So last week in quick review.
It was good to be back with my group for a week. Those of us in town see each other regularly but it is rare for us all to be together. Well mostly together anyway. We were missing three guys from our group. Andy, Mike, and John. All great guys who were sorely missed.
I was really worried going into it that I would overdose on people and not be fit for company by the end of the week. I tend to be even more of a cranky old lady these days when I don’t get what I need (read: a lot of time alone). But to my own (and others I’m sure) relief I did just fine. I guess five days is shorter than it sounds.
We had two language class sessions every morning. I happen to really love mornings and rarely get them to myself because I am generally working or shopping (Saturday morning is one of the only times shops are open that I am not at work) or entertaining company (I usually have a houseful on Sunday Mornings.) So I took every first session of the day off. All four days (Monday we were traveling to the resort). It was glorious. I got up at my normal time (around 6 am). Had a shower and breakfast and then went right back to bed with my book (Fierce Invalids Home From Warm Climates- Tom Robbins) until I had to get up and go to a language class sometimes around 10:30. The language sessions were actually pretty neat and I went to a lot that focused around a specific task. Such as telling or reading stories in FaaSamoa. In the afternoons we had EST sessions on everything from a very touchy feely “How we are all doing” to “water safety” to “History of Samoa”. In the evenings I usually walked with Ema or someone and then hung out with my group members until we all got tired and drifted off to bed.
We did have a few nights of alcohol consumption. One night (Wednesday I think) we busted out the Nu Voka or “Coconut hooch” as we have lovingly come to call it. I recognized my comfortable limit early and took it as a cue to just go to bed (I think I may still live in fear of my Christmas hooch hang over). Several others weren’t so lucky and paid dearly for it the next day. Thursday night the resort through us a traditional FiaFia (like the Samoan version of a luau). I sat around and had what I intended to be a few beers with the owner, Steve.
There was a generous amount of hanging out, catching up, talking, joking and rehashing all the better and worse memories of the past 7 months with my group members. Monday night Mo, Carrie and I stayed up way to late giggling into the night like school girls at a slumber party.
It had reminded me of a ton of stories I should write about us.
Tho I’m sure to an outsider it all may just seem like one big inside joke. I guess that is the writers challenge eh…. To take an inside joke and write it so everyone can appreciate it…
Anyway good week was had.
Next week…
Monday I work, Tuesday and Wednesday are National Holidays for Samoa independence days. Thursday I work, and I am still debating taking Friday off….
I just got back from EST (early service training).
We spent a week in Aliapata.
It was nice.
I am exhausted, so more details later…
But I am back.
It is the most beautiful day here in Paradise.
It is bright and sunny, but not too humid.
It is warm but there is a cool ocean breeze coming in off the harbor.
It is quite possibly the nicest day (weather wise) since I have been here.
I think this may be what my friend Andrew described to me “unbearably pleasant”.
I am going to be spending most of next week at a resort on the south side (the other side) of the island with the rest of my group. We have our Early Service/HILT conference. They (The PC) do this sometime between the first 3 and 6 months of service. Basically they get us all together (lucky for us, at a resort) and sit us down to evaluate how it is going, give us tips on what to do better and throw in some additional language classes.
I am really looking forward to next week. It should be the break I need. Especially since work is just crazy right now. I am vaguely concerned that I will get tired of being around people all week. Usually (not this week or last, but usually) I spend the bulk of the week alone, and reserve my social time for weekends. I just need a lot of time to myself. I fear that without it I may get testy and intolerant. It was for this very reason (not enough time to myself) that I found I got testy and intolerant during training. I love my group but I think that to much time together can kill just about any relationship. A week may be too much time. We shall see. Just in case, however I am going to attempt to spend the weekend on my own in order to be better prepared for all the social activity next week.
I have an exciting weekend of gardening, painting, cleaning and yoga planned. Woot! Look at me live the life… (Again I am laughing at myself there, what can I say I am my favorite subject to mock).
This “not doing all the work for them” thing is exhausting.
Helping takes tree times more time and energy than just doing the work myself.
But even if I thought I could do it all (I am uberwoman, so of course I like to delude myself that I can) there is so much work that there is no way that I it all for everyone (see that would be the delusional part), even if wanted to (which I don’t).
Helping is hard. Harder than just fixing.
I am going home and having a cold shower (it’s a hot day) and curling up with my book.
It will be a quiet evening, even if I have to force it to be.
BAHAHAHAHAHAHA ( <-that is me laughing at myself)
So back home if I had a similar project to implement a software system at any company the success of my job would be tied to the success of the project implementation. Most jobs (jobs I had anyway) back home are results based jobs. The Peace Corps really doesn’t work that way. Which is interesting. My real goal is not to make sure that EPC has a well working software system. It is assist EPC in developing their process, which includes implementing technology (including the software system I am currently implementing). The difference is now my success is “development” based as opposed to “results” based. It’s a wacky nuance that changes everything I do.
