Christmas without family

Christmas without Family

My Christmas Tree! 

I have been away from family before on Christmas... However, this Christmas was probably the best Christmas away from family I have ever had! I sent out a text to the other PCV saying, "We are only here for two Christmas Celebrations so try to not be sad and just enjoy the new traditions! (Something like that) and I meant it. Yes we will miss out on Christmas but we get to enjoy Christmas in Samoa! That is rare and something to be excited about.

On Christmas Eve I went to the village's Youth Group Christmas program and it was a fun production  There was a lot of singing and skits (like most celebrations  only this time it was Christmas songs and Christmas skits. Course they had me dance and I did my best which is not saying much. I got home really late but that did not stop me from doing something special to remind me of Christmas at home. I have a tapestry of a tree hanging in my room and I decided to decorate it like a Christmas tree. I cut out and colored ordainment  candy canes, lights, snowflakes and a star and safety pinned them to my tree. I was up until  ! It was a lot of fun!!

The main store on Savai'i

The next day, Christmas Day!, we went to church for an hour to read the Bible (in Samoan) about the birth of Jesus Christ and I had a Christmas lunch with my Pastor. It was a lunch from the resort down the street and actually really good.
My pastor and wife asked me to go to the Salelologa, the main city on Savai'i, with them to go shopping... Last place I really want to be on Christmas Day, I worked in a grocery store and I know over the holidays it is exhausting just to be there but I went and it was busy. Course.

Ti Family

Once I got home I received a phone call from Lynn, her family is visiting from America and wanted to know if I could join them for the day. Her family hasn't visited in 5 years! Time was on my side with that! So I went to Palagi world. We went to the beach up the street and looked at an old mill her father used to work at. After we went to their home and had a Christmas dinner. Steak, potatoes, green beans and of course lobster  They butchered the cow themselves and said how it did not taste the best... Are you kidding me?? I hadn't had real meat in about three months! I swear it was the best steak I had ever eaten!!
One of her son's then played the guitar and we all sang American Christmas songs until midnight. Normally you cuddle up next to the fireplace but I was cuddling with the air conditioning the whole time. (Air conditioner even! Oh my). I felt like I was apart of a family there, even though I did not know them very well and it made it really easy to be away from home. One Christmas down and only one more to go.

Killing Two Meetings with One Day

Killing Two Meetings with One Day

Matai Meeting:

Untitled Men listening to the Matais speaking.

Sophi and me.

Luckily I met Tapu Ti! He is the Head Chief of the village and is an amazing connection to have! He invited me to a Matai meeting the next day so they can all get to know who the Village Peace Corps is. I sat in-between the Head Chief  Tapu Ti and the the second in command chief, he is the Head Chief whenever Ti is in America. Prime spot to be sitting. I had no idea what was being said, luckily Ti kept translating for me. They were having a meeting about the guys in the village drinking over the Holidays and if they misbehave they would be fined. Ti was angry saying to either fine them or not but they have to be consistent. They are always threatening with punishment and only half the time enforcing it. Once they came to a decision on what to tell the guys they brought them into the meeting and sat them down. After they were done talking to them we had food. Always with every event. A woman named Sophi came and talked with me introducing herself. She is an older woman and the only woman Matai. She speaks great English and informed me it is Fa'a Samoa to speak at the first meeting. I asked her if she would translate for me. I thanked them for the opportunity to go to the meeting and told them I felt very welcomed in the village and was ready to get started. The second in command Mata then said he I am known as the daughter of the Matai's and if any boy wants to date me they have to get permission from ALL of them! So now- the joke in the village is the guys trying to convince the Matais to be able to date me. I am okay with that that type of security.
I was very tired from the long long meeting and just wanted to go home. Sophi informed me I had other plans already made for me, my mom was waiting for me at the Women's Committee meeting. Ohhh boy

Women's Committee Meeting:

Just having a meeting is all....

Oh my gosh...

This meeting was a riot! The purpose of the meeting, I think, was mat inspections and end of the year funding. After they figured out the funding they used for the year, apparently there was extra, which meant better go buy something! While some women were out buying whatever with the extra money the rest of the women ate loafs of bread cut in half with jam. (again, always always food). They served everyone a loaf and served me my loaf sliced buttered with jam. I did not think much of it until a woman informed me it is Fa'a Samoa to serve the guest sliced bread so they do not have to cut it up themselves. I swear everything has a reason and about 70% of the time I am unaware of the meaning or unaware it even has a meaning.

Samoan dancing, luckily.

After eating it was time for dancing! They turned the music up and everyone took turns dancing. It was not Samoan dancing either, booty bumping and shaking! These are all women in the 20s to over 60s. The women returned from buying their treat and passed around a drink. They placed an orange liquid in font of me and when I smelt it I think my nose caught on fire. It was so pungent and strong of booze. I think it was pure tequila and a lot of the women were pouring it down like it was water! I respectfully declined and the dancing turned into a full on riot! All within what seemed like 10 minutes these women were fully on dirty dancing and trying to get me to dance, one lady was stumbling over trying to get more drinks. I felt like I walked into a High School party where it was everyone's first time drinking. It was fun but after awhile I was ready to get home and away from the chaos. I do not think this is how all the women's meetings are but if it is... oh man do they know how to party.

