Bank
I needed to go to the bank, I was counting my change to pay for things at the store, the only problem is the bank is so far away. It is in Salelologa, Savaii’s gigantic metropolis and I did not feel like leaving my village. I didn’t want to leave school early, and my weekends are usually booked. That’s what friends are for.
Elisa was heading to the “city”, and I gave her my bank card with pin to withdrawal money out of the ATM. I gave her the number after I ran the 5k to her house, and was frazzled and told her the wrong number.
Thankfully, banks in Samoa aren’t known to enforce the rules as much with their customers as they are in America. After failing at the ATM, she gave them the card, filled out a deposit slip, signed my name, and got the money. It was that simple. It makes me realize how important it is to hold on to my card and not lose it from my site at all. If it were to get into the wrong hands, I know I could get myself into trouble!
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Saturday, October 2, 2010
Rape
Raping
It has been about two weeks since the attempted rape in my village. I have offered my phone up to her to use however she wants, such as call family or call Victim Support Services, and it was only used once.
The teenage boy who committed the crime received no percussions for his actions. He still goes about his day, hanging around the village doing whatever he pleases. It appears as though everyone in the village knows about it, but no one seems to want to do anything about him, or even care. This is the second time this boy has committed this crime, and each time nothing has happened to him. This frustrates me, but what is happening to the girl frustrates me even more.
She is struggling, which is completely normal, but no one seems to know how to handle her. I feel what they are doing is inappropriate from a different outlook on life, but it is normal life here in Samoa. I have seen her break down into tears several times, and one of those times her mother saw her, and hit her for acting so vulnerable. Her peers around the village tease her for what happened and call her a liar. I feel so bad for her for going through such a traumatic experience. I am trying to be here, but I am always wondering if it is enough.
In the other island of Upolu another rape incident occurred in a volunteers village. The man who committed a crime was charged a fine by his village, but that was all.
Samoa is really trying to work hard towards its, “No to Rape and Indecent Acts” campaign, but Ii guess campaigns don’t always hit everyone that they were hoping for.
Don't get discouraged, I do feel safe where I am, things can just happen anywhere.
It has been about two weeks since the attempted rape in my village. I have offered my phone up to her to use however she wants, such as call family or call Victim Support Services, and it was only used once.
The teenage boy who committed the crime received no percussions for his actions. He still goes about his day, hanging around the village doing whatever he pleases. It appears as though everyone in the village knows about it, but no one seems to want to do anything about him, or even care. This is the second time this boy has committed this crime, and each time nothing has happened to him. This frustrates me, but what is happening to the girl frustrates me even more.
She is struggling, which is completely normal, but no one seems to know how to handle her. I feel what they are doing is inappropriate from a different outlook on life, but it is normal life here in Samoa. I have seen her break down into tears several times, and one of those times her mother saw her, and hit her for acting so vulnerable. Her peers around the village tease her for what happened and call her a liar. I feel so bad for her for going through such a traumatic experience. I am trying to be here, but I am always wondering if it is enough.
In the other island of Upolu another rape incident occurred in a volunteers village. The man who committed a crime was charged a fine by his village, but that was all.
Samoa is really trying to work hard towards its, “No to Rape and Indecent Acts” campaign, but Ii guess campaigns don’t always hit everyone that they were hoping for.
Don't get discouraged, I do feel safe where I am, things can just happen anywhere.
Murder! (of a pig...)
Blood
There was blood dripping from his mouth. I usually love the guy, but seeing what he did repulsed me. It was my fault in some ways. When he came over to hang out with me I ran away with disgust.
I came home to find several piglets grazing on our lawn. There are two effective ways to get rid of pigs. The first way is to make a “shh” sound, and they begin to run away. If that fails, clap your hands and the dog will chase them out.
Champ did his rounds chasing the pigs, and caught one. I threw several rocks, and he would drop the pig for a second, but then would pick it up and run around with it again. The pig was squirming around and I began to look for neighbors that could help out. I threw rock after rock at our dog, nothing seemed to be working. I didn’t want to get to close because I feared Champ in the state he was in. He was a killer.
Finally two of my students hopped over our fence armed with rocks. When the pig was dropped after one of the stones hit Champ, Tupu, a year 5 student, went and grabbed the pig. He cradled it and brought it to its owners. The pig was still alive, but barely holding onto life.
