Yes, We Live Here

This morning was an early one. We left the school at 7a to make it to a DOE (Department of Education) event by 7:30a. We got a quick breakfast and then were called up to the front to be individually introduced to all the system's directors, principals, VPs, counselors, and other school leaders. The island is thrilled to have WorldTeach so we are always specially introduced every place we go. It's a little bit odd, since we have been on TV 3 or 4 times, radio quite frequently, and newspaper almost daily. (Mom and Dad, I will send you a copy of Samoa News with my picture in it). They even announced us when our flight landed on the island. The DOE event was pretty short, but ceremony is important is Samoan culture, so it was very important that we were there. 

After a few hours of much needed downtime, we took a trip to the east side to visit $2 beach. (See the album!). Like almost all Samoan views, the scenery was amazing. And we played around the little island that was just 20 yards or so off the coast. We hung out here for a few hours, it was nice to just sit in the water and chat. Only about a hundred times did we say, "Yes, we live here!" It still hasn't sunk in that we actually live in suck a beautiful place. 

Once back at the school, the directors and a few PiCED members threw us a barbeque. It's now our Friday night ritual: bbq, socializing, then dancing. The dance club is in the "entertainment center" -- it's in the same complex as the bowling alley and batting cages. An interesting combo, but definitely a fun place. They have live music every Friday and Saturday, and it's a local hang out. Samoan dancing is beautiful because, even in the clubs, it incorporates many of the traditional moves and steps. The array of music is really funny. They usually play at least one country song, a little bit of hip hop, reggae, Samoan music, and random tunes like those from Grease! We were even able to introduce the cupid shuffle. The fa'fafine are so fun to watch. (The fa'fafine, which literally translates to 'in the way of the woman,' are the Samoan equivalent to transgender. They are men who take the name of, dress as, and act as a girl. They are completely accepted in Samoan culture since it's considered a gender, rather than sexual, issue. This is amazing since the island is deeply rooted in religion. But if a boy feels like he is a girl, then it's perfectly valid for him to take on that role.) Anyway, the fa'fafine are crazy dancers and strut their stuff on the dance floor! Our favorite songs of the night included "Fly Like Planes" and "Footloose!" 

I Teach

Yesterday I finally got a phone today! Yay! (If you are willing to pay for a international call just let me know and I will get you my number ;) I also discovered the island's teaching supply store. It's small and doesn't have too much, but the woman who runs it is great and willing to order stuff for us! 

After running errands, Kate, Max, and I trekked over to airport beach for some snorkeling. We have to hike around the airport runway between the water and the fence line. If you ignore all the trash and bushes, it's not too bad. Once you hike 30-40 minutes, the coast opens up to a little bay with a dead coral beach. It wasn't a perfect snorkeling day since it had been rainy and the visibility wasn't the best, but it was good to get in none the less. I don't have my fins yet, so it was a major work out. The current was strong so I would swim as hard as I could for about ten minutes, then drift back with the current. Kate and Max had a little bit easier of a time since they came prepared with fins.

The rest of the night was pretty mellow. After out tea time evening session, Kate and I listened to Dan and Max play their guitars. I was surprised at how many of the WT boys brought their guitars to Samoa, so it's fun to sit around and here them play/sing. 

Today we went through a teaching/lesson planning practical. Our job was to create a 10 minute lesson on our subject to teach to a classroom of high schoolers. For the sake of comprehension, I decided to present a lesson and activity on city planning. All the high school teachers (half the WT group) were able to watch each other and observe. Though we were initially a little stressed about being able to fully teach a lesson in 10 minutes, each person's class went pretty well. It was a really helpful way to feel out Samoan students. Since the culture is so community oriented, students don't like being singled out. It's often difficult to get kids to volunteer, and they aren't usually comfortable with shouting out answers since they don't want to be wrong. Standing out as an individual, whether in a good or bad way, is usually discourage. Rather than completely changing this mentality, my goal is to work with it. Who says that the American way is correct, anyway? While I want to inspire kids to be self confident and proud of themselves, I don't want to detract from the sense of community. Group work, partnering, and team answers are all common ways of getting around putting one student on the spot. Samoan children are also very artistic and love performing. Their intelligence is best tested in creative ways rather than just an pen and paper test. They often know the subject but have a hard time conveying it in typical tests. Checking for true comprehension is another necessity. The children have unbelievable memories and have impressive mimicry memorization skills. They tend to just repeat and memorize the answers with out actually comprehending the intending meaning. This can trick teachers into believing the kids have mastering the subject when, really, they are just regurgitating the facts and ideas presented to them. This first classroom experience gave us experience with all of these factors and know we can think about how we want to address them with our own students.

