Village Life Update

It has been a while since I’ve updated on my life. Right now I’m in Apia, at a hotel room. Yes, I’m bored so I figure it’s the perfect time to catch you all up.

Halloween: A lot of people have asked me if Halloween is celebrated in Samoa. People in their 20s and 30s celebrate the holiday, by dressing in costume. Children don’t trick-or-treat here. Halloween in Samoa was celebrated on actual Halloween. It’s different than in America, where Halloween is celebrated two weekends in October (if Halloween doesn’t fall on a Fri-Sun). My group and I celebrated Halloween on November 2. We were the only ones dressed in costume, which made it that much better!

I'm not Batwoman. I'm Batman's Island Assistant... there's a difference!

I’m sick: Again! It seems like these last couple of months, I’ve been in and out of Apia to see the Peace Corps nurse and local doctors. What’s wrong this time? I’m recovering from fish poisoning. In an email sent from Peace Corps staff in September, we were given information on this. I’ll copy a portion of the email below.

Ciguatera alert - There have been a number of recent cases of Ciguatera (fish poisoning) in Samoa lately.

About Ciguatera (from Medscape): Ciguatera poisoning is caused by consumption of reef fish contaminated with ciguatoxin, This toxin increases at certain times of the year and contaminate certain algae associated with coral reef systems. This accumulates up the food chain from small herbivorous fish to larger carnivorous fish, such as barracuda and grouper. Contaminated fish have no specific odor, color, or taste, making identification of potential contamination extremely difficult.

Avoid eating the small red reef fish (snapper), which seem to be the main sources of ciguatera poisoning in Samoa.

Since I’ve received this email, I’ve avoided eating red reef fish. During Friday’s lunch at school we were given fish, taro, and i'a pe’epe’e (fish coconut cream). It wasn’t until I was nearly finished eating the i'a pe’epe’e that I saw the kind of fish that was in it: red reef fish. My first thought was “Oh no,” but figured I’d be fine. A few hours later, I wasn’t fine, experiencing flu-like/food poisoning symptoms. My body is not holding anything down, including water. After 48 hours of feeling miserable, I called the Peace Corps nurse. She advised me to go into Apia today. Being that it’s Sunday, there are no buses on this island, so I took a cab into town. The nurse met with me, giving me anti-biotics, anti-nausea meds, and rehydration salts. I’m seeing a slight improvement in my health. I’m not sure how long I’ll be in Apia. The nurse said that she’d give me a call tomorrow. I may go back to my village tomorrow or the following day.

I must add: I’m back in what I refer to as “my old house.” The hotel staff put me in the same room I lived in for a month. What are the chances? This room is so familiar to me... Too familiar; it feels like I’ve never left it.

Group 85: Group 85 arrived in Samoa last month. I met them the first week they were in country. There are 8 females and 7 males. They’re all really nice. The volunteer who will be living next to my village will be visiting me on Wednesday-Friday. I’ll come into Apia on Wednesday morning to meet her. Early that afternoon we’ll take a bus back to my village. She’ll eat dinner with my family and me. The next day is supposed to be observations at my primary school. Being that my school will be taking final examinations, there won’t be any teaching, which defeats the whole purpose of her visiting my school. I’ve talked with a Peace Corps staff about this, and we’ve came up with the solution that I’ll take her to the primary school she’ll be teaching at. This will be a great opportunity for her to meet the principal, teachers, and students. I’m really excited for the site visit. I wish my group was able to do this last year.

At the end of the month everyone from Groups 83-85 will meet in Apia for a few days for Group 85's training sessions, Thanksgiving, and Group 85’s swearing-in ceremony. I’m looking forward to this, especially Thanksgiving! There will be turkeys, by the way!

And then there were 12: Eight days ago, someone in my group ET (early terminated) their service. I was hopeful that the 13 of us would finish our service together. I’m not sure why she left Samoa, but it’s sad to think that she’s no longer here. I’m sure she made the right decision for herself, and that’s most important. I wish her all the best in life.

Christmas program: I’ve been teaching my students Christmas carols that will be performed for the village, at the end of the school term. I decided to work with the entire student body. My school is really small, so working with five extra grade levels isn’t much of a difference. The songs they’ll be singing are:

We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Years 1 & 2)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (Years 3 & 4)

Jingle Bells (Years 5 & 6)

The Chipmunk Song—Christmas Don’t Be Late (a few students from Years 5 & 6)

Silent Night (Years 7 & 8)

I may pick a different song for Years 3 & 4 because some are having difficulty learning it. In addition to the Christmas carols, Christmas poems will be recited. My principal said that I’m the “conductor” of the Christmas program, which is nice that I am able to do as I please.

If you know me personally, then you know that I LOVE Christmas carols! Hearing my students sing the songs listed above brings the biggest smile to my face and warms my heart. During dinner the other night, I could hear some of my students signing the songs I’ve taught them. It was a happy moment.

GLOW: Peace Corps Volunteers in Savai’i and Upolu, in partnership with the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development are hosting the 2nd annual Girls Leading Our World Conference in Apia. The goal of this conference is to empower girls in Samoa to expand their horizons and encourage positive lifestyle choices, as the girls prepare for their transitions into secondary school, as well as teach the girls the skills they need to be positive leaders to their peers. GLOW will happen in early December, for 2.5 days. The conference will be a great experience for the girls and the nighttime will be a giant slumber party! Yes, this excites me!

Fiji: There are just four weeks left in the school term, ending mid-December. After that, I’ll be on school break for 7 weeks! How am I spending my break? I’m going to Fiji. I’m quite excited by this!

Well that’s all for now, folks. Dinnertime. Hopefully it stays down!

Until next time…