When It Rains, It Pours

If there is one thing that you can count on in American Samoa, it is rain. At least once a day, it rains. Sometimes it is a light sprinkle, other times its a absolute down pour. Luckily, rain never lasts very long here. I'm talking about 10-15 minutes, tops! So it is actually quite enjoyable and refreshing, especially on the hot and humid days. So far, I've only gotten caught in it once. I had just bought a new phone (Yes, I officially have a phone. If you'd like the number and the international call fees, just e-mail me and I will send you the number) and I was in the middle of talking to my parents. Luckily, they understood when I hung up rather abruptly and made a dash for cover.
The real reason I mention rain, though, isn't so literally. I'm currently writing this post, almost four days after I had initially intended to, from another volunteer's computer. If you're worried...you should be.
So, even if I had wanted to write a post four days ago, any effort to post it would have been futile because the internet was completely down. Of course, I'm going to have to get used to that because it is going to happen rather often. While American Samoa is certainly developing, it is a slow and steady process. Luckily, the internet has returned! But why am I borrowing someone's computer, you ask? Well, the answer is quite simple. Two days ago, out of nowhere, I went to turn on my computer to discover that it could not find the hard drive and, no hard drive, no blog posts (or anything else, for that matter). I know that the humidity does some funny stuff to technology here but, to be honest, it is a 4 year old computer with a 2 year old hard drive. I wouldn't be surprised if it was on its way out long before I got here. Anyways, I've taken it to the only computer store on island and I'm waiting to hear their diagnosis. Hopefully they can fix it within a week. Otherwise, my computer is making the long voyage home via USPS and I wont see it again for another three weeks. I'm really hoping for the former but I recommend preparing for the worst. Even if you don't hear from me for a while, know that I am having a fantastic time here, I am learning a ton, and I will soon be purchasing my first i'e faitaga (a.k.a. formal male skirt). Yes, I will be taking pictures. :)

'Til the rain stops, fa'afetai! 

Somewhere Over the Rainbows

Last night, around 9 pm, we finally arrived in American Samoa (note: that’s 4am in Boston). However, with an entire Boeing 737-300 to unload, only four lines for Customs, one baggage carousel, and an extra baggage check before exiting, it took over an hour to get out of the airport. Despite the hassle, it was all worth it when we discovered a group of students waiting outside the airport holding a “Welcome World Teachers” banner. As worried and frustrated as I am about being away from home, seeing those kids really reminded me why I am here. It’s not about me. I mean, not completely about me. I’m here for those kids. To help them in whatever capacity I can.

                From the airport, we took two buses (One for just our luggage. Hey, we’re here for a year!) to Nu’uuli Vocational Technical High School where we will be staying for the next 3 weeks. While the accommodations at the school weren’t quite what I was expecting, they certainly could be worse. We are split up by gender (one room for the 8 boys, three rooms for the 22 girls) and everyone has their own foam mattress. The bathrooms…”work”. That’s all I will say on that. The really cool thing about the school is that it is an outdoor campus so every room is connected by an outdoor hall way. Reminds me of a motel. A really cheap motel.

Since we got in so late last night, there wasn’t really much time to explore. We met our Field Director, Veronica, washed up for bed and passed out. Unfortunately, because of the time change, I couldn’t sleep for very long. As much as I hate not getting a full nights rest, when I woke up at 6:30 this morning, the view was breathtaking. The sun hadn’t quite risen yet but there was enough light to see what I hadn’t been able to the night before. On one side of me were mountains completely covered by the canopy and partially blocked by low clouds. On the other side, was a bay with some of the bluest waves I’ve ever seen. It is really neat because the water itself isn’t much different than anywhere else but, when the waves break, the water is a beautiful turquoise. I’m not quite sure why or how this happens but I certainly plan on finding out.

After taking a wonderfully cold shower and munching on a quick bowl of Cheerios, the group hoped on a bus to Utulei. Now, I know what all of you loyal followers are thinking, “That’s where Dan is going to be living for the year!” And, YES! Yes it is! I was so excited to find out we were going here because it gave me a chance to check out the village ahead of time. I was NOT disappointed. The town is right on Pago Pago Harbor, has plenty of small shops where I’ll be able to pick up most anything I will need, and a really nice park right on the water that’s filled with fales. I am very excited to move in.

