Grazing the Corners
Hey everybody, Just thought i'de update the blog with a new post. I ve been keeping Grandma up to date with print outs of Viks letters, most common response..." he's crazy, whyz he in Samona!?" I am also starting to think that my birth name might actually be Viktor- Brian- Bobby-Lonnie. She really does support you Vik, I promise.
Vik the move was streamline, we got all of our stuff into Som's house in one day and now we are comfy. His parents are up from FL. for a week so we are getting the home-cooked meals along with a free Indian food cologne. We are also getting ready to leave for NC. for Tizzy's wedding and I think Aunt Shirley and Sarah are riding back with Jak and I. Should be fun, I love road trips with Schraders (big part of my childhood memories). Anyway, Love you all. Lon
"Be the change you want to see in the world". Ghandi

CURRY for the DOGS

When we first arrived our trainers hooked us up with a list of Apia's finest dining establishments. Pizza, Chinese, McD's, and a few delis were on the list, but at the top was a local hangout with local food. The catch was that our stomachs probably wouldnt be able handle what was on the menu. We needed to toughen up a bit.

Today we went to Pinatio's (the dangerous local spot). I had a HUGE plate of green curried chicken, a monstrous fried chicken leg, and toro (local starch, a cross between a potato and cardboard) the size of boulders. I could hardly make a dent. But what i did eat was pretty tasty.

An old man working on the front deck of the "restaurant" came by to take my plate when i was done. He politely asked if i was finished, lifted the plate, turned around, made a soft kissing sound, and placed the plate on the ground. Instantly three dogs sprinted over and licked my leftovers clean. Everyone was satisfied and i learned a bit about how this tiny island culture works.

Today we head off to our training village, Vaie'e. Its on the southside of Upolu. I haven't been there yet but i've heard really good things. I'll be sure to tell my new mom, dad, brothers, and sisters all about my amazing friends and family...as well as i can (which, suprisingly, is becoming more of a reality every day). This also means that i'll be out of communication for 2 weeks. I'll have some great stories then!!! Talk to you soon. Love, vik

Hey Vik and everyone I have been at Camp Sunshine for 31/2 hrs. and the families have not yet arrived but any minute now. I have taken a moment to unpack my stuff and walk around the "campus" on Sabago Lake. I am already in awe of the work these people do, the simple beauty and the love that's all around. My work starts at about 4pm serving food and all that jazz, in the meantime I'm sooo hungry I could spit but there is nothing to eat until it's served! How much gum can I chew and swallow until dinner is served? Already questioning my "empathetic" reasons for being here, what do I know about pain? Nothing. I wonder if I will come to a totally selfless spot. I can tell the difference already between the way I have been living my life and other less selfish ways. There are a lot of young people here as volunteers, college kids I think, my roommate has the aura of a Kelly Brooks. So as the time moves on I will learn what I will learn. I think of Leah and you and the selflessness and community you must share doing the work you do and being among all of those other people. I admire you both so much. Love to you both. Mom

So, hope all is well with everyone. Vik, sounds like the culture is perfect for you. I bet your making all kinds of friends, can't wait to meet them. Jak and I are just about 4 months away from the big day and we have all kinds of cool stuffed planned for Jamaica. Wedding is on Runaway Bay beach at 4 ( I thought it was 4:30, good thing Jak reminded me) then we will go to another section of the beach for a cocktail hour with a local steel drum band. Soon after that we will all pile into a restaurant for dinner the hit the beach for a party party Jamaican style (plenty of Red Stripe and Roots Reggae). Got my suit, its a white linen suit with a Spanish style wedding shirt ( my Mom said it looks exactly like my first communion suit only bigger) and no shoes. Its gonna be loads of fun. Catch ya on the flipside.

A toast to your coffin-
May it be made of 100 year old oak
And may we plant the seed together, tomorrow.
W.A.M.L. Laanzoe!!!

