took the picture I hoisted myself up those rocks and climbed up the waterfall like Tarzan. HA!!! jk :D All of the water pics are courtesy of the amazing Raina btw.
Thanks for reading!
Here are your Samoan words of the day: tasi, lua, tolu, fa,
lima, ono, fitu, valu, iva, sefulu, sefulu tasi (one, two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven!) J
The “a” in fa has a macron over it, but I don’t know how to do that on the
computer. A macron is just a horizontal line above the vowel, and it makes the
vowel longer and emphasizes it.
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