Palagi World

Palagi World

Lynn and Tapu Ti are amazing! They live up the street from me and have such a fascinating life! She is from Idaho and he is from my village. She moved here with her family when she was very young and got married to Ti at the age of 16! They are now in their 60s and live in Samoa most of the year and America for 3 months or so. They have a big camping tailor attached to a fale and it looks like the tree-house from Swiss Family Robbinson! It is so beautiful and the view of the ocean from their home is breath taking! They have four-wheelers, a boat, snorkeling gear along with  fridges (with an S!), washing machine and a stove! All of their outlets are American and they are just SET! Whenever I visit she has something baked for me, whether it is muffins or cake it is always good! Lynn loves to make drinks too! GOOD DRINKS! Fresh juice or lemonade  Course she adds an extra ingredient for herself and I have still refrained since I got here but... the option is available if I want.
I call it my Palagi World because Palagi means white person in Samoa. I feel like I am on American turf when I enter their home, not to mention I get to have a REAL conversation with someone when I visit. I am very lucky to have them here to help guide me in the Samoan ways without any major miscommunication, not to mention new friends are ALWAYS fun!

Water

Water

There are two ways to get water here.

My shower/ bathtub/ sink/ washing machine

The pipes: Which is used for to shower with, clean the dished and wash the clothes. Our water is turned on during certain times of the day for us to do our washing. We have a running pipe in our shower but do not use it as a shower. My family has a big barrel under the pipe to be filled up when the water is on. We clean ourselves with the water for the barrel and a pitcher to pour it on ourselves. It is always cold, ALWAYS. Sometimes it's nice because of how hot it is here. In the mornings it is a bit harder to handle but every time it is a good way to wake you up!

Rain tank

Water tank: This is what all families use for drinking water. It is not filtered. Just a huge tank that collects water from the rain. The tank has a cover on it so leaves and dirt doesn't get inside as easily. To collect water from the rain it has a pipe from the roof and the water drains from the gutters into the tank. PC suggests we don't drink from it, if the gutters aren't clean then neither is the water. (Bugs, dirt, bird droppings). PC has given us water filters, always getting taken care of with our basic needs!
Sometimes you get put into a situation where you have to drink the water they give you. Well... you don't HAVE to but it's one of the awkward moments where it would be rude to turn it down. So- rain gutter bird poop bug dirt water has been in my system and thus so far I am still alive! I think I am going to have the strongest stomach when I return home.

WHAT question from America... What do you eat?

WHAT question from America... What do you eat?

Fish, carrots and rice,

Pumpkin

Tuna and banana with coconut cream.

I am slowly cooking and eating food on my own.... When I am able to eat on my own I eat carrots, oatmeal, bananas, a lot of fruit, tuna and eggs. When I am NOT eating on my own my food is very very interesting. Samoans love to cook with oil and salt and their favorite substance is carbs. So... carbs on carbs with oil and salt. One time I was opening a can of tuna and tried to throw away the oil from it and my sister stopped me. She said Mum likes to eat breadfruit and oil. YUM! However- there are a lot of amazing natural food here too. I eat a lot of fish that was caught from the sea that day, SO GOOD! I am almost a pro at eating around the tiny tiny bones. The fruit here is unbelievable too! Mango, guava and pineapple to name a few. I drink/eat a lot of coconuts. It is the best thing ever!! Especially cold coconut. Hmmmm cold nu!!

WHAT question from America... What is your family like?

WHAT question from America...
What is your family like?

I love my family! If there wasn't so much adoption, random family visiting for long periods of time or kid freedom it would only be me, my mom and one sister...But, that is not the case. I have one sister (Mele) who I am very fond of! We do everything together and she is really good at speaking English too. She is 19 years old and I feel very lucky to have her with me.

Lika 

Mele

My other sister is adopted. Her mom decided to run away with another man and she did not want to go. So my mom adopted her, not sure how official adoption is here. She is 16 years old and a bit shy.
Kid freedom- I have two brothers... again, kinda. They are the kids that roam free. Both their families live here in the village but they stay here. I am not sure why exactly. I think my mom takes care of them really well and their parents don't. Least, that is the just of what I got. Conversations are never detailed. She told me one of them, Daniel, is skinny when he lives at home and his school fees do not get paid.
Random family- Right now my Uncle from New Zeland is staying with us. I think he will only be here for a month and then go back home. I am not really sure.

My mom and I have an interesting relationship. She speaks enough English for us to have a conversation but not an in-depth one. I know she is funny because whenever we are around other people she is always making them laugh.
I love my family and I am so happy to have them. I was hoping I would be living with a family, more protection, easier to get involved and just nice to have people around that care about you. I feel very lucky to have them!

Mele and I waking up for the 2 am bus.

WHAT Question from America... What does your village look like?

WHAT Question from America...
What does your village look like?

My house

My new village is bigger (a lot bigger) than the training village but still small compared to others. I only have 500 people, including children, and it is probably stretched about 2 miles on the main road. There are other roads that go away from the main road but I have not ventured off too far up them yet. I have only gone up a few times to go to my family's plantation.

My family's compound is next to the main road and it is all lava rock. I am very lucky to be next to the main road, makes it easier to go into the village instead of locking myself up in my room blogging...
I am also lucky because my home gets water from the pipes. When I was walking to the plantation I saw two girls carrying buckets up the hill. I asked my sister what they were doing, she said they do not get water at home, their tank is down the hill closer to the main road.

My village is all lava rock but next to the sea. Some places are sandy close to my fale but there is a very nice beach only about a 10 minute walk from my home. Can you say spoiled?!