Champ ran over to me for me to show my appreciation for how good a job he was doing. There was blood dripping from my mouth and I was disgusted. Although I am proud of him for protecting our land and doing a good job chasing the pigs, it is still a horrific site to see.
There was blood dripping from his mouth. I usually love the guy, but seeing what he did repulsed me. It was my fault in some ways. When he came over to hang out with me I ran away with disgust.
I came home to find several piglets grazing on our lawn. There are two effective ways to get rid of pigs. The first way is to make a “shh” sound, and they begin to run away. If that fails, clap your hands and the dog will chase them out.
Champ did his rounds chasing the pigs, and caught one. I threw several rocks, and he would drop the pig for a second, but then would pick it up and run around with it again. The pig was squirming around and I began to look for neighbors that could help out. I threw rock after rock at our dog, nothing seemed to be working. I didn’t want to get to close because I feared Champ in the state he was in. He was a killer.
Finally two of my students hopped over our fence armed with rocks. When the pig was dropped after one of the stones hit Champ, Tupu, a year 5 student, went and grabbed the pig. He cradled it and brought it to its owners. The pig was still alive, but barely holding onto life.
Champ ran over to me for me to show my appreciation for how good a job he was doing. There was blood dripping from my mouth and I was disgusted. Although I am proud of him for protecting our land and doing a good job chasing the pigs, it is still a horrific site to see.
Living in a Bachelor Pad
Bachelor Pad
I am living in a complete bachelor pad. My parents are out of town, along with most of the family at a wedding, and it is just me and one of my brothers. I have been in this situation before, and each time it is interesting to say the least.
During the day I experience something that I enjoyed in America, but haven’t had the chance to experience in Samoa, solidarity. I used to enjoy this a lot more than I do now. I don’t know what to do with my time because it is so rare that I have peace and quiet to myself during the day.
This all changed at night. A few of my brothers came over and they were full of energy and excitement. They took turns cooking food for dinner, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I mean it isn’t every day that a girl gets several men taking turns cooking delicious food for her. After our family dinners, the boys made sure the house was full of life.
They brought gigantic speakers to list to all of Samoa’s best music (and make sure the neighbors heard it as well). A few of them used a program on the computer to try to make their own mixes, and some of them might have been better than our beloved DJ Okay. They also watched many movies and played cards until their hang out turned into a sleepover.
It was a good time being in the house with all the boys. The boys are like brothers to me since they are always around. It makes me feel safer in my village knowing that there are the extra people looking out for me to keep me safe.
I am living in a complete bachelor pad. My parents are out of town, along with most of the family at a wedding, and it is just me and one of my brothers. I have been in this situation before, and each time it is interesting to say the least.
During the day I experience something that I enjoyed in America, but haven’t had the chance to experience in Samoa, solidarity. I used to enjoy this a lot more than I do now. I don’t know what to do with my time because it is so rare that I have peace and quiet to myself during the day.
This all changed at night. A few of my brothers came over and they were full of energy and excitement. They took turns cooking food for dinner, which I enjoyed thoroughly. I mean it isn’t every day that a girl gets several men taking turns cooking delicious food for her. After our family dinners, the boys made sure the house was full of life.
They brought gigantic speakers to list to all of Samoa’s best music (and make sure the neighbors heard it as well). A few of them used a program on the computer to try to make their own mixes, and some of them might have been better than our beloved DJ Okay. They also watched many movies and played cards until their hang out turned into a sleepover.
It was a good time being in the house with all the boys. The boys are like brothers to me since they are always around. It makes me feel safer in my village knowing that there are the extra people looking out for me to keep me safe.
Centipedes, Rats and Other Fun Things Crawling About
Centipedes, rats and Other Fun Things Crawling About
Everyone always complains about the horrible centipede. It comes out of nowhere and attacks you. The extra strength Mortein bug spray does not even kill it, unless you spray for a long time. Many of my friends send me text messages about their encounters with this horrible insect, and I pretend that I understand what they were going though, but in truth I didn’t.
For a year I pretended I knew what the centipede looked like. Everyone has had dozens of them around their house, that creep into their mosquito net and hid among their clothes. Rachel is always telling me about her fears. Some days she is scared to leave her bed since she sees a centipede lurking around her room. Often, when she visits others, she is awoken in the night to see a centipede crawling in the room.
For an entire year I have heard the terrors from others, but surprisingly never saw one. It might be because I am not as observant, but I would like to think I was just lucky.
