The Treatment of Animals

I cannot take the lack of treatment these dogs receive. I've only seen one cat! There is no vet on the island so dogs simply roam around looking busted and disgusted. The female dogs' stomachs and nipples hang to the ground. Their fur, if they have any is mangled; their legs are all bloody. I see them limping, fighting each other and even humping each other! I see them pooping on concrete, near the bus stops, everywhere! It totally turns my stomach. I saw two dogs take a dump yesterday! Often times, I must look away. Often times, you must be careful because they travel on the roads like they are driving! I was told the Samoans drown the puppies in the ocean to help control the animal population! They really do this! WOW.

I kid you not!

Once a year, some people will come on the island to either treat the stray dogs or kill them! I repeat there is NO VET here....not a one. Even if you decided to become a vet or establish a vet clinic, who is going to see you?, the dogs here are not pets! Thus, it is a wait of time to think on that level.

Well, I woke up this morning at 6am to a nightmare. I dreamt my dog, Rocky was euphonized! In the dream, I was yelling for my dad to come down stairs, where ever he was I don't know it was a dream and we were not at home. But Rocky was chained and bound. He was hollering and barking but he could not because he was gagged. I kept yelling for my dad who took forever to come. By the time he finally arrived it was way too late. Rocky was killed. I woke up crying!!!!!

This place got me all messed up in the head. I cannot stand the way dogs are treated!

COME TO CLASS!

It started with me locking my keys in my car while at the UH office. I needed to make copies before I began yesterday. My cohort is about to begin writing their integrated social studies lesson plan. So I was multi-tasking as usual and I had too much on my mind. I was trying to make copies while tell Paul, a cohort coordinator where/how to retrieve some of my social studies powerpoints from my USB.

In the end, I just got dropped off at work. The rental car place showed up to the office, unlocked my car. A coordinator brought me my car and delivered my keys to me while I was teaching. I actually had everything I needed with me so it was all good. I just felt like I inconvenience everyone in the process. I apologized over and over again!

While teaching cohort #23, I had 7 students absent. I was so upset because this group has quite of few slackers! I cannot believe they are already teachers…like they have a classroom but still need to be certified. I can totally see why! If I had children, I would most definitely not place them in any of my 7 slackers’ classrooms. They really should be ashamed of themselves. I e-mailed their coordinator after class letting her know about their sporadic attendance. I sent her a .pdf list with dates and names of all those who have missed since May 25^th.  I told her she must talk to them. She must set the tone and back me up on this! This is really outrageous! As you can see, I still upset!  You need a “C” or higher in order to pass. HMMMMM` I am shaking my damn head…smdh.

I’m busting my ^&& on this island so they can get certified but they do not come to class. Then when they do show up…eventually, they give me sorry ^&& excuses.  I mean, sure some are genuine.. very few and others are just down right lying. I’ve been doing this way too long. I can totally tell the difference. Please don’t take my youthful face for a joke! Even if I wear lipstick mom…it won’t matter! See she always seems to think I need to wear lipstick! I wear lip-gloss!

Anywho…I’m really hot because the director asked me if I could give make-up work! WHAT? See my syllabus, no make up work will be given, after two absences, your grade is automatically lowered and you cannot turn in work via another person. YES, you should read my syllabus it has all these statements in there in bold! This is an intense 5 week course with a summer lab so everyday is critical! Oh did I mention their Praxis I is June 24^th! See they cannot even passed their Praxis I. That should be completed before you enter ANY teacher education program but because I am teaching in a special accommodation federally grant program…we/UH professors come down during the summers so that these teachers can ultimately pass both Praxis. WTH!!!!!  

You should read their DOE website…to view all the teachers [on blast, mind you.. of those who need to take the Praxis I] Go to   http://www.doe.as/index.htm

IF THEY come to class they could pass.

I HOPE I HAVE A BETTER DAY!!!!

Wanna Fattin' Me Up!

Cohort #21 enters class with all kinds of junk food. You name it! Teddy Grams, Tootsie Rolls, Hot Cheetos, Corn puffs, shrimp puff, chips, salsa w/ Tostitos. They munch on junk food all day. I realize they are coming from their second class and spent their day at work. Therefore, they are hungry! My students who are classroom teachers will officially done this Friday. Perhaps, the junk food will decrease next week. [perhaps...] Again, all American Samoa students were done with school last Friday. All young children are simply just hanging out. Unfortunately, AS has no extra curricular activities for their youth. They simply eat, hang out and eat and eat!

