RPCV Life and My Next Adventure

I've been home for 8 months now. Below you'll find photos of what I've been up to and a bit about the country I'll be living in next... A new adventure awaits!

As always, enjoy!

Greg and I met up in Vegas. My sister and brother-in-law met us there. 

So did Madi, Chris, and Zach! A Better Friends reunion! Vegas was one place we always talked and dreamt about when we lived in Samoa. I was so exciting that it actually happened!

After Vegas, my sister Jess, brother-in-law Nate, Greg, and I went to the Grand Canyon!

Then Greg traveled to New Mexico with us, where he met the rest of my family and I showed him around Santa Fe and Albuquerque. He is a Breaking Bad fan, so was quite excited!

Then, it was my turn to travel to the UK. Greg showed me around England and I met his family.

With Greg and his family

Greg and his brother Matt were great tour guides around London. Here we are in front of Buckingham Palace.

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

I couldn't help myself! 

Walking on the iconic Abbey Road! I am a big fan of the Beatles so was beyond excited!

Being home has allowed plenty of quality time with my family. I've enjoyed every second of it!

Easter with my family

We had fun at my sister Bek's cheerleading competition!

4th of July. We are quite patriotic!

With my gorgeous niece Jayde. She loves the matching pants I got us in Thailand. 

Update: September 5, 2015. I've added this photo because it makes me so happy that I was able to participate in Zozobra this year! The last time I attended was in 2012, right before I moved to Samoa. Zozobra is that giant puppet in the background. We burn him at the stake. It is such an amazing (yet strange to outsiders) tradition. If you're curious about it, Google Zozobra!

What's next? Well, these last posts have mentioned my boyfriend Greg. Without going into too much detail, I am moving to the UK to be with him and go to graduate school for an MBA! My business school is in the top-5 in the UK, and I couldn't more thrilled about getting accepted into the program! Plus, I was awarded with a really generous scholarship. I move in less than two weeks!

So this is it for this blog. Its purpose was to document my journey through Peace Corps service, which it did, and now you all know where the next chapter in my life leads me. I've mentioned in a previous post that I will keep this blog up and running because it has useful information for prospective PCVs. If you have any questions about Peace Corps Samoa, feel free to email me. I am more than happy to help.

While this blog is now retired, I plan on starting a new blog documenting my life in the UK, along with my travels around Europe. I don't like Blogger, due to the issues I always have with the photos, so will probably switch blog hosts. Until then, feel free to follow me on Instagram: @angelinaaugust.

Thank you to those people who've invested their time in reading this blog and sending me words of encouragement throughout my service in Samoa. It meant, and still means, so much to me. 

A special thanks to my amazing family who is so supportive of my adventurous spirit. I love you all so so much! 

I'm adding the video that documents my time in Samoa again, for those who have yet to see it: 

I'll sign off with a favorite quote my father once told me. I thought about the quote a lot in Samoa, especially while I was teaching. I'll keep it with me as I study in the UK:

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart..." - Colossians 3:23. 

With love,

Angelina / Lina

The Interview

Back in December, I had landed at LAX and was waiting to board my flight home. I was texting my mom when she told me that my dad had contacted KOB, which is my state's local news station. He told them about my Peace Corps journey, which got them interested in interviewing me regarding my experience as a PCV.

I was a bit hesitant, but I knew how proud my dad and all my family were of me and my Peace Corps accomplishment. Also, I knew that as a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer), it is my duty to fulfill Peace Corps Third Goal, which promotes helping Americans understand the people and cultures of other countries. It is one of the three goals that supports the Peace Corps mission to promote world peace and friendship. So because of these two factors, I went ahead with the interview.

It took place on Christmas day and aired two times (maybe even more). Below you will find photos from the interview, along with the link to the interview.

Note: Once you click on the link, the video is at the top of the webpage, above the article.

Enjoy!

Stephanie, the news anchor who interviewed me

I wore a puletasi during the interview

Link to the interview:
UNM graduate returns home after Peace Corps service | KOB.com

UPDATE: The above link has since been removed, but I was able to find the video on another website:
http://www.clipsyndicate.com/video/play/5521981

Fiji, Australia, & Thailand: My Final Thoughts

So that's it. After living abroad for 26 months, I was home, arriving on Christmas Eve. Many people have asked me similar questions. One being about my travels and the country I liked the most. I've thought long and hard about this one, and I can't decide. Fiji, Australia, and Thailand all had unique characteristics about them. And in every country, I met a group of people who made my trip memorable.

Fiji was the one country I had always wanted to visit. I always felt drawn to that country and now I know why: It was the country where I would meet my amazing boyfriend, Greg. I'm a big believer of fate, and I like to believe that my journey through the long Peace Corps application process, my placement in Samoa for Peace Corps service (which allowed cheap and easy access to Fiji), and booking Beachcomber Island at the right time, were all steps in the pathway that led me to the moment that would change my life forever. My sister Steph loves to call it "serendipity" and I'd have to agree with her.

