New tattoo

My new tattoo. Its on my left calf and about 8.25 inches in length

The Bomb Theodore Taylor

The Ragamuffin Gospel Brennan Manning

One for the Road Tony Horwitz

Everything Must Change Brian D. McLaren

Uncle Tungsten Oliver Sacks

Water for Elephants Sara Gruen

Two Sides of a Cypress Wall Joel Frey

Ruthless Trust Brennan Manning

The Worthing Saga Orson Scott Card

Nature Girl Carl Hiaasen

C.S. Lewis in a Time of War Justin Phillips

Fletch Gregory McDonald

The Church in Emerging Culture Leonard Sweet

Burnt Bones Michael Slade

God's Politics Jim Wallis

The Dream Giver Bruce Wilkinson

Cryptonomicon Neal Stephenson

Kitchen Confidential Anthony Bourdain

This is My God: The Jewish Way of Life Herman Wouk

A Feast of Snakes Harry Crews

Born Fighting Jim Webb

The Memory of Earth Orson Scott Card

Faith of My Fathers John McCain

Seventh Son Orson Scott Card

The War of the Worlds H.G. Wells

Me and Secretary of State

Peace Corps with the Secretary of State

Cool Sunset.
Cool Flower

What Gummi worms look like after being mailed to samoa.

28 July 2008
I’ve had an interesting couple of weeks. On the 18th-19th my friend Erin came out to stay for a couple of days. There was a trash cleanup a village just down the road on Saturday. She biked out to my place Friday we watched movies and cooked a nice dinner of steak and pasta in marinara sauce. That Saturday we biked to sally’s village for the trash pickup. After that we came back to my place and watched more movies. We tried to cook pancakes but they stuck horribly to the electric frypan and Erin burned her leg on it. This past weekend Secretary of State Rice was in Samoa for three hours. Peace Corps got to go meet her for a photo op. It was fun everybody was freshly showered and wearing clean and nice clothes. It just not something you see often if at all. Every once and awhile some people will look nice but not so many of us. We saw Rice for a few minutes. She said what we were doing was good and all that stuff. When I get a copy of the picture I will post it.

this and that

11 July 2008
There are certain things that I have come to appreciate since coming here. One is indoor plumbing. Well not even indoor plumbing so much as lights in or even close to the toilet or shower. If I wish to shower at night I have to get it done before 6:30ish or it’s too dark. I have propped up a flashlight but it’s weird. Also I am not a fan of using a headlamp to use the bathroom at night. Even though I have an outhouse I think it’s closer to me than the bathroom at my parents house.
There are 3 things that I have brought with me that have proved to be indispensible. The first is duct tape, if I have to explain this you are just missing out on one of the greatest assets ever. The next was a surprise to me and it is a travel sewing kit. I have no idea how many times I have used this kit. I’ve sewn buttons on shirts and pants, mended bags, sheets, and shorts, and stitched up the knife wound in my leg. OK there was no knife wound, figured this blog could use some action. The last is my Leatherman. I have had this for probably had this for almost 10 years and have used it more the past year than all other years combined. Pretty sure I have used ever tool on it. Might have to look into getting a new one when I come home as some spots are getting rusty mainly the hinges and WD-40 only helps so much.

Happy Birthday America

6 July 2008
Friday was the second 4th of July that I have spent in a foreign country. Last year was spent out at a volunteers house as I was still in training and part of training was to go spend a few days with a volunteer. Though I haven’t celebrated the 4th in many years. 2 years ago I was working at Wal-Mart, 3 I was working at camp probably at a camp fire for 4-6th grade boys, 4 I was an intern at a church and busy working on getting something set up/ organized that I missed the 4th, 5 years ago I was at MTSU watching the fireworks that’s the last time I celebrated in true fashion.
An embassy party for the 4th of July is not how I would like to celebrate the 4th or any event really. There was no grill the food was appetizers carried around the place by waiters. The appetizers weren’t even things American like those little smokes sausages it was sushi, sashimi, little pastries with a blue cheese filling, and things of that such. And there where speeches given by a few people on various things. I didn’t pay to close attention I was looking for a drink person to bring me another drink and a food person so I could snatch another nibble of food. It is incredible hard to get full on food that comes with toothpicks attached. I will be at the function again next year but will be looking forward to a time in 2 years when I will get to celebrate with grilled meats and explosions. After this we headed to a bar for a few drinks and to continue on the celebration in a more American fashion of loudness and cheer.
The next day I was supposed to go and help with a health clinic on Monono but I awake, several times, with diarrhea and decided it would be best if I stayed in bed.
This week I have managed to see all three movies we have at the local cinema, Hancock, The Incredible Hulk, and Get Smart. Get Smart was by far my favorite but It was also a favorite show as a kid. The other two were good ways to kill time but I wasn’t overly impressed. I missed the latest Narnia movie as we only had it here for a week, hopefully it will make its way over here on DVD. It’s not that uncommon for movies to only last a week usually though its comedies that are based off American humor. I think some have lasted less than a week even.
I am still waiting to hear about my grants. I will probably be checking on Tuesday. I say Tuesday because I will probably be coming in to help work on things for career day.
Sitting here at Erin’s I just got bitten by a centipede on my inner thigh. It hurts like hell.

