The Samoan word for Peace Corps volunteer is pisikoa, but literally translated, pisikoa means busy rooster. I know it's been a long time since my last post, but I have been a very busy rooster! So instead of writing about my life over the past 6 months, I thought I would share all my pictures, and hopefully, it tells the story. Most pictures were on my phone. Sorry for the poor quality.
School
English Day, culture day, drama club, reading clubs, small literacy groups and Library Time. I've really loved teaching
A year 7 girl helping facilitate activities for a year 4 reading club
Library Time! These kids love to read
Drama Club Rehearsals
Loved the costumes kids made for the 3 little pigs
Don't be fooled by how cute she is. This wolf was big and bad
Love this girl
It was her first day of school ever, and she was like my little shadow all day
Just chopping a roasted pig at the staff meeting
Getting Ready for Culture Day
Culture Day- Green House
Life
Some of my students brought me this mangy kitten, and I thought he looked like a starving house elf from Harry Potter... so his name is Dobby
Dobby, no longer starving
Went to Manono (the small island between the two main islands) to visit a friend. The boats are small and low but the view is lovely
If I want fruit, I find this kid and his big stick
One year anniversary
The beach in my village
My water filter after one day, my water is dirty
My Monday Uniform- not a good combination with a sunburn
This is a pulteasi (samoan profesional wear): Tunics and floor length wrap around skirts in bright tropical prints
GLOW
(Girls Leading Our World)
In November, the conference was a huge success and the girls all had so much fun
On the ferry ride home
Yes, you girls are soooo cool...
Ferry ride
The most exciting part about the movie theater was the Christmas Tree
Ashlyn and one of her girls
Most of these girls had never been to a movie theater before... or seen a Christmas tree
My girls and I
Volunteer, Stephanie, leading a discussion about domestic violence
Performing skits about domestic violence
Down time in the dorms meant a lot of dancing
Learning about education opportunities on a field trip to a local technical college
Learning about career opportunities
Learning about staying healthy through exercise
Healthy minds/healthy bodies!
Not a great picture but we got a visit from Miss Samoa!
The view from our venue
That's their, "do I get candy?" face
Down time in the dorms. Most girls had never been away from home so a lot of time was spent on the phone
Learning how to paint fabric for a career option
They paint beautiful designs on the fabric
Listening to a local woman who opened her own restaurant and shop
All the glow girls
Ferry ride in
HVV
(Host Volunteer Visit)
In November, new volunteers spend a few days with current volunteers to learn what it's like. These three lovely ladies came to my school, we went swimming with the sea turtles, we spent time on the beach and hung out with my family
White Sunday
In October, the children take over church. They do songs, dances, speeches, sermons, prayers and skits in English and Samoan. I helped the Sunday school with the English parts. It was a real time commitment but pretty fun!
English Sermons (Love this Girl)
Crying during a skit because we take acting seriously