The first part (of what will likely be a long process) of my big project went live yesterday and it was a crazy wacky day. Essentially the project fell flat on it’s face and failed miserably in some areas. And it’s not that I didn’t see this failure coming. I simply didn’t step in and fix everything because… well that is not really my job. My job is to assist, not to do all the work. (Tho kid no one, I have done the bulk of the work.)
Anyway the failure has proven to have been a much greater learning experience for the company, than a success would have been. If I had stepped in and dictated process and policy and then made sure all the lose ends were tired up, it may have gone off much smoother. But then EPC would be running the company the way I though it should be run instead of coming up with how to run it on it’s own. So essentially the PC goal is for us to NOT actually do the work, because really the learning process at this point is greater than the end result.
Yesterday as the process fell apart around me I simply sat back and laughed. As the project lay in shambles around my feet I had no stress (a new and unusual condition for me under the circumstances). I went home had a pleasant evening and slept well. This morning we sat down and picked up the pieces and began the long process of remedying and learning from mistakes made. This time it is not just me doing the work. This time my Samoan Co-workers are all taking responsibility. It is good to see. It means that even tho my project failed yesterday, today I am having a huge success.
Wacky eh?
While I was away so much has happened. I went to Pago and held my own with 8 Samoan Men. I had to drink too much bud lite (ick) to do it… but it’s important to make a good impression. I think I managed to remain just one of the guys… only Palagie… and female. It was an interesting trip with many more details than this that maybe I will get around to posting… maybe I will just move on with my life.
As soon as I got home from Pago on Friday afternoon I went into super woman mode and managed to clean up my house to a degree that it no longer looked like I just got home from a trip, shop and cook a nice dinner for 20 people (Eggplant Parmigiana, garlic mashed potatoes, and tomato salad) , make myself look not only presentable but pretty darn good, and… spend some quality time with my closest friend in country all in a mater of about 3 hours. It was quite a feat. The welcome home dinner party thing went off real well. Mo had a great time, everyone loved the food, and I promptly passed out at about 10:30.
Saturday I had to give a training class at work and then I went for a nice long bike ride around my hood. Which is all hills. After which I planted my basil seedlings and got cleaned up. Later I met up with some people at the Apia Yacht Club for dinner. The food there is really nice, and not totally unreasonable for what you get. Then Ema and I sat up and chatted into the wee hours (and by that I mean 11.)
Sunday was a big Toanai at my house. Ema and I made whole wheat pancakes, with a fruit topping and cheesy eggs. We tried for whipped crème but failed. It was another house full of people. I love having a full happy house, but I am really looking forward to a much quieter week.
Unfortunately I’m not sure a quiet week will happen. My project has gone live today and so far has been a complete disaster. It is getting better as the day goes on and everything will be fine. However there are some bumps and it is going to be a long workweek. At least Mo is back, and I have a week off next week (more on that later). And if nothing else I am more convinced of my ability to excel under pressure and exhaustion. I don’t like it, but I can do it if I choose to. ROAR!
Yesterday I had planned to have a nice walk home. Instead I rushed off to the Ag store at about 4 and bought some containers, and then took the bus home. When I got home I changed into some work clothing and went outside. I dug two holes in my yard, which in the future I will use for composting. I took the dirt and filled six of the containers. During which time I managed to acquire about 6 or 7 namu bites. I got all dirty and sweaty digging the holes but it felt good. Then I put the empty pots on my back porch and watered them. And last I transplanted 12 of my tomato seedlings to them. One particular seedling had been all droopy and withered in the egg carton. I checked on him this morning and he was perky and happy in his post transplant spot.
So yeah I have started gardening and in a few weeks I could actually have tomatoes. I am so excited. Later this week (maybe this weekend) I want to get the basil seedlings planted and maybe get some creeping spinach cutting from Holly and plant them.
I just hope my black thumb has vacated my hand.
It looks like I am going back to Pago this week. We leave Thursday morning and I will get back on Friday afternoon. So it is just a quick trip. But that happens to be the day that Mo gets back from Hawaii. And I had planned to throw her a welcome home dinner party Thursday night. But I guess it can wait until Friday night.
Last Friday night was Tele’a (Andy, a good guy from my group) birthday shindig at Lighthouse. I didn’t stay too long because generally I find clubs (here and at home) too loud and crazy. Some other volunteers came home with me and stayed the night. And then Saturday morning just as I put a big breakfast on the table, Max called me! I let my breakfast get cold while I talked to him and as an added Bonus Tim and Maria.
Saturday afternoon I went to Siufaga, but I was only there for about 24 hours and it was pretty much a complete disaster. My mother is in America Samoa for a few weeks. (Hey I should see if I can get some contact info and maybe I can see her there later this week.)
So missed seeing her. My father was busy most of the time with “family meetings” and I may have seen him for all of 15 min. I had to go to what I think may have been the longest church service ever. I ended up sneaking out of said church service and going home to spend that 15 min with my dad before I left and got on a bus back to Apia.
I did get to swim with my little sister Lotu and I read “We are our Mothers Daughters” by Cokie Roberts, which was neat. Oh and I even threw an American football around with Mauga (a cousin) and Lotu for a while. I got back to Apia at about 3 on Sunday and was thoroughly exhausted. At which point Carry and I went to see Hell Boy. Which I liked, but she hated.
