I'm alive!

Talofa lava! I have been in Western (Independent) Samoa for about a week now in a village called Alafua where our campus (USP) is located. They just opened the campus "computer lab" (think jr. high-- waiting in line to use one of 5 computers, two of which have had the mouse stolen, and they run at ridiculously low speeds).

I have pictures to post but...
1) the computers are VERY slow... so I'm going to try to post this entry first and then try for some pictures.
2) Almost anywhere I go I have to ask permission (preferably of a Matai/chief) to take pictures. This makes sense though, as I'm sure a lot of palagi* come through taking pictures of people going about their day. Especially cause theres so many things here that you just wouldn't believe if it weren't for the pictures!

I have so much I could write about, but I'm a bit limited (due to slow computer and the fact that I've got a lot of work to do for tomorrow). So I'll do what I can. And I apologize if it's not structured in a very reader-friendly fashion. While my Samoan tongue is really improving, I'm getting worse with English:)

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It's hot. The showers are cold. I shower with centipedes. I have decided that sleeping with lizards is better than sleeping with centipedes.

The busses here are an unreal experience. They are brightly painted and loud music is always blaring. And I cannot describe how crowded they are. When all the seats are taken, people begin to pile in each others' laps. I've even had someone sit in my lap already. Someone handed their BABY to my friend. Unreal.

I ran into a guy that went to Trinity on the first day at the market!!!

I'm sleeping in a closed room (not an open fale). I am still at USP, though. Friday I will go stay with a family in Lotofaga (on the south side of Upolu). But because the Matai's son-in-law is a builder, they have a new house... most likely a closed house that is typically only associated with Palagi*, but we'll see.

I have been snorkeling with some of the most colorful fish I've ever seen, hiking to the top of volcanic mountains, swimming in caves, diving off waterfalls, and sliding down moss covered rocks. Did I mention I LOVE SAMOA?

Our academic director from SIT told us that if we followed the health guidelines from SIT, that we'd all starve and die. That should give you an idea about my diet.

My clothes smell worse after having washed them.

I may or may not elaborate on these things later, depending on what you guys are interested in. I haven't written anyone individually (yet), but I just wanted to tell everyone how much it means to me to receive emails, comments, and those kinds of things from you. This has been a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for me and hearing from people close to my home helps me remember who I am and where I come from.

Peace, love, and le fa'asamoa,
Mandy

*Palagi (puh-LONG-ee) is the Samoan word for white person.

Vegan Polygamist Valentines

292, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

So we have one boy on our trip, and he's just amazing. Our director told him that it's tradition that the males of the group make dinner one night, and so he actually took her up on it. And we cooked the taro we harvested at the Lo'i and mashed poi as well! It was absolutely delicious. Technically, I had a dude cook me dinner on Valentines Day (for once!) .

Okay, this is just cute.

291, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

This is my friend Allie and while she was holding the gecko, it jumped on her nose. But I wasn't able to get my camera out until it reached her hair. Either way, it perched itself on her hair for a while. Don't act like this isn't cute.

Me as a farmer at the Lo'i

289, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

Working at the Lo'i has been, by far, one of the coolest experiences since I've been here. Throughout the week, we've been learning about Hawaiian sovereignty movements and their efforts to return to a more traditional society where property is communal as well as is work (thus breaking dependence on the US/capitalism) Hawaiian Lo'i are basically farms that any local Hawaiian who knows "the protocol" can come and work, as well as reap the harvest without having to use any monetary exchange.

On this day, I weeded the swampy Lo'i while dodging centipedes and crayfish (?) and mosquitos (oh my!) and then harvested Taro root (as seen in the picture). It was a really cool process to learn, and communal farming seems like such a cool concept that I would love to activate in my hometown.

Drop-offs and my journey to the State Capitol

287, originally uploaded by mandy.mantzel.

SIT does these things called drop-offs, and during our hectic orientation week in O'ahu, this was a breath of fresh air. We really have been in the classroom almost all day every day. So on my drop-off, I walked back to the location (rather than taking the bus, even though it took me over 3 hours).

First, I went to this planetarium show at the museum that talked about how the polynesians first navigated through the pacific using only the stars. That was so cool, and if I had more time I'd like to write more on that.

Next, I went to Chinatown and attempted (very poorly) to converse in Chinese. Side note: I've made a friend here named Allie that is fluent in Chinese and we have been practicing together.

Then I went to the state capitol, where this picture is taken. Their house and senate floors are on the ground floor, and visible from people passing in the streets. I thought that was SO cool... given that it makes participation/observations much more accessible. Too bad nothing was going on... but it seems cool in theory.

Then I came across a workers' strike against a convenience store. I talked with them for a little bit about some of the issues facing local workers and again, I just wish I had more time to blog about this.

Finally, I met back up with the group at the International Marketplace. The end.