Off to Kiwi Land

I’m off to New Zealand tomorrow! Ethan and I can’t wait for some sweet vacation time. I just finished packing! Everything I need for 2 weeks in a duffle bag and backpack... this is a very proud moment for me......normally I would require 3 large suitcases and a moving truck :)


We plan to spend the next 2 weeks driving the North Island. We’ll visit Auckland, Pahia, Tauranga, Rotorua, Taupo, Wellington, New Plymouth and everything in between! We are hosteling it up, so every second is sure to be an adventure. The best part about it all... we will have 2 New Years eves, as we will be leaving New Zealand on January 1st and then traveling back across the international date line!


Wish us luck!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to All!

Our House

Taken from our plane ride back from Western Samoa

Since I've Been Gone

Yes, I am aware that I have severely neglected my blog for the past month and a half... So I will give you a brief overview of what we’ve been up to since the end of October. Maybe one day I’ll have time to revisit some of these truly awesome experiences.

-  Attended Samoana night and watch 4 hours of my students performing cultural dances.

-  Watched proudly as my YSS Youth Leaders gave presentations to the pulenu’u (village majors). Kids in Samoa are not supposed to voice opinions, especially not to the elder village leaders, so this was a big moment for them all.

-  Went worm hunting then ate the worms! Pololo are a type of sea worm that come from coral and spawn once a year 7 days after the first full moon in October. The worms fill the ocean as they mate.... and this makes them a Samoan delicacy. People line the ocean in wait. Then, at around 1 am the worms come, everyone rushes into the water with nets, catches as many worms as possible, then eats them. Exciting! It was a fun adventure and we made some new friends who were willing to help some palagi out.

-  Went to Tisa’s Tattoo Fest. No, I didn’t get a tattoo but watched some people get some pretty amazing ones.

-  Finally hiked to Fagatele Bay. This bay is a little slice of heaven! Imagine floating in the middle of the ocean, surrounded on 3 sides by tall, lush, green mountains, with no one else in sight (except Ethan & Alison)...... That’s what I did! So awesome!

-  Welcomed my Momma for the 2nd year in a row.

-  Travelled to the island of Savai’i in Western Samoa with Mom and Ethan.

-  Laid on a beach.

-  Jumped off a cliff next to the Aau Afu waterfalls.

-  Visited some blowholes.

-  Went into a bat cave.

-  Stood at the most western point on the earth (just before the international dateline) - Falealupo....And yes, there is a giant “X” there.

-  Celebrated Thanksgiving with a FiaFia night.

-  Took about a thousand pictures

-  Drank some awesome cocktails at Raci’s Beach Bar.

-  Met some awesome New Zealanders, and some Swiss & Austrian, too.

-  Kayaked in Pago Harbor. 

 Us at Fagatele Bay

 Ethan models at Fagatele Bay! Look at that face...I think he is growling for the camera!

 

 Alison & I hiking down!

 Western Samoa

American Samoa from the air.

 our beach fale

 Vacations Beach Fales

 

Mom buying a pineapple at the roadside stand.

 

Mom and I at the top of the canopy.

Oh Christmas Tree

It may not feel like Christmas outside, but at least we have our own little winter wonderland in the living room.

The Babes

Princess and Goober

The sweetest island dogs that have ever lived.

They know better to come into the house, but when they really want some attention, they put their paws just inside and flash their puppy dog eyes.

Later this day it began to rain pretty hard. For the first time ever Goober was brave enough to step inside and lay down on the mat....and, of course, he got to stay!

Aulelei = Beautiful

 

 On our drive home from work Ethan snapped this shot.

Around the Office

I thought I would give you a virtual tour of the PiCED office and introduce you to some of the people you might meet.

"Hi I'm Jessie! You're friendly Program Manager! Check out my newest puletasi!"

I'm trying to get Ethan to get more aloha shirts made. Ain't he cute in them?! 

 "Hello! What can I help you with? College Counseling? Or want to take my awesome Mac class?"

 Lori & Ethan

 Nape will great you with this smile when you come to PiCED

Christine is our AMAZING intern! She rocks!

Nomenta & Moe of our PIRC Staff

Dora of our PIRC Staff

Samoan Attire 401

It's time for the Puletasi Look of the Day!

Taaa dah! 

Licensed

About a month and a half ago, Ethan and I went to change over our drivers' licenses. If you plan to drive in Samoa for more than 30 days, they required you to get an AS license. Since the cops seem to enjoy pulling of palagi, we figured we should be on the safe side and follow the rules. 


We were both ridiculously excited about our new licenses that will one day make great souvenirs of our time on the Rock. I admit.. for the first few weeks I got a goofy grin when I was asked to show my license for things. It's the simple things in life.....

Yes, I photoshoped all the "good" info out, but I thought I would show you my new license!

(I'm probably one of the shortest people to get a Samoan license....Only the elementary schoolers are 5'1" here!)

Just "Hanging" Out

This is what Goober Doober and I do on weekends.....chill in the hammock. 
Well.....I hang in the hammock and he tries to snuggle and lick his way in.