You can call me Miss Bolander...

I spent the last four days in St. Paul, Minnesota, visiting my friend Erin. Erin and I went to New Zealand through the same study abroad program and we have been lucky enough to spend quite a few mini vacations together.

This is Erin and I enjoying the Sculpture Garden in Minneapolis yesterday:

Following our adventures in the garden and a delicious meal of hot dogs and mac & cheese, we were about to settle down for the night. Remembering that I needed to sign up for a 5k that I will be running on the 25^th, I got online, registered for the race, and then checked my email. I was not expecting to see this: American Samoa 2011-2012 Teaching Placements. My reaction was instantaneous. My jaw dropped, I started shaking (truth), and I felt like I was about to lose my mind.

THIS WAS IT! Would I be teaching Geometry? Or a lab involving chemicals? Just thinking about this makes me cringe. I had never been more nervous in my life. All I wanted was to be an English teacher.

I opened the document with Erin by my side and Mom on the phone…and then I screeched because my dream came true. For the 2011-2012 school year, I will be teaching English at Faga’itua High School in Faga’itua, American Samoa. I could not have asked for a better placement. I will be on the big island, Tutuila, but I will be in a rural village, something that I had asked for on my preference form.

I think the village is pronounced Fahnguh-ai-too-ah.  Upon my arrival in AmSam, anything can happen. I could be transferred to another school, village, or island, but for now, I am beyond ecstatic with my placement. 

My happy dance was definitely necessary:

The countdown is 24 DAYS! Soon to come: what and how I am packing (oh how difficult that will be), last adventures in the USA, and prepping to be a high school teacher!

Never heard of AmSam before, eh?

If you still think I am going to Somalia, this is the post for you! Take out your notebooks, sharpen your pencils, and grab a cup of coffee or two – it’s time to learn.

At this point, I’ve directed you to experiment with Google Maps to see how AmSam compares in size to the rest of the world. It’s just so cute and tiny, right? Aw.  As small as it is, it has a lot to offer.

§  AmSam is a tropical island.

o   In 2006, Islands named Ofu Beach (on one of the outer islands) one of the 30 best undiscovered beaches in the world.  I can’t wait to visit that!

o   Tropical = palm trees complete with coconuts, warm weather, beaches, sunrises/sunsets…okay, you get the drift.

o   Tropical = humidity, sunburn, bugs…sooo many bugs: mosquitoes, spiders, scary/huge/massive/frightening centipedes (I’m talking colossal size), vicious wild and domestic dogs (previous volunteers have had to walk around with pipes and large rocks in their hands for protection – oh yay!), etc.

o   Lesson to learn: No matter where you go, there is always going to be something beautiful as well as something that might test your limits a little more than you would like: embrace it, go with the flow, and maybe wear some bug spray and sunscreen.

§  AmSam is an island full of football.

o   Someone (can’t remember who or where I read it) made a joke that football players are the biggest export from the Samoan islands. 

o   According to an article on espn.com, 200+ Samoans play in Division I football.  Holy smokes.  That same article said, “It has been estimated that a Samoan boy is 40 times more likely to reach the NFL than a boy growing up in the United States.”

o   To read the article, follow this link: "American football, Samoan style"

§  AmSam is home to a Starkist tuna factory.

o   Tuna is one of the main exports from the island.

o   Next time you make a tuna sandwich, see where the fish comes from!

§  AmSam is a territory of the United States.

o   According to AmSamoa Tourism, AmSam has been a U.S. territory since April 17, 1900. The island was used during WWII, where it held a naval base, hospitals, landing strips, and protection/retaliation against the Japanese.

o   The island chain uses U.S. currency as well as our postal system. It costs the same to mail a letter to me in Sycamore as it will when I am in American Samoa. How freaking awesome/way cool/crazy is that? Also, packages can be sent for similar prices as well. *Hint Hint*

o   AmSam is home to a National Park!

o   The temperature ranges from high 70’s to low 90’s throughout the year. The average annual rainfall is anywhere from 150 to 300 INCHES A YEAR. Whoa.

o   AmSam is extremely religious. Way back when, Christian missionaries paid the islands a visit and converted as many people as they could. The majority of the island is Christian but other denominations include Mormon, Catholic, and a few others. Because of this, the dress code is conservative. Women are not allowed to wear swimsuits, shorts that are shorter (punny) than the knee, and tank tops with tiny straps.