Then, last night, my year long streak was broken. My brothers friends were over the house watching a movie while me and Iosefa were playing cards, when something began creeping under the carpet. (Note to readers, carpet in Samoa is different than carpet elsewhere. Carpet here is anything that covers the concrete. It is mainly the nylon (I think it is nylon) sheets that come in rolls. Carpet can be found everywhere, including cars.) One of the boys lifted up the carpet, and sure enough a centipede was there. He put the carpet back down and began smashing the lump with a shoe. (Centipedes are dangerous to the touch.) After 20 seconds of constant hitting, he lifted it up again and the centipede was still there alive. It took about 15 more hits until we finally declared victory.
I learned that centipedes are as huge and disgusting as everyone described. I think it was about 2 and one half inches long and chubby. They are too big a creature for me not to notice for an entire year, especially when everyone else residing elsewhere sees them constantly.
Now that I have had my first experience with them, I am done. I am ready to wait another year to see them again.
Besides, I do come across other things that I wish I didn’t see in my house. Rats are everywhere, including in my bed. I sometimes here them in the box spring, and hope they would just go away and leave me alone. Usually they do, and I don’t hear them for a few days. However, a few nights ago I saw one crawling on my laundry line. (When you don’t have a closet you have to make due, I have string strung up around my room to hang my clothes on. I used to keep them folded in a suitcase but ants, or other creatures were eating them. I got sick of having too many clothes have holes in them.) I closed my eyes, hoping it will go away in my sleep. That didn’t work. About ten minutes after I felt something touch me in my bed. I let out a little shriek and started to make as much noise as possible. Thankfully the rat stopped making noise, or left because I did not hear it the rest of the night.
Often the rats keep me up at night. I hear them make noise in my room, or elsewhere, and they are loud. I know rat and mouse traps might slow down this problem, but my room has too much access to outside. Although my room has all four walls, the walls are a thin sheet of some sort of metal. Over the metal, is mats (either to provide some insulation, or for decoration.) It is very easy for rodents to access my room.
Another insect living in my room is the ugly cockroach. I used to hate these creatures. Now, since there are so many of them everywhere, and it is impossible to kill them all, I tolerate them. Like the centipede, they are nearly impossible to kill. You have to whack them several times for them to begin to give up their life and slow down their movement. About a minute late of constant stepping on them, they finally will die. If I can, I try to terminate them. However, if there is no object around for me to smooch them with, I just let them live. The only real bad encounter I’ve had with them, is when sleeping on the floor. A few times they have visited me under my lava-lava while sleeping on a mat. (Not an enjoyable sleeping partner!)
Of course I still have many ants in my room, thankfully they have stopped eating my computer, and rarely crawl on me in my sleep.
There still are many mosquitoes, but I seem to only get bitten when I am in certain places, such as sitting in the office at school, or in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, or certain other places outside of my village. Because I know where I can expect them, I usually neglect to put on my bug spray (hoping of course that Dengue stays far away from me).
The cute little clear lizard (pili) also resides in my room. I enjoy watching them as they are as cute as can be. The only problem I have with them, is when they have to go to the bathroom. Twice it has landed on me!
The last creature that can be found in my room, that I know about, is spiders. Since spiders eat other bugs, and aren’t poisonous in Samoa, I try to keep them around. (Besides there really aren’t too many of them.) Recently a giant one was found in my room. He was hiding under my suitcase, and ran off as soon as he saw me.
The creepy crawlers are still everywhere, but I have learned to cope without spraying that horrible insect spray everywhere. I hate the smell of the toxic chemicals, especially since the smell lurks around forever. Coexisting seems like the best philosophy.
Everyone always complains about the horrible centipede. It comes out of nowhere and attacks you. The extra strength Mortein bug spray does not even kill it, unless you spray for a long time. Many of my friends send me text messages about their encounters with this horrible insect, and I pretend that I understand what they were going though, but in truth I didn’t.
For a year I pretended I knew what the centipede looked like. Everyone has had dozens of them around their house, that creep into their mosquito net and hid among their clothes. Rachel is always telling me about her fears. Some days she is scared to leave her bed since she sees a centipede lurking around her room. Often, when she visits others, she is awoken in the night to see a centipede crawling in the room.
For an entire year I have heard the terrors from others, but surprisingly never saw one. It might be because I am not as observant, but I would like to think I was just lucky.
