Paradise

Where do I even begin? Hello computer, hello internet! I have officially been in Samoa for seven weeks, although it feels like seven months. I decided to make a goal to post one blog per month. So, I left the States in September and it is now November, meaning it’s time for post number 3! There’s no actual way to describe what life is like here, but I’ll do my best.

I’m currently living in Sa’anapu and over halfway through training. I got placed with a very sweet host family. It was just my host mom, Sose, host dad, Paradise, three host brothers, Hitler, Paradise Junior, and Steve, and myself. I say “just” because this is probably the smallest family in our village. Samoan families are huge! My host father was an ali’i, which, according to the Matai system, is a high chief. He was in charge of lots of rules for the village and also blowing the conch shell at 7:15 every night for curfew.

PJ, Steve, and Sose ready for White Sunday at church! 

I’m beginning to understand Samoan culture more and more. It’s very different, but I’ve really enjoyed learning about it and integrating into this village. Even though I’ve only lived here for seven weeks, I’ve had a surprisingly large amount of cultural events to go to. My host cousin got married, so I got to experience a Samoan wedding. I may or may not have talked to him for an hour before the wedding not knowing he was the groom until he was at the alter (oops). Also, our village opened a new church, which is a huge event in Samoa. The commotion for this church lasted about two weeks. Because my host dad was an ali’i, I went to about twelve different ceremonies for the church (and my family doesn’t even attend that church). The opening of a new church involves lots of money, food, and fine mats. When I say food, I mean animals. For example, while eating breakfast one morning, a pig was being hacked into pieces with a machete about 5 feet away from me. I think blood got on me. So, culture shock is real, but nature therapy is even more real. Sa’anapu got hit by a tsunami a few years back, so everything near the ocean is abandoned, including a resort! Samoans stay away from the water, but of course we volunteers love going to the beach!

At the beach in my culturally appropriate swimwear.

Training has been a whirlwind of language class, student teaching, and cultural lessons. One person from our group decided to leave, so we’re down to 21, but hopefully in two years time we’ll still have 21! We’ve also gotten to know the two other groups that are here, which has been nice. I actually got to go to Savai’i, which is the other main island of Samoa, and visit a current volunteer! Savai’i is bigger than Upolu (the island I’m on now), but also much less populated. She lives in the village Gataivai, which is stunning. She took us to a huge waterfall called Afu Aau and I was in heaven!

The definition of heaven.

So, this post could be named Paradise because of the beautiful country I’m living in. Unfortunately, it is named Paradise in dedication to my host father. Mulitalo Faumuina Lauvi Parataiso A’aitui passed away on November 10, 2015. He was known as Parataiso (Paradise). He was a very healthy man, so the death came as quite a surprise. Since I was living here with essentially no phone or internet, my dad and I would spend at least a couple hours every night talking. It was devastating when he passed away, but the funeral taught me a ton about Samoan culture. With the passing of my host father, I moved in with a different host family. They’re very nice as well, but much bigger! I have 8 host brothers and 3 host sisters (although they’re really cousins, aunts, nephews, etc., but I can’t keep track).

Iosia and Malaki, two of my new host brothers.

We only have 3 more weeks of training left and then we swear in as official volunteers! I found out that I am placed in the village of Sili, Savai’i! A volunteer from Group 85 is currently working in that village, but she leaves right before I move in. I have huge shoes to fill, but I’m incredibly excited!

Group 87 all spread out in our placements!

Sa’anapu has been great, but I’m ready for my new adventure. Tofa soifua, Sa’anapu… Mālō Sili!