Alright, class is over for the day. I hope you were able to learn something from my little list of facts. I can’t wait to share my own experiences with all of these things in 29 DAYS!

Update 1: I have added a “subscribe” box on the top right of the blog. Enter your email address, follow the steps, and my blog will show up in your email whenever I update it. Link back to the blog to read it though. Who wants to read a blog update from an email? BORING!

Update 2: Confused about how to comment? Scroll all the way down…I added some directions.

Tofa!

Only in American Samoa....

Only in American Samoa, do they have music videos like this…

Will I come home with a “caramel complexion?”

Only in American Samoa, does McDonald’s actually look appetizing…

Only in American Samoa, well, need I say more?

Only in American Samoa…will I turn into a football player?….

The reason why

Many people have asked why I chose to teach in American Samoa. Most people who teach English abroad head to China, Japan, or Korea, but I guess I'm different. During my semester in New Zealand, I stayed in a dorm that consisted mainly of freshmen Kiwi’s, which was quite the experience. But, I was lucky enough to get placed on a floor with people from all over the world. I was the only American, but students from Japan, Tonga, (Western) Samoa, the Philippines, and New Zealand lived near me. Before NZ, I had never even heard of Tonga or Samoa, and it wasn’t until I became friends with my floor mates, that I really became interested in the South Pacific (tiny) islands.

When I discovered WorldTeach, I researched all of the countries and after a brief “I want to go to Colombia” stint (my Mom wasn’t too happy about that), I realized that my answer was right in front of me: American Samoa! Not only would I be back in the South Pacific, but I would be able to reunite with my Samoan friends and continue to learn about the culture, history, and lifestyle of a tropical island.

That being said, besides anxiously awaiting the news of where I’ll be living and what I’ll be teaching, I am keeping myself busy with “attempting” to learn Samoan.  It is a vowel-filled language, and some of the words have up to three in a row, like Nu’uuli. Just a guess, but I think it is pronounced new-glottal stop—oooooooleee. We will see if I am right. Another catch is the letter g. In Samoan, g = ng.  The capital of the main island is Pago Pago. It is pronounced as Pango Pango. Also, stress is put on the letter a, making it more of an ahh. Neat.

Other than practicing my vowels, I am checking things off my list with WorldTeach, stocking up on flip flops, and eating all the greens, berries, and citrus that I can hold (more on this later.)

Until next time, tofa!

A lot can happen in 365 days!

I graduated from college a year ago today. The past year has been an extensive 365 days of trial and error, success, let down’s, excitement, stress, and much more. But, above all, it has been an incredible year of learning…not the kind of learning that requires my face planted into a textbook, trying to understand themes in literary theory (turns out, I can’t do that). Instead, I have been learning about myself, something I never thought would really happen the way it did.

Throughout the last month of college and the next 3 months, all I did was apply for jobs.  My heart literally ached for a position in International Education. Following my semester in New Zealand, the idea of working in study abroad became the biggest motivation in my life. It made me happy, I loved talking about it, and I thought I had what it took to score an entry-level position. 70+ applications later and I was out of luck. I was crabby, frustrated, upset, and I was emotionally and mentally exhausted. Then, Kishwaukee College happened. I had applied for a part-time secretary position in one of the Dean’s office’s, and well, they liked me! Working at Kish has been so much fun! I have met amazing people – people who have turned out to be incredible role models and very good friends, and I have enjoyed working in and around education. International Education would just have to wait. I was happy here.

Let’s flashback a little bit. Back in the day, I had planned on becoming a 1^st grade teacher. Once getting into college, I changed my mind and decided to study journalism. After my semester in NZ, I had found my calling: study abroad. Senior year, 2 of my roommates were elementary education majors. Whether they were writing lesson plans or student teaching, I told myself that I could NEVER and would NEVER be a teacher. Ha…ha…ha.