Vik,
Leah left New Orleans for Colombia tonight. Dad talked to her but I missed the call. So what color is your lavalavas? Do you wear the shirt we gace you with them? Maybe you could cut the sleeves off the shirt and wear it with the lavalavas. You must be having rain too. We are too. Gardening is difficult but we did a little last night. I love digging in the dirt. Town meeting tonight, school budget and lots of other things. Such a tribal meeting. Glowing moon upon the sea of distant wishes, paving their way to you across the sea. Mom

v, went over to new york state to retrieve sarah and leahs stored stuff. took a peace corp. V. back after 3 years, in Thailand, 1 year as a semi NGO. but with peace corp. connection, back home to potsdam... way up state. talked plenty about his time and his return. he's going to grad. school in denver for international studies, ????. or something like that. I asked, why not go to a school over there, way cheaper, the dif is getting the degree in the states has the prestige. only $ he gets is the P.C. grant... said the most important thing was the personal connections between 2 people from differant parts of the world. good luck. DADA

Enjoying the Breeze

I bought my first "formal" lavalavas, it has pockets and is a soothing light blue. We call the cooling upward breezes "Samoan AC". Great feeling on a hot day...trust me!

-leah, i hope your able to move on smoothly, the next experiance will be just as challenging but hopefuly even more rewarding!! Happy hour IS a great thing-

-Clair, have your kids been talking about the new umpa-lumpa song remix. Its all the craze here...and it pretty creepy. -

-Lon and Jack, i hope the new situation is alright. miss you big time and i know you'd be right at home here. Its Jamaica with out the ya'mon...Bob even makes his pressence felt.-

I went to see the x-men movie in Apia's theature, its nicer than Rangeley's, and is right down the street from McD's. American influence is not only hiding below the surface. The village should prove to be much different. Well see on Sat!!

I was hoping to get into some rugby games but from the bone crushing i've seen so far i think the touch leagues are the best place to start. These kids are nuts!!!

Pics soon i promise!!!

Hey Vik!
So glad you're back!
I am getting ready to fly away again, thursday.
Sad to leave, but acquired many new penpals.
Tired tired, pulling together the ends is sticky, but if we didn't do it now we'd need to sleep for a week before going on!
Claire's happy hour sounds like a good cure.
Your enthusiasm for beginnings reminds me that the zonk disapeares when you start anew.
I can imagine you laughing on the beach!
love you
leah

vik i've never used this thing (not sure where this is gonna show up) but i wanted to tell you how much i miss you!!! looks like everything is going great (i'm sure you do love those Samoan "coconuts") hope all is well, talk to you soon...love you~jak~

Grazing the Corners
Vita,
Sounds like everything I have imagined. Although im sure thoughts and dreams dont to the blue of the Pacific its true justice. Guess I'll just have to see for myself, SOON!!! I have been brushing up on my Samoan, for instance...manuia moa is happy chicken, maybe you can tell everyone to call you that for a good laugh. They also call airplanes va'alele which means "flying canoe".
Hey have you been able to use the first phrase we learned in Samoan...tasi pia fa' amolemole??
Picturing you smiling. Lon

Vik
Tonight, while attempting my 8th wheel, I wondered what do the beaches in Samoa look like? Then I came home and read your amazing description! Maybe yoga does really take you to a higher place :) Everyday I think about what you are doing and I am in awe. When we are old and can't find our teeth you will be able to entertain us with your adventures (in between lengthy discussions about or bowel movements, of course).

Today my sixth graders finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and to celebrate I dressed up like Willy Wonka and taught them how to make candy. It made for an interesting afternoon. We then made up our own Oompa Loompa Song "what do you get when your students are bootleg (which means bad)" I am not sure how the Samoan youth will react to seeing you dressed up like a scary candy maker, but I am sure I can help you think of something to win over their trust. That is the secret to teaching, that and happy hour of course.