While in Utulei, not only did I get a chance to check out Samoana High School but I also met my landlord, Al. He seems extremely friendly and excited that we are there. We talked briefly about his past tenants and how he still keeps in touch with him. I really hope I manage to develop that kind of relationship with some of the people that I’m going to meet over the next year. It’d be so cool to have a Samoan friend. J

Along with the house where myself and two other volunteers will live, Al and his wife also own a local seafood and BBQ chicken restaurant. Since it might, honestly, be the cheapest place I’ve ever seen, the majority of us volunteers had lunch there. No joke, I was able to buy a can of soda, two pieces of BBQ chicken and a boiled banana covered in coconut oil for $3.05. What’s more, it was filling and absolutely delicious. If I have to live off $13/day, I know where I’m eating every day. A note on the banana, despite the fact that they taste rather bland (almost like a potato with no butter or salt), many of the Samoans piled them onto their plates.  Maybe there is something about them that I just don’t know, yet.

When we got back to the school, we had a quick overview of the next three weeks. It is going to be very busy; full of meetings and “practicums”. Oh boy! Well, it’s 8:30pm and I am super tired. Hope the following pictures sufficiently entertain…

 Our view of one of the many mountains on the island taken when I woke up at 6:30am

 Double rainbow that appeared after a quick rain shower this morning

 A traditional fale at the park in Utulei

 One of the many buses that takes you from village to village. They come in all different shapes and colors. Most play loud music. The one I road today had a TV and was playing the movie "Killers". Not my first choice of film but the little kids on the bus were loving it.

  A Samoan canoe (va'a). One of the ones in the shed to the left had a Seahawks logo on it. This one had Satan.

The City of Angels

Once Around the Sun. For those of you who don't know (which, according to a book I recently read, a lot of the world doesn't), that's one year. 365 days. If we're being literal, that isn't how long I will be in American Samoa. I'll only be gone for 11 months but “11/12ths Around the Sun” just didn't sound as catchy. Neither did “91.66% Around the Sun”.

The line actually comes from the film GATTACA (all caps just for you Genetics nerds). For those of you who aren’t familiar with the film, Ethan Hawke’s character, who is about to travel into space for a year, is talking to his love interest (Uma Thurman) when he says, “A year is a long time.” To this, she replies, “Not so long. Just once around the sun.” To be honest, I’ve never actually seen the end of the film but I absolutely love the implications of this quote. A lot can happen in a year. I’m both excited and worried about what this year will bring but, in the scheme of things, in comparison to an entire lifetime, to humanity’s existence, to the existence of the universe, one year is almost insignificant. The way I see it, whether or not this year is absolutely amazing or the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, and it could be both, it’s just one year. As much as I’m going to miss my family and friends, I’ll be back before I know it. My plan is to try and enjoy every minute of it, take nothing for granted, and take as many pictures as possible.

Enough about my feelings and nerdy obsession with movies and quotes (two things I guarantee will appear in the blog constantly), on to life away from home.

Currently, I am sitting in my hotel room at the Four Points Sheraton in Los Angeles after a rather lengthy flight on a Boeing 737-800 from Chicago Midway Airport (which, by the way, is named after the Battle of Midway and NOT the fact that it is midway through a flight to California. A mistake I made 9 years ago).  Interesting fact, the plane I was on is one of the newest planes in Southwest’s fleet. I must say, it is quite the plane. It even has that new airplane smell. I don’t actually know what new airplanes are supposed to smell like but I imagine that that was it.  

It’s a little weird to think that, only 20 hours ago, I finished packing and went to bed; only 14 hours ago, I woke up for the second time (was so excited/nervous that I woke up at 4am…whoops); and 10 hours ago, I boarded my flight from Boston to Chicago. What’s worse is that the traveling isn’t even over. Tomorrow morning at 10:40am I get on a plane to Hawaii and, 14 hours later, I’ll land in American Samoa.  It is going to be quite the trip. I only hope that I’m as ready for it as everyone seems to think I am.

Before I end this post, I just wanted to say two things. First, once I land in American Samoa, it might be awhile before I have any internet or phone service. So, please be patient. Trust me, I want to talk to you too. Secondly, thank you to everyone who helped me to get here. Whether you’re a member of my family, a friend, a teacher, or a mentor, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. I miss you all very much.