Back to 2011. I JUST FINISHED (a few weeks ago) TEACHING A COLLEGE WRITING CLASS! I know, right? Didn’t see that coming, did ya? It was incredible. I loved it. It was a huge, HUGE challenge, and for the first two weeks, I had no idea what I was doing. My class consisted of 13 of the funniest, nicest, silliest group of kids (turns out I can’t call them that – they were either my age or older. Funny. Weird?) They didn’t do their work most of the time, but when they did, they were happy to be there.  Turns out, teaching is fun! Working at Kish has opened so many doors for me, and because of my English degree, I was able to teach a class and well, I DID IT! Cool.

I haven’t had enough. I miss teaching my students. I miss seeing their faces light up when they see how much their writing has changed. I can’t be done yet…which is why I chose to apply to WorldTeach, a volunteer teaching, non-profit organization that sends people to countries and islands all over the world! For 11 months, I will get to be a teacher in a high school somewhere in American Samoa. As of right now, I have no idea what I will be teaching (please, please, please let me teach English. I still have to count on my fingers – I cannot teach math). I could not be more excited, thrilled, nervous, and ready to start my next big adventure.

WorldTeach is an awesome organization and they, along with their teachers (soon to be me!), are doing great things for students around the world. The link below will take you to the WorldTeach website. Not only can you read about who they are, but you can see all of the places where people can teach. Maybe it’s something you’ll want to do someday…for most of the programs, you can be up to 75 years old to go! And a huge plus, you don’t have to have a degree in education or a teaching certificate (perfect)!

WorldTeach  

I know I just wrote a book, but I feel that it was necessary for you to really understand what’s been going on in my life the past year. I’ll always be learning about myself, but right now, I have learned that who I want to be at this time in my life is a teacher in American Samoa.

A [BIG] move to a [tiny] island

I am moving to American Samoa…not Samoa (that island will be my neighbor), and definitely not Somalia (wrong ocean and country, folks). Basically, I’m moving to an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Cool!

Here’s a glimpse of where I’m going:

As you can see, American Samoa is a chain that consists of 5 inhabitable islands (Tutuila, Aunu’u, Ta’u, Ofu, and Olosega). There are also 2 uninhabitable coral atolls (Rose and Swains). Makes it seem big, right?

Here’s a link to Google Maps - type in American Samoa, explore a little (try to pronounce some of the names of villages - that will give you a laugh, for sure!), and then zoom out of the map – after a few clicks, you tell me how big you think the chain is.

American Samoa is not so big anymore, is it? In fact, it’s TEENSY TINY! I really am serious when I say that I’m moving to the middle of an ocean.

Why you ask?

Well, until next time, I will tell you that it’s for a very exciting, challenging, and life-changing reason.

Off I go...in TWO months

On July 10, 2011, I will be leaving Sycamore and flying away to Los Angeles. Goodbye to the flat, comfortable, Midwestern lifestyle. Goodbye to my incredibly supportive and loving family and cats. Goodbye to my amazing friends (whether they’re in Illinois, Minnesota, New York, Mexico and even Panama!) Goodbye to the co-workers, and more importantly, friends I have made while working at Kishwaukee College – you have no idea how much of an inspiration you have been to me. As much of a bummer as goodbye’s are – I won’t be leaving forever! Since I am going to California, I feel this is the one time when I’m truly allowed to quote Arnold and say, “I’ll be back.”

Okay, so I’ll be in LA. Then what?

On July 11, 2011, I’ll be leaving LA, aka USA soil, only to 5+ hours later, land in more USA soil: HONOLULU! I will definitely not complain about that layover. A few hours in Hawaii are better than no hours in Hawaii, right? Later that afternoon, I’ll once again depart USA soil, only to arrive in more USA (territory) soil, which happens to sit on a teensy tiny island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

Talofa, American Samoa.