Hello blog readers! I hope you had a happy and fun-filled Saturday. It is Daylight Savings Time, eh? So that means that IL will be 6 hours ahead of me now. AmSam doesn't participate in DST. Speaking of time, have I ever told you that Tutuila (my island) is now the last place in the world to end each day? We are the last people to see the sunset and it happens to set gorgeously in the Leone bay, right down the hill, aka "downstairs". Cool, or in Samoan slang, kaisi! [Sidenote: I am constantly asked which church I go to. I just say, "In Leone. Downstairs." They know which church I'm talking about. Ha.]
What is new in my life? Well, it is Spring Break! Seriously, how does this happen? It feels like yesterday was the first day of the semester and now it's the middle of March. Good grief. This brings so many mixed feelings. I am so eager to get off the plane in Chicago, but saying goodbye to the place I've called home for almost a year is going to be extremely hard. I only have a little over 2 months left in my classroom. Students are starting to ask me what I'm going to do when I go home. Others refuse to accept the fact that I'm leaving. Some just shake their head and say, "I'm going to miss you." I was talking to three of my students yesterday and one girl asked me, "Do you like Samoan kids, miss?" I answered, "I love you guys. You have no idea how much I am going to miss you." The four of us got really silent and just kind of sat there until someone distracted us and we went back to our normal conversation. Whew. Almost everyday now, I get choked up multiple times. Someone says something, or I see someone I know that I will really miss and that lump creeps up on me. Sigh. Life is so good for me right now, but at the same time, it is starting to get rough.
Now for something that gets the lump out of my throat. I am still having "whoa" moments here. "Whoa" moments are those times when you don't really realize where you are, but something catches your eye and you say "Whoa. I live here?" After being here for so long, I still forget that I live in the middle of the ocean on a teensy tiny island. I had a "whoa" moment today. I was on the bus, headed into town, and we passed by one of the funeral casket stores (yes, those exist) and I "whoa'd." I forgot where I was and no, it wasn't the actual casket store that made me realize it - the moment just happened as we were passing the store, haha.
I did a little Spring Break splurging today. I bought a new $4 broom for my classroom! Jokes! That's not all I bought. I also bought some fabric for two dresses. When the seamstress was measuring me, I was all giddy at the thought of having new clothes. Oh, my life.
Abby and I are headed to Apia on Upolu (Western Samoa) for a few nights next week. We will be spending the first two in a cheap, budget accommodation type place. The last night, we are splurging on an actual hotel room! Gasp! Air conditioning! A pool! A sink and shower that has hot water! GASP. It will be worth it (although I think we're sharing a bed because getting two beds was a lot more expensive...it's okay, you can laugh. We are.) It will be nice to get away, although we have a high chance of running into a lot of Leone High Schoolers. Our amazing swing choir is there for the week, performing at colleges (high schools in Western) and churches.
What else can I tell you? Oh! The school bought all the staff MacBook laptops! That's right. I now have to lug a beautiful, fancy laptop back and forth to school each day. I don't get to keep it (shucks) but I have to watch over it like a baby. Obstacles include making sure it doesn't get touched or stolen by students, and making sure I don't get caught in a rainstorm on my way to and from school. Either way, it is reeeeaaallly pretty. [Sidenote: I'm not sure what the actual purpose of the laptop is, and why they didn't spend that money to buy computers for the students to use...or maybe buy new books for their library...or maybe install water fountains so the students don't have to drink water from the bathroom sinks....just sayin'.]
I guess that's about it for now. Fa soifua!
3 comments:
DST sucks! Coming from someone who really could have used that extra hour snuggling in bed this morning! I can't wait until you come back, and I know we're not the only ones! I'm still in awe of you being in AmSam and teaching all those kids. Such an awesome thing and amazing experience. Just think of all the stories you'll have to tell FOREVER! :) haha silly girl, so excited about a broom! Probably to sweep up all those ice cake cups?! Have a great mini vacay, hope you get some well deserved rest! <3
Does Upolu have the first sunrise now that their time zone has changed?
Thinking about all of the friends you have made and how much you love them. I think they will have the same lumps in their throats when you leave. It is obvious in your writing, just how much they love you.
Thanks for sharing nice post. i have been looking information on "Quinn in American Samoa".
This discussion has slove my concern to a great extent. i am very grateful.
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