INCHING TOWARDS THE END OF THE BEGINING

I LOVE my blog, even though i hardly ever get to post and read, when i do it really lifts me up!!! Thanks so much for your support and loving words, it feels amazing to know that we are all still living togeather while worlds apart.

Over the last month a lot has happened. Training has begun to show signs of completion and i think the group is in a state of disbalief, that we will be on our own soon, and ecxitement for the next step.

So, in talking to my mom a few weeks ago i realized how poorly i've described what is actually going on here. For the past two months our entire group has been living in a village togeather, each with different familes and going through intense language and cultural training, mon-sat (now you know why were so excited to get out of class!!!). This past week was a huge deal because we found out where out true - permanent - villages will be and took a week to visit them.......on our own!!! What a crazy time that was.

My new home..Samalaeulu...is on the island of Savai'i and is a monster of a village, 800 + people, 5 churches (diff. congregations), a primary school, the biggest river in the country runs through the center (but only flows....rages actually....3 or 4 days out of the year, the rest of the time its bone dry, i hiked it to the ocean on thursday, it took 3 hours round trip!!!) and is surrounded by lava fields (which are odly alien like, i had no idea what it was when drove by, it looks like some exploded a huge Bic pen all over the coast line, blobs and bubbles).

So, my counterparts seem extreamly proactive. There is a committe that was set up to wirk alongside me, and they have list os projects they are intersted in working on. The most apparent at the moment is education. Math and Science!!!!! The primamry school is so so short staffed, and from tuesday trough the end of the week i had ad-hoc tutoring sessions in my "room" at the Womens Committe house. What a trip that was. It was great though, math, drama, accounting, essay writing, were the main subjects. I think theres enough kids that need help that i could bring every reder of this blog over and keep you busy day after day. Pomento genes kicking in again....love it!!

I think a book drive might be in order, for all the teachers out there. Maybe a whiteboard and markers aslo for the tutoring session.....details later.

This last week got me really excited. I was worried as to how i would fit in, and how useful i could be in my community. Even though it was only a week i felt really good.....ALIVE!!!!!!

On August 23rd, we all swear in, become true volunteers, are cut off from the training staff and pushed out on our own. Right now i'll say that it cant come soon enough....check back in a few months for a response to this note...i think it will be possitive.

-Sarah, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!! I sent a letter and some picture of you and Leah, i hope you receive them!!!! Love you and hope you have a hell of a good time. Your old!!!!

-Grand Mom and Aunt Rosie/Lisa, thanks so so so much for the cookies, the made it into my stomach and those of the other volunteers and my Samoan brothers and sisters just fine. SOOOOOO good. Thanks!!! Also, G-mom, i hope your feeling alright, Im so sad that you fell and hope your feeling better.-

-Mom and Dad, Thanks for the notes, it was so good to hear from you on the phone mom, i have a new number for you (give it later, and i hope it didnt break the bank). Sounds like your having a great summer. Please send little Drew's address i write him a letter but have no where to send it.-

-Jaque, good to hear you the man of the house again, keep up the good work. Try to talk less and listen more, its a skill i've been learning as well. Also, keep a big smile and laugh...they may be the key to happiness.-

-Lon, i ove the reflections and words of wisdom, your spark inspires us all. The kids here would love a round house kick lession!!!! Natural atheletes.

Im headed off to play a softball game with the Peace Corps, Japanese volunteers, and a bunch of Aussie volunteers. Should be a hell of a good time.

I do need some things, not extreamly urgent...but welcomed. - new watch, plastic/rubber band w/ an alarm, not expensive. - new books, from my pile at home -board shorts, one pair, not white, style is welcomed, size 32 (and not really shrinking or growing) - gum, granola bars, box of mac and cheese, little stuff like that, im in a country where these easy to grm items at the store are not so easy to grab - crayons, the kids tear through the boxes !!!

I healthy, happy, having fun, speaking Samoan pretty ok ( i can get through conversations with out english...simple ones), anjoying this beautiful country and its people and felling realy alive!!!

"The more challenges the situations you put yourself in, the higher you set your goals, the more you will get out of life"-Lost in Mongolia, Colin Angus - DONT BE SCARED!!! -

Huge hugs and silly kisses from Samoa,

Viko (new..new name)