What I'm Dealing with at This Moment!

Right now I am in Salelologa, at an internet cafe. I finally found a site to watch the Spurs game, and there are ads over the video!

Ahh oh well, at least I can hear the game! Haha

GO SPURS GO!!!

The Jungle, a.k.a., My Fale (House)!

Any idea what the stuff on my top is?? If you guessed MOLD, ding, ding, ding, you are correct!

Another moldy item

Scary looking pinchers!

Taranchula? I was shakin' in my boots when I took the photo, that's why it's blurry.

These bad boys are all over my house!

This gecko fell from wherever its nest is

Another view of the gecko

This newly hatched gecko didn't stand a chance with the ants! The shell was partially attached to it.

A gecko fell to its death, landing on my mosquito net! Kalofae! (What a pity!)

Hangin' on my water filter

I was away from my site for 9 days. I returned to a find that something ate a piece of material that was holding up my mosquito net (on the back left of my net), furthering my suspicion that there's a rat living in my thatched ceiling.

An ant massacre in my kitchen. Thank you, Mortein!

A grasshopper with a stinger? 

Now for the most interesting thing I've found inside my house:

A CRAB, in my shower!!! The question is: how did it get into my house?!

When it's raining outside, I resort to hanging my clothes inside my house, taking 2 days or longer to dry! Yay, mold!

At my host grandmother's house. I love how the chickens and cats mingle!

The tide was so low, the reef was visible! A crazy sight!

What Makes Me Happy

My students!

Some of my Year 4 students... They love the camera!

They love to read! This makes me so happy!

They spent their interval reading in my classroom!

Term 1 Break

The break started with a party at my school

I made a sign, welcoming 3 Upolu volunteers to Savai’i (It was their first time visiting my island).

Twins! This is not the first time we accidently wore the same colored top and same colored lavalava

At Lusia’s

Sleepover

We had an American-themed bbq in the beautiful village of Manase. Also, we were celebrating living in Samoa for 6-months!

I met this man last month, and happened to run into him again. He’s from Germany, and is on a yearlong world vacation, visiting Samoa for 6 weeks. What he’s doing is so amazing!

As I was giving Lou a tour of my village, I noticed the back of my primary school’s sign. I’m almost positive this art wasn't there days before. Um, the greeting is about 4 months too late! Ha

Another sleepover

Kiri and I visited with our Aussie friend Toni. She’s building a GORGEOUS house in a village not too far from mine

My birthday was celebrated with some friends. Better late than never, right?

Having fun at McDonalds

Where our Early Service Conference was held. Beautiful view of Apia and the surrounding area

We participated in activities to support Sexual Assault Awareness month

Your 2013 Term 1 fitness champion! I completed my fitness goal 100% (32/32 workouts). The prize was $80WST, which is going to the “Help Lina Get to Amerika for Christmas Fund.” Ha. The next fitness competition begins next week.

Fiesta Friday

Some of the delicious food I ate during the Early Service Conference in Apia. Yep, I’m drooling looking at the photos. This type of food is not available in Savai’i. I guess that’s a good thing.

 

Lasagna!

Stuffed Eggplant!

Tostada! Yes, that's right, tostada! Obviously it wasn't New Mexican style, but beggars can't be choosers, right?

Tiramisu! The country director's wife makes the best food and desserts!

On our way to the wharf, the bus decided to break down in the village of Vaigaga. Fortunately, another bus picked us up. I went from having a comfortable seat in the first bus, to sitting on a stranger’s lap in the second bus. Ah oh well, at least I made it to the wharf on time.

I had a wonderful break with my fellow volunteers. There were many bonding moments that I’ll never forget.