The past two weekends have
been almost 100% geared towards trying to mentally get back to the states. For
two Fridays in a row now, I have spent the night in Kokoland where some of the
other volunteers live. Not only do they have wireless internet but they also
have cable television. During the week, I do just fine without TV and internet
(we can only get free wi-fi at my school and McDonald’s which is about a 15-20
minute walk away and limited to only a few sites). Recently, however, when the
weekend rolls around, all I want to do is forget about work, hang out with some
great people, lie on a couch, surf the web, and watch some good old American
television. It is just so calming and it makes being so far away from home a
little less difficult.
What made this weekend’s visit
even better was that, when I woke up around 10 am this morning (remember, there
is a 7 hour time difference), I actually got to watch the second half of the BC
vs. Clemson game. I was SOOOO PUMPED! Even though it was another tough loss, it
made me so happy to think about all the amazing times that I have had at Alumni
Stadium and how much I miss Boston College. Sure, there were a lot of things
that drove me crazy about BC but I wouldn’t trade the friends that I made or
the times that we had for anything in the world. It is very weird to think that
this is the first year, in who knows how many years, that I haven’t been to at
least one Eagles home game. In case it wasn’t clear yet, I miss everyone very
much.
This weekend is also
shaping up to be the second weekend in a row that I will go to the movie
theatre and eat fast food from Carl’s Jr. Last weekend, Sara Morgan (who lives
in Kokoland) and I went to see Campaign.
Despite being a Friday night, the theatre was almost completely empty (Such a
difference from the U.S.). Afterwards, we walked across the street and grabbed
a quick bite at Carl’s Jr. before heading back to the house. I’d never had
Carl’s Jr. before this year. I actually had my first “$6 Burger” in LA the
night before my flight to American Samoa. Since then, I think I’ve eaten there
twice. Along with 2 McDonald’s and KFC/Pizza Hut, it is one of the few American
fast food implants on the island and it is not all that bad. It is especially
great comfort food for whenever I feel homesick.
After all, it is AMERICAN Samoa |
While it may sound like
I’m struggling, I promise, I’m not. In fact, last Sunday, I went for a two hour
solo hike along the mountain ridge that runs behind my village and the
surrounding area. It was actually a continuation of the Blunt’s Point trail
that I adventured with some of the other volunteers a few weeks back. I don’t
normally venture around the island on my own but it was such a wonderful
feeling being alone in the natural beauty of the island. I really do love it
here, I like what I’m doing, and I know that, someday, I will talk about this
place with as much fondness as I do BC. The fact is that everything that I love
is at home. My family, my friends, and my fondest memories are all back in the
states. No matter where I go, I’m always going to miss my home and, as long as
it doesn’t become impossible to be away, there is nothing wrong with that.