Eileen brought me a drink. I had to decide between a Sprite or a Coke. I chose a Sprite. I think is has less calories. It is their custom to offer food and it is impolite to refuse. Also, it is extremely rude to eat and drink while standing up! I learned this one quickly. I drink water as I teach. oops! So to all the car eaters, you better not do that here!

Cohort #21 feeds me junk! This group is my favorite of the two. Not because they feed me but because they are always prepared for class. My cohort #23 are iffy. Overall, they are descent; however, I have about 8/34 who are just complete slackers and make all kinds of excuses for not having their work! Mind you, they too are classroom teachers. It is actually mind blowing. These 8 would never have my child in their room based on their lack of professionalism. Cohort #23 uses “the family excuses” and often times they are just not telling the truth! They think I am Sally Sausage Head. Hahaha…sorry, you get a zero. I have been doing this way too long. Furthermore, I was once in your shoes…been there, done that! I even forged my mom's signature! My dad's is impossible to do! ;-)

Back to Cohort #21, all ladies mind you, we have fun in this class. I said to them, “You all must think I am skinny?!” They said, “YES!, you really could put on some weight!” Do you eat miss Paula? [they go in and out of saying Miss/Dr. Paula] HAHAHAHA. They were dead serious!

I said, "I knew you all were trying to fattin’ me up"!  

I Feel Awful!

I have a sore throat. I want my mom and my comfortable Greenville bed! I ate a papaya over the weekend. I do not know if I am having a reaction to that or the weather. My students seem to think it is the weather because the air is not very clean. They said, “I was bound to get sick, all the professors do”. I’m trying not to get home sick. This culture is all about family! Geesh I am so not near my family. This island really makes you feel like you are really FAAAAAR AWAY! I do/did not feel like this on the island of Oahu, perhaps because I have my homeboy, Scott, my sorority sisters, my frat brothers and my Oahu friends, Jana, Je’lani and Erin.

Yesterday, I skyped with my parents, it was Memorial Day mind you. So I learned that I missed out on ribs, [I would have eaten the beef!] smoked catfish, baked beans, potato salad and whatever else my dad told me. I kinda tuned it out as I ate…stir-fried veggies and rice…oh joy!  I am also getting tired of eating the same ole thing…wahoo fish, salad and French fries. I am getting tired of french fries! Now dad, you know I am feeling not myself.

I saw my beautiful dog that thinks I kicked him to the curb.  He cannot follow the cpu monitor because he is a dog! I could not go swimming in the pool nor could I go see Sex in the City with everyone! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I’m over the excitement. Let’s make this a teachable moment. See there are four stages to culture shock. Nichelle Boyd, you know the stages.

They are as follows:

ELATION -- When first in a foreign country, one finds it quite stimulating that most things are so unlike back home. However, after several weeks when one has to settle down to everyday life, the differences can turn into annoyances.

RESISTANCE -- Frequent comparisons between home and the host country make everything back home seem so much better.

TRANSFORMATION -- Usually this is about nine months down the road, when individuals feel more familiar with the environment and begin to see the good side of the host country.

INTEGRATION. Cultural barriers are bridged. Individuals finally learn to appreciate both their own heritage and the new way of life.

Thank goodness when I'm teaching. I'm just loving what I do!


So do you see where I am?
Count Down.

Memorial Day

What a peaceful day! As I drove around the island, I saw families gathered outside their homes. I saw people sweeping the graves and decorating their family tombstones. They used fresh flowers and plants. These flowers were from the island of course, so imagine colorful beautiful flowers, i.e. hibiscus, orchids and anthodiums. I took several pictures so no worries. The tombstones were simply adorned with love! See Samoans celebrate their ancestors as oppose to connecting Memorial Day to American wars.

The children were playing volleyball, soccer and football. The young men were grilling or hanging out at the convenient stores, gas stations or wherever they could sit. The dogs were roaming the streets looking for food. I saw them digging in the trashcans behind McDonalds or dumpsters. I actually saw a group of boys with two dogs on a chain leash! I really felt for those dogs. They still did not look like pets! Again, dogs are not pets here. For some reason, Samoans are afraid of dogs. Oh I finally saw one cat resting underneath a tree. I was beginning to think…where are all the cats? 