After our morning with the kids I picked up the outfits I had left at the sew shop. Most people get many of their clothes handmade, and the island is dotted with hundreds of little sewing shops. I went to a store and picked out all my fabrics, then took them back to the seamstress. After taking all my measurements, I told her what I wanted and she sketched out my vision. I had 2 lava lavas (the traditional wrap around skirt worn by both men and women), one dress, and one puletasi (the conservative formal wear for women that consists of a fitted top and longer straight skirt) made. The fabrics are all bright and tropical, and fitting for island life. The puletasi is worn by many teachers and, when worn, usually gains more respect from the students. I wasn't sure how the outfits would come out since it was my first time getting something made from scratch, but I was impressed. I was fully prepared to hate the clothes, but they turned out really cute. I've already gotten tons of compliments on my dress. 

After a day of teaching and class, our WT group decided to through ourselves a toga party to commemorate our orientation together. We stole our flowery bed sheets and rigged some stylish togas. We also wore our woven headbands that we made with the kids at the museum the week before. Brigit read tarot cards (scarily accurate), we danced, chatted, and even through in our favorite game, Catch Phrase. It was definitely a memorable night!

Orientation Continues On

Orientation week 2 continues on. It’s been wet and rainy for the past few days, so we have stayed on campus quite a bit. During the day we have had more lectures and introductions to the education system here on the island. 

Yesterday KC and I were treated to a great island tour. Kaleo told us that he would drive us to the laundromat, and instead he pulled up to a house. He told us to go to the back and start our clothes. We would be doing it here since he figured all the laundromats would be full (very few Samoans have their own washer and dryer). After about 10 minutes at the house, he sneaks it in that we were at my new home! I don’t move there until Saturday afternoon, but I got a sneak preview! It’s a 2 bedroom house that my WorldTeach roomate, Julia, and I will be sharing. The house is on the main road in the village of Faleniu (Fall-lay-new). Our neighbor even teaches at our school! 

While waiting for our laundry, Kaleo told us were were going for a ride! He took us on a great, several hour trip around the west side of the island. His family owns several of the villages and one of the mountains, so he showed us the house he grew up in, all his relatives’ houses, and some great look out points. We also checked out a few of the schools some of our other friends will be teaching at. We picked up some bread at a small bakery and watched a game of women’s cricket. As we drove along the coast near Leone, we were amazing at the ocean - 12 foot swells and violent currents. 

After arriving back at VoTech (aka Nu’uuli HS, PolyTech- it has many names), Kate, Max, and I went for a sunset swim! The Pala Lagoon is directly across the street and entirely shallow so we walked out to the middle and were still only waist deep. 

After our evening swim, evening class session, and dinner, a big group of us caught the late showing of Harry Potter! Who knew this island would have a little 2 screen theater?  

Today has been a lazy day. We were given a chance to go check out our individual villages and schools so we would feel more comfortable on moving day... but since I ‘live’ in my school and had a personal tour of my house and village yesterday, there wasn’t much for me to do. But, hey, I might round out my day with some snorkeling out at Airport Beach. 

Snorkeling

I finally got a phone today! Yay! (If you are willing to pay for a international call just let me know and I will get you my number ;) I also discovered the island's teaching supply store. It's small and doesn't have too much, but the woman who runs it is great and willing to order stuff for us! 

After running errands, Kate, Max, and I trekked over to airport beach for some snorkeling. We have to hike around the airport runway between the water and the fence line. If you ignore all the trash and bushes, it's not too bad. Once you hike 30-40 minutes, the coast opens up to a little bay with a dead coral beach. It wasn't a perfect snorkeling day since it had been rainy and the visibility wasn't the best, but it was good to get in none the less. I don't have my fins yet, so it was a major work out. The current was strong so I would swim as hard as I could for about ten minutes, then drift back with the current. Kate and Max had a little bit easier of a time since they came prepared with fins.

The rest of the night was pretty mellow. After out tea time evening session, Kate and I listened to Dan and Max play their guitars. I was surprised at how many of the WT boys brought their guitars to Samoa, so it's fun to sit around and here them play/sing. 

Write Me!

Ok, so while in Am Sam my permanent mailing address will be...

Jessie Weber

c/o World Teach

PO Box 5411

Pago Pago

American Samoa 96799

This is the World Teach office and they will make sure everything gets to me! US post takes about 2 weeks to get here, so write me letters and send me US loving! 

Island Paradise

It’s true. I’m living in island paradise! 