After Fiji, I said my goodbyes to Millie and Michelle, setting off to the solo-leg of my journey, starting in Australia. I mention in the Australia portion of this blog that after 26 months, I had adapted to my Samoan way of life: living in a small village, out in the bush. When it was time for me to leave Fiji and set off to Sydney, I started feeling a bit anxious and the effects of reverse culture shock started to take hold. I was traveling alone, so it was difficult not having a support system. I'm proud to say that it didn't take long for me to adjust; I stepped out of my comfort zone and made friends with my fellow backpackers, having a good time while doing so. Also, Greg and I met up in Sydney, and we had a great time as he showed me around the city.

The only negative about Australia is that everything is SO EXPENSIVE!

Now onto Thailand: I had heard horror stories about the country, but I didn't find truth to any of them. Sure, crime happens there, but it happens everywhere as well. The only time I felt unsafe was while using the motorbike taxi in Bangkok, due to his insane driving and swerving in and out of traffic. I remember thinking that if I was going to die at any time during my travels, that would be the moment!

I named my Thailand blog post, "The Best of Both Worlds" because I got the feeling of "seclusion/deserted island" at times, but it also felt quite developed with shopping centers and fast food chains. Plus, the airport in Bangkok has high-end designer shops such as Dior, Gucci, etc. I couldn't believe that Peace Corps Volunteers serve there because it felt leaps and bounds ahead of Samoa, but I am aware that there's a side of Thailand that I didn't see: a side that is very much rural and needs help from PCVs.

I loved that Thailand had the feeling of seclusion, but was also quite developed. I can see it being a turnoff to tourists coming from developed countries, though because most people want a getaway and  to fall off the grid for a bit. But for me, coming from a small Samoan island, I was in heaven!
Overall, I recommend Thailand 100%. Nice people, delicious food, and so cheap. Money goes a long way. I did all my Christmas shopping there!

For those who have never traveled solo but are thinking about doing so: I say, do it! You learn so much about yourself. Most likely you will be pushed out of your comfort zone, which causes you to grow as a person. If you're staying in a hostel, remember that most people are in your position: traveling alone and are eager to meet others, so talk to them!

Another question I've been asked is how I was able to afford such a big trip. Since I didn't fly home after my Peace Corps service ended, I was given cash-in-leiu to cover the flight cost. After that amount was taken into account, I only spent about $200 USD extra to fly to Fiji, Australia, Thailand, and home. I saved tons of money staying at hostels and not eating out every meal. Some of the resorts and hostels offered at least one meal in the accommodation fee, some covered all three, like at Beachcomber Island. In the instances where I was on my own for food, I'd eat peanut butter sandwiches. Other times I'd go out for a meal, get a to-go box for the leftovers, and eat that for the following meal. I especially did this in Australia because like I've mentioned, everything is insanely expensive there. In Thailand, I ate out every meal because everything is insanely cheap! If I didn't do all my Christmas shopping there, I would have spent next to nothing.

I'll end on this note: It's beautiful thing to see and experience another culture, its people, and meet other travelers from all over the world.

The Best of Both Worlds: THAILAND!

Thailand was the final leg of my trip. I flew into Bangkok at nighttime and was blown away by its size! And also by the fact that everything was written in Thai... talk about culture shock! I also arrived in-country without a clue of where I was staying (of course I "forgot" to mention this to my family because I didn't want them to worry)... I knew that it would be easy to find accommodation once I arrived... I guess I was feeling a bit spontaneous/adventurous/brave/possibly stupid?

After I got my baggage and bought a SIM card, I googled "Top hostels in Bangkok," and found a long list to choose from. I checked the ratings on a few, made my decision, and called to check if there was availability. There was room that night. I figured out how to navigate onto the Skytrain, which is an above ground subway. I ended up getting off at a stop too early, flagged down a taxi whose driver tried ripping me off (I was warned about this from friends who have traveled to Thailand), got a new taxi driver, and drove around Bangkok for 45 minutes. He didn't know where my hostel was located, so I added the address into Google Maps. Google Maps addresses were in Thai, so it was difficult to navigate, even confusing the driver!

But lo and behold, we found my hostel! And with all that driving around, the price was still half the amount that the first driver tired to charge. What a start to my Thailand adventure!

Enjoy the photos!

Photo 1: Beautiful Jakarta, Indonesia, en route to Bangkok.

Photo 2: Link Corner Hostel, which was the hostel I stayed at. There was nothing special about it, but it was clean and cost only $10 USD/night, so I can't complain! Plus it had free WiFi and each bed had its own power outlet.

Photo 3: The lounge area.

Photo 1: View from my room.

Photo 2: Bangkok traffic.

Photo 3: My first tuk tuk ride!

Photo 1: Wires, on wires, on wires... Dangerous??

Photo 2: My tuk tuk driver doesn't look too thrilled in this photo but he was actually a happy and hilarious man.

Photo 3: The Grand Palace

Photo 1: So grand!

Photo 2: How Thai of me! I became a pro at asking random strangers to take my photo! Ha.