Yesterday was a Public holiday so I stayed home and gave my house a much needed scrubbing. In the evening I met a few people at Italiano’s for pizza and a beer. (Six months ago I hated pizza and beer. Now it’s a real treat. Who have I become?)
I had several requests from people for a Birthday wish list, so I finally got one together and posted it on wackyfish.
At first you may think that an “orange free diet” is one in which you simply cut oranges from your diet. This I only partially true.
I know because my friend Sita has gone on an “orange free diet”. She is currently not eating any orange colored food. Why would anyone go on such a ridiculous diet you ask? (I did!)
Well it seems that Sita has eaten at least one (at least) esi (papaya) a day since she got here, and her skin has indeed turned…. Orange.
I didn’t think a person could actually turn orange from eating too much of anything but… I was wrong. My friend Sita is orange. (And I sooo wish I had my digital camera so I could take a pic and prove it to you). Our medical officer has put her on an orange free diet until the condition remedies itself. Apparently it is just cosmetic…. But really we stand out enough being white… she probably doesn’t need to stand out anymore being orange.
Pisa is back today. I was so happy to see her that I gave her a hug when she got in.
I am still sick.
I have to go to my training village (Siufaga) and see my Aiga this weekend. It’s mother’s day and I need to see my Tina Samoa. I bought her some really nice fabric to make a new Pulotasi out of. And I will make a batch of chocolate chip cookies to take with me tonight. Oh, plus the two cans of Pisupo (Pisupo is canned corned beef. Samoans love the stuff. I can’t eat it) I got as a gift when I was in Pago. I will have to give it as my parting gift so they don’t try and feed it to me later.
Hopefully I will be back Sunday night.
Wednesday we (some volunteers) had a little Cinqo de Mayo feast! Katie made her tasty chili relleno casserole dish thing. Anne made black beans, I made Spanish rice, and Carry made bean dip. It was good food!
The last bit of big news is… I have sprouts! I have about 22 tomato plant sprouts and 11basil plant sprouts. The rosemary and lavender have not come up yet. I will give them another month and I will stop watering them as much (as they prefer a dryer climate). I have no idea what I am going to do with 22 tomato plants and 11 basil plants. If I had planned better I could have researched finding some discarded boards and built containers for my porch.
I miss Pisa.
I have been coming into work late (since I am sick, no one really wants me around the office) and leaving at about noon to go run the Service order training. So I have only been averaging about an hour or two, time with Pisa and my boys.
Today however Pisa had a family obligation and was not at work at all!
I miss her!
Training is over so I will try and work a full day tomorrow.
The first user training yesterday was a HOOT!
The guys from Vaitele are hilarious. We had a really great time. Although I did spent a lot of time going over basic typing skills. I am going to have to put in some time at the distribution center going over basic computing skills. That should be blast!
This afternoon’s training session is for the Engineers. I doubt I will need to hold their hands as much. It should be fun.
I slept for almost 11 hours last night. I went to sleep around 8:30 and woke up sometime around 7:30am this morning. I feel better, and my mucus has turned from a lovely green to a snotty yellow color. I am taking that as good sign. Maybe this cold will be short lived.
Guess what?
I’m sick again!
Yes again.
This time I have a cold. A cold significant enough to warrant the removal of my nose ring (due to excess nose dripping).
The weather here is cooling down and I think this may have something to do with my cold. I woke up this morning shivering. Being shivering cold an interesting phenomenon. I almost forgot what cold feels like. I guess it’s time to buy myself a real blanket.
Packages
Last week was packagetastic! I got two packages from my Aunt who sent pretty much everything that was on my original wish list. My Aunt Barbara is amazing and I adore her! Thank you! The other package was from Max, who must be my best friend in the world because he knew to send books by the beats, Blade Runner the directors cut, and organic tomato seeds.
Also I want to give a special shout out to Jess, who wins the zippy package award. She has some freaky package foo and hers get here in less time, than anyone else. The Tortilla chips were a huge hit here with my friends (and me too!)
Bike
Friday Mikaela and I rode our bikes up to my house in Viavase-Uta. It was a really hard ride but I made it and didn’t die. This week I plan to do a Tuesday/Thursday commute to work and back on my bike. Wish me luck, as this cold may put a stop to that.
May Day.
I had a really nice quiet weekend and got all green. Saturday I came into town in the morning and did some shopping. I bought some seed planting soil at the Ag store. Then in the afternoon I planted, lots of basil, Rosemary and lavender (which may not grow since they like a dryer climate but we will see), and the organic tomato seeds Max sent. It was fun to get all dirty. Now there are al four egg cartons full of seeds in my kitchen window sill. Hopefully they will germinate and grow something. Tho I may need to move them since I realized yesterday that, that window gets no real direct sunlight. Anyway we will see if I can shed my former black thumb. (Plus the idea of fresh basil and heirloom tomatoes has my mouth watering)
Over all it was a really nice green quiet weekend. Which is nice since next week will be a little crazy.