Even though I’m currently sleeping on a 4 inch mat on a classroom floor, things couldn’t get any better! I have now been in Samoa for 4 full days and I am already in love with the territory. 

We arrived on Sunday night after 19 hours of travel and were greeted by big smiles and shell necklaces. After throwing our many pounds of luggage (I, personally, had about 140 lbs) into a big truck, we loaded a bus to Nu’uuli VoTech HS. As one of the islands 6 high schools, it will be home to us for the first 2 weeks of orientation and will be my school for the year. For orientation we are  living out of our suitcases and sleeping on mats in the HS classrooms. It’s kind of like one big slumber party.  

On day one we were thrown right in. At 7:30 am we headed to a kids art camp in Pago. We worked with them as they learned the traditional arts of wood carving, Siapo (painting with root on pounded mulberry bark), dance, and weaving. The kids were my first introduction to the Samoan people and I was not disappointed by their warm personalities, openness, and excitement! The Samoan newspaper even featured us in their Tuesday edition. My picture made it in!

We then spent the afternoon on an island tour. We took the main road to the east side and as far west as Leone. The island’s beauty is truly indescribable as the lush mountains jut upward from the ocean. The colors are the most vivid imaginable. 

After the heat of the bus, we rounded out the afternoon with our first swim in Pala Lagoon!

The rest of the week has been filled with lectures. We have heard from every sector in the Department of Education (DOE), received environmental talks, information on health and safety, and culture lessons. We are basically getting a crash course in everything Samoan.

Last night we were fortunate to be treated to a wonderful dinner with the Director of Education and other leaders. I tried some traditional Samoan foods like coconut breadfruit, green bananas with coconut milk, and even raw tuna (it was disgusting!). It will probably be one of the best meals of the year. Claire, the director, made us feel so welcome, and got us even more exciting to be teaching. 

The generosity, graciousness, and appreciation felt from everyone we encounter is quite overwhelming. As we walk through out the villages, everyone knows who we are and why we are here. They have a way of making everything seem so worth it, and I can already tell my time on the island will be unforgettable. 

7.20.2009

07.24.2009_IslandDrive

07.22.2009_DOEDinner

Shopping, Packing, Planning

I am the world’s worst over packer! This isn’t such a great title for someone moving overseas with just the baggage allowed on an airplane ride. Mom and I once packed 9 bags for week long cruise. (2 of those bags consisted solely of shoes!) On a trip to the North Carolina beaches I over packed by about a month and a half’s worth of clothes, but my family got to experience my expert organizational style: clothes and jewelry neatly arrange in rainbow order. So how do I manage to pack for a year in 2 suitcases? 

On our several week trip through out Italy, Mom and I discovered the necessity of space bags. We were committed to traveling with only a small carry on suitcase and personal item! There would be no checking of luggage! Believe it or not, I fit 14 bottoms, 20 shirts, and 5 pair of shoes in that teeny tiny suitcase. So, I think space bags will, again, be my savior. (Let’s just hope!)

Recently I’ve been a shopaholic. I now have new Samoan wardrobe outfitted with floor and knee length skirts, light weight conservative tops, and plenty of sun glasses! (Samoa is a conservative nation, so little tank tops and shorts usually aren’t appropriate.) We also have made trips to the Container Store and Whole Earth for some super nifty travel items. I’m such a gadget nerd so I think I’ve stocked up on all the greatest inventions: itty biity toothbrushes pre loaded with  toothpaste for the plane, a neck pillow + blanket combo that folds up super small, a pocket size fold up tote bag, purse size umbrella (for the daily rain showers), pocket size just-add-water soap sheets. 

So I’m crossing my fingers and hoping everything will have a home in my suitcase when I go to zip it up on Friday! 

07.18.2009_LeavingForSamoa

Away I Go

Yay for my first Samoa blog! Though I still have 12 day until departure, I thought I would begin my story! So, on July 18th I leave Texas for my year long adventure. Much is still unknown, so I don’t know quite what to expect. 

For the first month all of the WT (World Teach) volunteers will be together for orientation. We will have training sessions, cultural lessons, language classes, island seminars, and more! This will be our acclimatization period to AS (American Samoa) and island culture. After that I begin teaching high school drafting/architectural basics at a vocational school! 

THE GAME PLAN

Saturday July 18: Away to LA

   After getting into LAX, I meet my fellow WT volunteers for the first time!

Sunday July 19: Away to Honolulu, Away to Pago Pago

   All of the volunteers fly out together from LAX. We fly to American Samoa by way of 

   Honolulu

Monday July 20: The fun begins!