It takes a village

HAPPY TWO YEARS!! I cannot believe I’ve lived in Samoa for over two years now. This has been such a crazy experience and it’s really coming to an end now.

With time passing so quickly, I’m realizing I won’t be living on a South Pacific island anymore, which is a very sad realization. A few volunteers and I spent a weekend at the beach to soak in our remaining time here. We stayed at Falealupo and I’ve actually never stayed there before. It’s the Western-most point of Samoa, so it’s where the last sunset in the country happens; it’s gorgeous! I was also able to travel all the way around Savai’i again, stopping at the Blowholes and the Canopy Walk. I’ve done all of these touristy things before of course, but it’s nice to get one last chance to do them. The Blowholes will forever be my favorite!

The last sunset of Samoa.

After my touristy weekend, Group 89 arrived! This was my third Peace Corps Ava Ceremony and my second on the other side. I can’t believe two years ago I was sitting there, amazed and confused. At this point I completely understand everything that happens and it’s not unusual at all anymore. We got 17 new volunteers and they seemed very excited to be in Samoa! I won’t get to know this group as well, but I’m happy to have them here and continue this legacy.

Group 87, 88, and Response Volunteers welcoming in Group 89!

The weekend before school started up again was my third and final White Sunday here! White Sunday is children’s day in Samoa and it’s always full of new outfits, dances, skits, and lots of food. This year I learned our dances and skit the night before, which is very typical and exactly how I did it the previous two years as well. My first White Sunday was my first ever weekend in Samoa two years ago and now I was so much more comfortable performing in front of everyone. I didn’t think twice about it this year. During our skit I got shot, so it was a very amusing day – a great last White Sunday here!

Sad to be leaving behind my acting and dancing days! 

In other news, my last ever term of teaching has begun! Two years and 7 previous terms, I’ve made it to my last one! It’s definitely bittersweet as I teach my last ever classes and wrap everything up. This term is focused on my grants! My year 7 students and I put together a video for the middle school in Maine that we’re doing a cultural exchange with. It was such a precious video and we’re going to put together a follow-up, teaching the American students how to cook Samoan food! The American students sent us a package and will send videos as well, so it’s a really neat project. Also, over the two-week break, the men of my village built our new bathrooms!! They’re not completely finished as we’re waiting for some final materials, but they look amazing so far. I wasn’t able to be there to help, but arriving back at school and finding a brand new building was such an incredible feeling. It takes a village and I absolutely love mine for putting this together!

My students can use the bathroom now!!!

Outside of school, we had palolo season! Palolo are some type of worm sperm that only emerge once a year in October. They only come for a three-day span and only from about 4am-7am before the sun rises. This year I got to go palolo fishing! We woke up at 3am and headed to Satupa’itea, a neighboring village. I didn’t actually want worms swimming around me, so I stayed on a cliff and watched, which was so perfect. It was amazing to see! There were hundreds of flashlights lining the entire coast. It was probably the most light pollution I’ve ever seen in Samoa. It was a great bonding experience with my host family and three years of palolo later I finally got to go!

Fishing crew at 6am.

This will be a busy term as I balance hanging out with other volunteers for the last time, running Numeracy sessions for Group 89, finishing up these grants, and soaking up host family time! I’m excited about everything that’s happening, though, and I think it’s a perfect way to end my time here.

Here’s to my final 8 weeks in Samoa!