I drove all the way to the National Park…deep east side of the island. I gave my little Yaris a test. It managed to climb the steep mountain road to the top! I parked at a scenic lookout and just sat there for about an hour eating hot cheetos and drinking a mountain dew! Oh I stopped at the Korean convenient store in one of the many towns on my way there. I saw so many different kinds of birds that I have never ever seen before in my life! One really struck me; it was a soft gray with yellow tips with a light blue head…just gorgeous! Then I saw something that had me screaming! See I was by myself so it was all right. hahaha I saw daytime bats! YES! Flying Foxes live here. They are fruit bats. The flying foxes are especially distinctive: they are renowned for being large (with a wing span up to 3 feet wide) and active both day and night. I saw them flying, soaring, feeding, or just hanging in trees. My Olympus camera was clicking away. I got some out of this world shots! I was so excited! I was jumping around like WOOOOW BATS! In the daytime! Who is gonna believe me? Well, I have pics!  One picture shows a flying bat with food in his mouth! I think there were at least 5 ugly scary looking bats near the scenic lookout point. Oh the scenic lookout point overlooked the Pago Pago Harbor…the reason why the United States even cared about Samoa in the first place….their harbor. It is one of the deepest harbors that exist! I see a definite pattern…the United States are users and abusers of other islands and countries land formations. Such a shame! 

As I passed the Starkist Tuna plant, I took pictures and held my breath. PEE..EEWWW that place smelled like death! Every time I eat tuna I will think of how over 5,000 employees can and package tuna so that Americans can eat! Furthermore, so that my dad can make his slamming tuna dish and my mom, Chuck and Ruby can replicate it!

On my way back to the hotel, I stopped by a store that had a sale. Did somebody say sale? Did somebody say clothes? I brought one skirt, and two tops for 2 bucks. You should have seen use going through donated clothes boxes. Samoans and I were gently rambling through the boxes while trying to grab the clothes before each other without disrespect or being rude! Hahaha I feel in suit no problem…

I will wear my skirt to work tonight! It has the appropriate length and fit!  Although I did not spend Memorial Day with my fam bam…at least I got to see families spend it well! 

God is Multilingual

I had such a wonderful time praising, dancing and worshiping GOD today. I attended Firm Foundation Church located 3 minutes from my hotel. Last week, I asked my students if there was a Word of Life here. You should have seen their eyes light up as they found out that I am a Christian. They now want me to attend their church! LOL! Nina and Nilla who is a pastor’s wife, really want me to attend church with them. I think I just might.

Before I entered church, I had to take my slippers/flip flops. At that very moment, I said, “oh yeah….this is gonna be good.” I arrived at 8:50am; church began at 9:00am. and we were done at 12:40pm. Hmmm their service length beats a Baptist church service length any day! The church was wide with side open windows so that we could receive a nice cross breeze. The ceiling was extremely high with long white ceiling fans that dropped down. The congregation sat on sturdy white plastic chairs with the name of the church written on the back of each. The choir consisted of 3 women and 3 men who had voices from heaven. Of course, the ladies wore their puletasis and the men actually wore pants….everyone matched. Behind them stood, one bass player, one guitar player, two keyboard players, and one drummer. I think the drummer was the best, perhaps because he was not older than 16! However, the entire choir was truly feeling it. Thus, so was I. All in all, the church was rather plain. No crosses, no Jesus statues or any GOD like images. The church simply represented the house of the Lord. I loved it!

Before the actual message, I stopped counting but I think we sung at least 6 songs. Some were in English and some were in Samoan. Thank goodness for the projector which displayed both languages for me. It was really easy for me to follow and sing in Samoan. You should have seen me! I was most definitely trying! Singing as I do, extremely off key! Every now and then I would get this feeling like WOW…I am in American Samoa! I praised GOD so hard at one point I was truly filled with the Holy Spirit. I even told myself, "gurl, don’t you fall out in here, your gonna scare them”! hahahaha

A wonderful woman by the name of Ann soon came and sat next to me. She wanted to translate what Pastor Osa’a was saying from time to time. Although he too would go in and out of both languages, I truly could tell what he was saying or at least what was going on around me. See GOD is multilingual. If you have a relationship with HIM, HE will assure that his words are understood. I could have cared less if the entire service was in Samoan. I still knew I was in the house of the Lord! This church had really good energy. The spirits around me had great intentions.

At one point, we all had to bow down on our knees while our heads and hands reflect GOD is the Highest as the pastor prayed in Samoan. I know I stayed in this position at least 15 mins.  Eventually, my legs got numb. LOL! All I could say was Fa’a’fa’tai over and over and over again. You see God has blessed me in so many ways. I would not have ever imagined teaching in America Samoa let alone Hawaii let alone South America or China or gosh….let me stop! I really could go on and on. I know in my heart GOD has hand picked me “to do some thangs”. HE is simply using me. For quite some time now, I asked GOD to use me. I prayed to HIM….” Use me as you see fit” Meanwhile, I know what it is that I am here to do….I am here simply to serve yet serve through educating his people. His people are HE and I am HIM. WE are GOD!