Miss and Love you!
Cuz Claire

Vik,

Have been reading some about Samoa. Am going to get the Margaret Meede book out of the library. Wonderful to read your postings. I have read them over the phone to Grandmom. Not sure she hears what I am saying, but she keeps saying "Bless his heart". She is right, I do know your heart is blessed. I have also taken Grandmom to the church to pray these last few days, when I was in Dtown ,and I know she prays for you as we all do. We love you. Rosie

Sorry about my extended absence...this weekend i had plenty of time to write but no access, everything shuts down early on sat. and Apia is a ghost town on sunday. The day of rest is it its finest here...so quiet.

Im on an exteneded lunch right now, we talked about all the diseases we "may" get. I think the translation for "may" is "probably". but its all good, nothing to scary. i dont think i can get a worse stomach ache that the one i had in LA from all the fast food we ate.

-mom, i got all of my shots-

It is hot hot right now. The middle of the day is brutal and from what i've gathered this is the cool season..the real heat is yet to come.

Thanks for all of the great posts...truely apreciated.

-dad, the d. code came to Apia's movie theature but was banned after the first day. the theature owners family and a few other got to see it and then it went back to NZ. -

-clair, i may be hitting you up with some of those techniques you use on you kids. Samoan youth seem to be pretty similar to yours, and im sure just as fun!!-

We've been going at the language pretty hard. Basic spelling/conversation/sounds/alphabet. We learned a word the other day that had five vowels!! I'll write it down and stick it into the next post. crazy. i found out that i was producing 'thank you' wrong and was actually swearing at every one for two days..good thing samoans have a sense of humor.

yesterday we went on a cultural expedition...the BEACH!!!! You would think we'd be there every! Soon enough.

giant blue waves crashing and spraying the reef....met by intinmidating piles of lava rock...protecting communities of crabs and sparkling fish....sunshine blanketing the entire experiance...refreshing and energizing

i made friends with a hermit crab named Frank but my friend Jordan who is one of our marine experts wouldn't let me take him home...Frank and i were sad and vowed to meet again.

i've fallen in love with the coconuts. at market you can buy one for tasi tala (one 'dollar'). they shave the fur off, stab a hole in the top, stick a straw in and present you with all of its goodness.

gotta go and spell check takes a REALLY long time with this connection...sorry!!

Fa,

Vita

Grazing the Corners: June 2006
Uncle Mel was right, lots of comments but no Vik. I feel we are all here as family so we might as well bore each other with our daily life happenings. haha. I got some boring stuff to tell you guys till Vik gets back so get ready.

May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.
Lon

V,looks like your busy. plenty of comments, no vik. hope to hear from you soon. DADA

Vik,
Struggling with the path to posting. As usual sometimes I have it and sometimes I don't. Things are going well on the homefront. School is still in session and the rain is still falling. Martha S. said you reignited the fire and she has applied for another PC experience, Aids Education perhaps. Watching the news, watching kids graduate, watching the time move by. The questions build up for you, like what does it smell like, look like, taste like, feel like. You and your youthful comrades continue to inspire us. I think that we can't all do what you are doing and so we should be using our own backyard to be more peaceful.I am in training. Love you, mom

doodlegrace.blogspot.com
leah's blog

Vik,
Thought of you yesterday as I bravely boarded the Superman ride for the 8th time in row! My group consisted of all 10 behavior boys in the 6th grade. Our group name was G4L (ganstas for life) which basically sums up my day. My plan was to wear them out as quickly as possible, so we had a contest to see who could ride the Superman the most times in a row. In the end I had two kids crying, one puking, one "praising Jesus" for making it alive and me suffering a severe case of whiplash. However, my mission proved successful because my entire group, including me, was asleep before the bus even left the parking lot. It has not stopped raining here for three days and I am beginning to design an Ark, just in case.
Samoa sounds amazing! Have you been wearing your lava lava? You need to post some pics!!
I am off to yoga, namaste :)
Cuz Claire

we need some sun shine like , desperate, but school is just about out and things and people are hoping to get real again, I guess? saw the D. code in rangeley tonight,was alright in my book. shed a bit of light on the grand skeem, sort of. might hook up with a P. corps guy back from thailand. I think he's interested in asian languages. hope to spend some time with him soon. you schraders keep it going for yourselves and stay tight with the right night and let that light shine.DADA