Random thoughts

23 June 2008
This post really won’t have much to do with actually stuff more the random ramblings of my mind, as it has a lot of free time.
Books should not be made into movies. After reading and watching a lot of these combinations I have yet to come across an instant were the movie was as good as the book. I might consider Band of Brothers but I have yet to read the book though. But it was a 10 hour miniseries so not really a movie. Pretty sure if most books where given the same time there on screen portrayals would be as good as the book.
I have been watching Heroes, not a great TV show but my standards have dropped here, and the X-Men movies. These all have the premise that people with superpowers are an evolution of normal humans. The scientist is wondering where all intermediate steps are and the worthless mutations. I would think that someone would be able to heat something up not to a melting heat but keep a cup of coffee warm this would be the logical step before someone can cause extreme heat. I also think that people would have powers that just increase natural processes in the body, like growing hair or fingernails on command.
24 June 2008
I have really been craving cheez-its. I would eat them on occasion in the states but they weren’t my favorite thing. The past few days I have been really wanting them. I guess after awhile you begin to miss even the small things.

School Map

I worked with Aaron to paint a world map at his school. Tracing the outline of the map on the wall.Painting the map.

The final product.

up to 100 books

Walking the Appalachian Trail Larry Luxenburg
What is the What Dave Eggers
Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries DC Talk
The Hot Zone Richard Preston
Under the Banner of Heaven Jon Krakauer
Nine Hills to Nambonkaha Sarah Erdman
The Forever War Joe Haldeman
Life of Pi Yann Martel
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café Fannie Flag
Walden and Civil Disobedience Henry David Thoreau
The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver
Uh-Oh Some Observations From Both Sides of the Fridge Robert Fulghum
Hell's Angel Ralph "Sonny" Barger
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency Douglas Adams
The History of Love Nicole Krauss
Smoky Joe's Café Bryce Courtenay
Born Standing Up Steve Martin
Big Trouble Dave Barry
George Muller Delighted in God Roger Steer
Piercing the Darkeness Frank Peretti
The Oath Frank Peretti
The Last Lecture Randy Pausch
The New Friars Scott Bessenecker
The Year of Living Biblically A.J. Jacobs
I'm a Stranger Here Myself Bill Bryson
The Last Season Eric Blehm

12 June 2008
So since my last post let’s see what has happened.
Last weekend was a busy one. Friday was the welcome fia fia for the new group. The fia fia went well probably the best since I have been here. I made the beer cheese dip and again it went over reel well. The new group seems like a nice group. Overall they are a younger group than ones past. Even though they are around my same age they seem younger. I think it might be that they are still fresh and idealistic. And I have become jaded by a year of being here.
The next morning for some reason I volunteered to help with the first marathon. It was pouring rain and 430 am. It poured the whole time we were standing out there roughly 4 hours. Then a lot of us where pulled off the course because it was cold and wet.
It was a good relaxing time in town. Got to see a lot of people and jut relax.

Photos of Random stuff

Sunset from my village
Fishermen going out at sunset

The puppies are getting bigger
Sign at airport when you pick up your luggage

Still here

I am still alive. I've been lazy for awhile and havnt felt like typing an entry. But I am here in the office and no one else is here.
since my last posting 2 of my friends have left country. Both situations where different but in the end the best choice for both of them was to leave. I understand why they left but I do miss them.
Theres nothing really new with me. Spent 2 weeks in teh states it was a nice vacation.

Videos of the tattoo

Pictures from the South Pac.

The family dog had puppies a few weeks ago. There pretty cute.

Alot of villages spell out there names in rocks. It makes me think of the last episode of MASH.

My mom sent me Samoas girl scout cookies. So yes I ate Samoas in Samoa. -

Out front of the tourism authority. Which way is home?

yes it hurt.

26 March 2008

Getting a tattoo in the traditional Samoan way hurts. What really hurt was the underside of the arm close to the armpit and the really big tattooing instrument, which was used for the areas that are solid black. The top layer of the skin while still a little sensitive doesn’t hurt as much as the muscle. The underside of the arm is already starting to bruise up pretty bad. Don’t worry its expected it happens to everyone. I have to wash and massage the tattoo 5-6 times a day. The washing keeps it clean, while the massaging works out the extra ink. If you don’t massage the tattoo the extra ink will drain under the skin and leave a gray blur under the tattoo and below it.