Photo 3: Soi Cowboy... Scenes from The Hangover 2 were filmed here.

Photo 1: Because my hostel was far from my location and it was rush hour traffic, two taxis refused to transport me. I had no choice but to use a motorbike taxi. My experience with transportation in Thailand concluded: The more you're willing to risk your life, the cheaper the fare!

He swerved in and out of traffic at top speeds... Terrifying, but a rush!

Photo 2: A bit of Bangkok.

Photo 3: My next destination: Koh Samui. The flight from Bangkok is only about an hour long.

Photo 1: I landed in Koh Samui and found myself in the same situation as the night I landed in Bangkok: uncertain of where I was staying. I used the TripAdvisor app on my phone to randomly pick a location and a hostel in the area called Behind the Scene Hotel Club @ Samui, located in the village Chaweng. The reviews looked good so I called to confirm availability and took a shuttle to its location. I was expecting something quite basic but was blown away by the quality of the hostel. Not only was it in a great location, but it was clean, nice, had free WiFi and only cost $13 USD/night! The price went up by a couple of dollars on weekend days.

Photo 2: My room had 8 beds total, each having their own power outlet, along with a private bathroom attached. The bathroom had 3 toilets, 3 showers, 4 sinks, and long mirrors in the center. 

Photo 3: While my room had 8 beds, there were only 3 of us staying in it the first two nights. I really enjoyed spending time with those two girls. One was American and the other was British. 

Photo 1: The girls invited me to join them on their day trip. The first part: ATV ridin'.

Photo 2: Beautiful waterfall in the jungle.

Photo 3: Next up: Elephant trekking! I love this elephant selfie!

Photo 1: I feel that there are two things that must be done while in Thailand. The first: elephant trekking. Jane and I had a great time riding the elephant!

Photo 2: Night out with the girls and two guys who had a private room in the hostel. 

Photo 3: Such a funny sign! 

Photo 1: I love this! He was so cute and lovable. 

Photo 2: Jane, Lorna, and I got matching rings. We really haggled down the price!

Photo 3: A shopping center, on a small island! This, along with the numerous fast food chains, made me question if I was really on an island and in a developing country.

Photo 1 & Photo 2: Chaweng Beach.

Photo 3: Gotta love street food, especially when it's $1.52 USD and so delicious! Mmm, pad Thai!

Photo 1: The second thing that must be done while in Thailand: Go to a ladyboy show! A few of my new dorm mates and I went to a show! Check out that ladyboy's small waistline! 

Photo 2: The woman in the middle is a ladyboy! I was impressed!

Photo 3: Midway through the stay, Lorna left for Bangkok. Jane stayed behind and then a batch of 6 new girls joined us. Luckily, the situation wasn't anything like my Sydney dorm mates (except for Stephanie, who I've talked about previously). All the girls were traveling solo, so were eager to meet and hang with everyone in the room. It was a great group of girls. We enjoyed spending days together and all going out at night. The girls were from various countries around the world. Photo credit: ark-bar.com

Photo 1: Such a neat show! I must add: Ark Bar seemed like the beach party to be at, and it's location was right across the street from the hostel, so I spent a lot of time there. Photo credit: ark-bar.com

Photo 2: Since I've completed two years of Peace Corps service, I gifted myself with a night at this gem... The room had a private pool attached and cost just $115.00 USD/night! Okay, yes, it was a lot more expensive than my $10-12 dorms, but the quality of the resort was so grand, that it would've cost double or triple in the US. Also, the price included free internet and breakfast and I was given a welcome drink upon check-in.

Photo 3: Enjoying my private pool. There was a communal pool in the center of the resort, along with  the resort being beachfront. 

Photo 1: I took a similar photo like this, but can't find it, so this one comes from TripAdvisor.com. The significance of this photo is that every Thai toilet has a hose beside it... To clean your bits after toilet use, I'm assuming? I made it a point to keep my bare feet away from the floor drain. Yuck!

Photo 2: Fish spa. Easily the strangest thing I've ever done! The fish loved the skin that was peeling due to the sunburn I got in Fiji. Ha!

Photo 3: Since it was my final night in Thailand and I was at a fancy resort, I got dolled up, wearing the new dress and heels I bought in Sydney. The American Angelina cleans up quite nicely, eh?

Photo 1: I nearly froze to death in a Chinese airpot, so I used my neck pillow as a scarf... No shame! 

Photo 2: Next stop: America!! I was so excited that I didn't care I had a 13-hour flight ahead of me.

Photo 3: Distance give in miles and not kilometers, what???!!! I must be en route to AMERICA!

Photo 1: This was a grand site! I was back in my country! Yahhhh, Obama!

Photo 2: The best welcome on Christmas Eve! It was so great to see my family in their Christmas gear, with that cute welcome sign, along with my friend Jimmy and his mom Martina.


From Samoa to the US it took: 10 planes, in 7 countries, and 7 different time zones! I was jet lagged for quite sometime.