Hooray! You're there!
First moments are hard to describe, but thanks for trying!
Here it all begins, glad you're safe and rearing to go!
My blog is doodlegrace.blogspot.com
Much love to you vik
leah

IM ALIVE!!

We made it in ok...yesterday at about 5 am. Flight was brutal to everyone except me, i was knocked out before we got off the ground. Samoa is amazing, tropical, friendly, humid, and sunny. We have been in "class", learning the language, culture, and PC rules. All important stuff. The first thing we did was participate in a traditional 'ava ceremony..look it up..its pretty cool.

For the next few days we'll be in a hotel preparing for departure to our village. All the volunteers are great and we've been getting to know the volunteers that have been here for a year. Good people.

We have been able to venture out on our own a bit, but they have been keeping a tight leash. We've still managed to have a "good time".

I haven't had much time to miss every one back home but i hope everyone is well.

This net cafe is right down the street so i'll be in touch for the next few days. After that it may be tough.

talk soon...much love.

will someone post leah's blog address??!! Thanks

"The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the US gov. or the Peace Corps."

I think im in the clear now

I made it into LA, what a cool place....even though its seriously smoggy! Training is going pretty well and i think i have a really great group of people to take this journey with. Our flight has been changed, same day but much later at night. We wont be getting in until early hours of the morning, but considering this is the only international flight coming in all week our director said the airport will he "hopping".

Sorry this is short but im paying mucho dinero at the hotel for net time.

i'll post again asap...much love.

Cant stop thinking and believing in you! Im feeling all these emotions, as a big part of my life flies into the crisp night away from my body but not my soul. I feel your intense need to feed the world in my heart and respond by giving this energy to other people in hopes of even more positive actions for the youth. You are a soldier for faith, deternimation and the hope of a better world. Go on and get it Vik! Love you. p.s. Get the hell out of L.A. as soon as possible.
314407- Lonnie

Vik,
I'm back. I flew through the same clouds as you going west. What a different place west is. Will talk soon. Love Mom

Doodle it gracefully
mindfull is the word, so hard at times, slowing the time of doing and not. fleece it for comfort as light washes the dream meal, to hot to bother___ not! had some quiet reading time with sarah tonight, finally. had to ask the beast to stay away please, tonight, give me space, he said sure then came back anyway. I can't explane it, it's always the same story, I just don't need to hear it or talk about it, can't they just do it. "yes I said that and meant it, oh sure it could be hippocritical, so what. that's just what I wanted to say. please think for yourself", said the father full of fat, talk, black, walk and blue, it's true? love dadada

Viktor my son. the old world is waiting for you, treat it well and with mindfullness. it will be nothing like what you forgot. send what you need to forget back home. live well with your self and others. see you. love DADA

Vik I love you so much, so glad that we could share such a heartfelt goodbye in the rain, and glad you've gotten safely on your way. What's LA like? That's an adventure in itself! I am thinking and thinking of you, so full of gladdness for who you are. I feel like I wake up in this moment of life and can barely beleive where we are- a dream with many peices and a very living core.
love and love
leah

Its about 3 hours before departure and my bags are packed. Excited but tired and sort of afraid to sleep. I have the worst feeling of "im forgetting something" and i cant satisfy it....what am i forgetting?? It must not be important.

SO EXCITED!!! LETS GO!

Vik,
good luck & God bless.
P.S. Take the soap and shampoo from the L.A. hotel.
Love,
Katherine & Uncle B.