Ink or Samoan Torture

Here are the pics from my tattoo session. I got part of the traditional tattoo called a pe'a. it would normally go from the waist to the lower ribs. I think it turned out really well. It looks great on the arm.

These are the tools they used to mark me

It takes 3 people to do the tattoo. 2 to stretch the skin and one to do the tattoo. The side view of the arm

Front view

Back of the arm

another post

19 March 2008
After much time for thinking I have realized the Peace Corps is a job like any other. There are times I enjoy the work I do and other times I hate it, there are people that I work with that I do not like there are others that I find to be wonderful people, I look forward to pay day (there’s only 1 each month) and weekends, I have paperwork and reports to fill out and file, I sit through meetings often I find them boring. Sure I live in a tropical location and have a job that even I don’t fully understand at times but it is a job nonetheless with many of the same advantages and disadvantages as other jobs.
I have come to discover that my 2 favorite words in the English language are raise and raze. They are pronounced the same but have the exact opposite meaning, I like that.

23 March 2008
I am getting anxious for my vacation home. Not that I don’t enjoy it here it’s that I am in need of a vacation. I find that when I am thinking about home I like to listen to country music. I think I picked a good time to take a vacation. If I get the bathroom grant (hopefully will find out Monday) the renovations should be done by the time I come home, and the garden grant will probably still be under review. Also it is 4 weeks from now then when I get back it is 4 weeks until group 80 arrives. With group 80 I should get to help some with training as I will have been here a year and they are in the same program. It should be a fun time. Also when the new group arrives it will mark the 1 year in country mark for me. Also marks 1 year left as I hope to get early COS and leave the end of June 2009, I’d love to be home for July 4th. June is also when things start with Peace Corps things. From when the last groups swore in, in December nothing really happens with Peace Corps. In June 80 arrives and there is the welcome fiafia, August group 80 swears in, September is mid-service conference for my group, October group 81 comes, November is thanksgiving and allvol conference and December group 81 swears in. After that there’s nothing till COS conference in May.
I will not miss loud rain. Its so loud now I have to wear headphones to watch my movie.

Cheap Bus

5 March 2007
The rains can come from 3 directions. While all come mostly from the east the clouds can come off the ocean from the front, come down the coast line which is the side, or they can roll over the mountains from the back. I love watching the storms come in from the ocean. It paints a beautiful scenery. The dark black of the clouds with the brilliant blue of the ocean. If the rain is hard enough I can watch the rain slowly make its way towards me.
I found a wall thermometer today. Even with the rain and clouds it was 86 around 1 this afternoon now it’s around 82. I am not sure how accurate the thermometer is its by the same company that my tire pressure gauge was made by and it will not register above 40 psi. Though the bottle opener I bought has never failed.
After having read several books about peace corps service I think I am going to write a book on my service. Though I don’t think I will do it as one long narrative but as short stories. With chapters just on subjects like food, weather, animals, etc. Mainly because I don’t think I could write s full book on the subject and the short little stories would be more fun, at least I think so.

6 March 2008
This morning was a chilly 76. Really I was chilled when I woke this morning. I know its been colder than that some mornings but probably nothing below 70. The high today was 93 and that was in the shade of the porch. I didn’t find 93 all that hot it was nice with a cool breeze. I am going to freeze when I come home it probably won’t be anywhere close to the 80’s when I come home.

9 March 2008
Yesterday I attempted to make tortillas. With out a rolling pin or a place to flatten them out I ended up with something that could be described as a love child of a pancake and a tortilla. Today I made some fry pan biscuits. I made the dough and fried it up. Made a pretty good biscuit, Thicker than ones baked in the oven but still good with honey.
On the way into town the other the bus broke down. It was having problems for a bit then finally stopped. The driver got another bus to stop and pick us up. Normally it cost me 1.50 but when taking the 2 buses I only paid .90.

3 March 2008
Last week I went out to Lisi’s village to take part in entertaining/ informing a congressional delegation. It was the congress woman from the US Virgin Islands and some other people.
I just finished reading a book by a Peace Corps volunteer from Africa. It was interesting, so many times I could relate with things and other times I found myself wishing things were like that here. Though things I would have liked to read about weren’t addressed. Like how often she saw other volunteers, what they did, and other things that are probably only of interest to those of us who are/have volunteering.

4 March 2008
So I had a meeting with some matai that is my committee now. They want me to do projects that will cost the village nothing. Which is hard as most places require the village to give 10-20%. So we will be doing some gardens.

Mom sent this Its fun

Teuila flower

Flower out front my house.