I did give an offering. They actually tithe and offering at the same time. The collection bag was really neat. Imagine a Crown Royal bag but green and thicker with a wooden stick [as the handle] on both sides. I think the stick was made out of koa wood. So as you grab the stick and placed your offering/tithe in, the opposite stick is ready to receive from your neighbor. I wanted to take mega pictures; however, I was in church.

We even greeted each other at one point…ya know. Speak, say hello and hug your congregation. I’m telling you, I could not see any difference in this church and a typical Baptist church other than the kneeing on the ground. Baptist churches should add that….but the woman would have a fit. The woman would not want to get on the floor thinking they will get dirty in their decked to a T outfit! Sometimes, I think Baptist churches are fashion shows! Oh yeah the Samoan ladies were looking very nice. Their hair was neatly wrapped up with flowers, their hands were waving woven fans and they were even bopping the children on their heads if they were caught not paying attention! Hahaha! The men were looking just as dapper! 

Speaking of the men, they were the ushers and the deacons. They totally assured that the church ceremony flowed with ease. The ushers had on red wraps with white shirts. The children were neatly dressed while some feel asleep [soon got bopped on the head] ate candy, prayed, sung and danced.

At one point, we all had to dance for GOD. I mean we got down! No inhibitions… We were pumping the air, one hand, two hand. I thought I saw some cabbage-patch going on… I know I saw the two-step! Seriously! We all danced as if we were up in the club! Here are my thoughts…if you can dance in a club surly you can dance for GOD! Sitting being all reserved…well to each his own. WE GOT DOWN.

"Amene" and "Fa'a'fa'tai" GOD is GOOD.

I received waves good bye, and was even told…"Paula,..see you at 5pm".  ;-)

Geography, Culture & Demography

Geography

• The actual island is called Tutuila
• The capital is Pago Pago, (pronounced Pahn-go, Pahn-go)
• receives more than 120 in. of rain each year; majority btw. Nov-Mar.
• The highest peak of Tutuila is Mount Matafao at 2,140 ft. but the most popular and well-known Mount is Mount Pioa, which is 1,847 ft. This Mount is known as the “rainmaker” because of its frequent cloud cover.
• The temperature is pretty constant, low 68 and high 90s [beyond Africa hot!]
• There is always HIGH humidity! Geesh~
• Over 70% of the land area is a forest; grows all over the volcanic mtns [just amazingly beautiful!]
• tall ferns and trees, i.e. barringtonia, & asiatica, the breadfruit tree. Also, the pandanus and coconut trees
• More than 30 species of birds, i.e. parrots, doves, wild duck & the tooth-billed pigeon [only found in American Samoa]. So the animals are well protected
• The National Park of American Samoa protect the area’s tropical rain forest of Tutuila and Tau

Culture

• Famous as sailors and boat builders
• There are many legends and tales.
• Practically all are Christians; 98%
• Their Motto is Samoa Muamua Le Atua, which means “In Samoa, God is First”
• Up to 20 dwellers in their homes at the SAME time; privacy does not exist, everything is done together
• The elders are highly respected. They make all the family decisions.
• The children learn about their culture on their own; “watch and learn." They are never given an explanation of what they did wrong but are expected to figure it out. Thus, the children acquire knowledge of their culture by observation, imitation and  participation; rules and/or perceptual concepts shape their skills and experiences
• The parents work during the week most make siapo [beaten mulberry bark with pictures painted on them]
• 5,000 workers work at the tuna cannery [StarKist]; however, they are about to lay off over 900 workers!
• Rugby Union and Samoan Cricket are the two most popular sports
• There is approx. 30 American NFL players who are Samoans. Wrestling is also a popular. 

Demography

• The islands of the western Pacific are generally divided into 3 groups – Micronesia, meaning “small island”, Polynesia, meaning “many islands” and Melanesia, meaning “dark islands.” Together, these 3 groups are known as the Pacific Islands. [Neat! I did not realize this! Did you?
• Micronesia lies almost entirely north of the equator.
• Melanesia and Polynesia lie on both side of the equator.
• American Samoa and the Hawaiian Islands are in Polynesia.
• United States possessions also include Johnston and Palmyra Atolls, Kingman Reef and Howland, Baker and Jarvis Islands. [yeah…you might need a map at this point, I did!]