Then, last night, my year long streak was broken. My brothers friends were over the house watching a movie while me and Iosefa were playing cards, when something began creeping under the carpet. (Note to readers, carpet in Samoa is different than carpet elsewhere. Carpet here is anything that covers the concrete. It is mainly the nylon (I think it is nylon) sheets that come in rolls. Carpet can be found everywhere, including cars.) One of the boys lifted up the carpet, and sure enough a centipede was there. He put the carpet back down and began smashing the lump with a shoe. (Centipedes are dangerous to the touch.) After 20 seconds of constant hitting, he lifted it up again and the centipede was still there alive. It took about 15 more hits until we finally declared victory.
I learned that centipedes are as huge and disgusting as everyone described. I think it was about 2 and one half inches long and chubby. They are too big a creature for me not to notice for an entire year, especially when everyone else residing elsewhere sees them constantly.
Now that I have had my first experience with them, I am done. I am ready to wait another year to see them again.
Besides, I do come across other things that I wish I didn’t see in my house. Rats are everywhere, including in my bed. I sometimes here them in the box spring, and hope they would just go away and leave me alone. Usually they do, and I don’t hear them for a few days. However, a few nights ago I saw one crawling on my laundry line. (When you don’t have a closet you have to make due, I have string strung up around my room to hang my clothes on. I used to keep them folded in a suitcase but ants, or other creatures were eating them. I got sick of having too many clothes have holes in them.) I closed my eyes, hoping it will go away in my sleep. That didn’t work. About ten minutes after I felt something touch me in my bed. I let out a little shriek and started to make as much noise as possible. Thankfully the rat stopped making noise, or left because I did not hear it the rest of the night.
Often the rats keep me up at night. I hear them make noise in my room, or elsewhere, and they are loud. I know rat and mouse traps might slow down this problem, but my room has too much access to outside. Although my room has all four walls, the walls are a thin sheet of some sort of metal. Over the metal, is mats (either to provide some insulation, or for decoration.) It is very easy for rodents to access my room.
Another insect living in my room is the ugly cockroach. I used to hate these creatures. Now, since there are so many of them everywhere, and it is impossible to kill them all, I tolerate them. Like the centipede, they are nearly impossible to kill. You have to whack them several times for them to begin to give up their life and slow down their movement. About a minute late of constant stepping on them, they finally will die. If I can, I try to terminate them. However, if there is no object around for me to smooch them with, I just let them live. The only real bad encounter I’ve had with them, is when sleeping on the floor. A few times they have visited me under my lava-lava while sleeping on a mat. (Not an enjoyable sleeping partner!)
Of course I still have many ants in my room, thankfully they have stopped eating my computer, and rarely crawl on me in my sleep.
There still are many mosquitoes, but I seem to only get bitten when I am in certain places, such as sitting in the office at school, or in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, or certain other places outside of my village. Because I know where I can expect them, I usually neglect to put on my bug spray (hoping of course that Dengue stays far away from me).
The cute little clear lizard (pili) also resides in my room. I enjoy watching them as they are as cute as can be. The only problem I have with them, is when they have to go to the bathroom. Twice it has landed on me!
The last creature that can be found in my room, that I know about, is spiders. Since spiders eat other bugs, and aren’t poisonous in Samoa, I try to keep them around. (Besides there really aren’t too many of them.) Recently a giant one was found in my room. He was hiding under my suitcase, and ran off as soon as he saw me.
The creepy crawlers are still everywhere, but I have learned to cope without spraying that horrible insect spray everywhere. I hate the smell of the toxic chemicals, especially since the smell lurks around forever. Coexisting seems like the best philosophy.
Daylight Savings Woes
Daylight Savings
For some reason, Samoa decided to start Daylight Savings. I find it really weird because there does not seem to be a need for this anymore. Living where I do, I did not get the memo of the time switch, and since it happened on a Saturday night, I showed up to church pretty late the following day.
My telephone, of course, didn’t change on its own, and I was confused on the time for the entire day, and following day.
On Monday, when I woke up for school, it was still dark, and according to my watch, I was running late. I was so confused that I had to call Rachel and find out the actual time.
I have gotten a little more used to the time, although I am still confused. At school I get to arrive just after sunrise, which means I get a beautiful view of the sky changing over the ocean. It is amazing to see the colors. At night, the sun sets close to eight at night, which is strange.
Since the change happened so suddenly, I haven’t been able to find a good groove to enjoy the speed of life in. In the morning, I always want to stay in bed because it is still dark when I need to get ready. In the afternoon, during my normal running time, I have trouble going because it is still too hot and do not know if I should wait, or just go. Dinner time is always after sunset, so now we eat extremely late. (I then get super hungry in the afternoon, knowing that I have to wait so long for dinner.) Which in turn, ruins my nine o’clock bed time. I then go to sleep late, and wake up exhausted. This pattern continues day after day.
Hopefully soon I will find a schedule that fits me. Until then, I need to get used to it since it will be like this for the next six months.
For some reason, Samoa decided to start Daylight Savings. I find it really weird because there does not seem to be a need for this anymore. Living where I do, I did not get the memo of the time switch, and since it happened on a Saturday night, I showed up to church pretty late the following day.
My telephone, of course, didn’t change on its own, and I was confused on the time for the entire day, and following day.
On Monday, when I woke up for school, it was still dark, and according to my watch, I was running late. I was so confused that I had to call Rachel and find out the actual time.
I have gotten a little more used to the time, although I am still confused. At school I get to arrive just after sunrise, which means I get a beautiful view of the sky changing over the ocean. It is amazing to see the colors. At night, the sun sets close to eight at night, which is strange.
Since the change happened so suddenly, I haven’t been able to find a good groove to enjoy the speed of life in. In the morning, I always want to stay in bed because it is still dark when I need to get ready. In the afternoon, during my normal running time, I have trouble going because it is still too hot and do not know if I should wait, or just go. Dinner time is always after sunset, so now we eat extremely late. (I then get super hungry in the afternoon, knowing that I have to wait so long for dinner.) Which in turn, ruins my nine o’clock bed time. I then go to sleep late, and wake up exhausted. This pattern continues day after day.
Hopefully soon I will find a schedule that fits me. Until then, I need to get used to it since it will be like this for the next six months.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Am I a Teacher or a Secretary?
Teacher vs. secretary
All Samoan school were given money from New Zealand and Australia, money that was used to buy fun equipment for the schools. We were all excited when the goodies arrived. My school received sports equipment at first. Then, before break we received more equipment. A person from a company in Apia came with a brand new computer and photocopy machine. We are not the only ones to get the equipment, schools all over were receiving the same.
It is amazing having technology in the school. It should be making our jobs easier. The only problem is since us Peace Corps Volunteers understand about technology, some of our principals want technology to be our primary jobs. This means that instead of being English teachers, we are also part time secretaries.
When our equipment came, I was with a class. I was told to leave my class to learn how to use the photocopy machine. It was frustrating to learn something I already knew how to use.
It is a few weeks later and I am sad to see what happens to technology. The principal is afraid of our new technology breaking from teachers not knowing how to use it, so it now sits in boxes.
Today I had to re-teach how to use our all in one printer/copier to a teacher who had to make many copies of a test. It took much longer with the little machine than if the new one was hooked up.
Our school really needed technology, and when our hopes were answered and we received it, it is upsetting to see what happens to it. I know my school is not the only one with these issues. Other Volunteers are running into the problems where they are the only ones allowed to touch the equipment. Their refusal to learn or have their teachers learn, or use it, is not making technology sustainable.
All Samoan school were given money from New Zealand and Australia, money that was used to buy fun equipment for the schools. We were all excited when the goodies arrived. My school received sports equipment at first. Then, before break we received more equipment. A person from a company in Apia came with a brand new computer and photocopy machine. We are not the only ones to get the equipment, schools all over were receiving the same.
It is amazing having technology in the school. It should be making our jobs easier. The only problem is since us Peace Corps Volunteers understand about technology, some of our principals want technology to be our primary jobs. This means that instead of being English teachers, we are also part time secretaries.
When our equipment came, I was with a class. I was told to leave my class to learn how to use the photocopy machine. It was frustrating to learn something I already knew how to use.
It is a few weeks later and I am sad to see what happens to technology. The principal is afraid of our new technology breaking from teachers not knowing how to use it, so it now sits in boxes.
Today I had to re-teach how to use our all in one printer/copier to a teacher who had to make many copies of a test. It took much longer with the little machine than if the new one was hooked up.
Our school really needed technology, and when our hopes were answered and we received it, it is upsetting to see what happens to it. I know my school is not the only one with these issues. Other Volunteers are running into the problems where they are the only ones allowed to touch the equipment. Their refusal to learn or have their teachers learn, or use it, is not making technology sustainable.
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