CATWALK, COCKTAILS, and CLEAVAGE

I bet you never thought Peace Corps could be a AIDS benefit function. I haven't written in a while because Ethan and I have found ourselves emersed in the planning, organizing, and managing of the 2006 SamoaTel Fashion Awards. We have become part of a team of people that have pulled off what was dubbed 'the best party' of the year. I mean, if we had society pages here...we would be in it. It was a great sponsor party and tomorrow is the actual show for the public. For me, being involved with the media (television, newspaper, and radio), the fundraising, the logistics, the organizing...its all exilherating. Ethan has attacked the stage, lights, and catwalk making with a fellow a PCV and they are on fire. Ill write more when I have time...gotta run.

So, Saturday night was the fashion awards. Huge success! The place was packed with about 1000 people and everyone enjoyed the show. The glitches were small and I am so happy it is over. Yesterday, the staff and the visiting designer and models went to the beach and we had a great time.

This morning in the taxi ride over to the office, I watched the crew boats in the harbour preparing for next weeks races and I had my first thoughts of missing this country and getting sad about leaving. I mean, I only have two months left!!! I can't believe it. This country feels like home and always be my second country. That's it for now.

MAKING CAKES…THE HARD WAY
I never thought making cakes would take all day. I woke up this morning and did my usual coffee and working on essays for college apps. Then I headed out by bike to find some bananas to make banana bread for Sunday’s big meal at the pastor’s house. As I said earlier, Mothers Day is huge here and I was invited to the mothers meal at the EFKS church. Everyone loves my cakes and to do something special, I thought I would make two and bring them with. Also, I hoped to make one for the pastor’s wife of the Mormon church as a thank you for the Siva and Happy Mothers Day.
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At 8AM, I went out by bike to find bananas. I stopped at Koreti’s house. She was very sorry she didn’t have any, but insisted on picking a ripe pineapple that she had been wanting to give to me. I told her I would be back to pick it up so I didn’t parade it around town. Then I headed up towards Lauesi’s house, but on the way, Manu asked me where I was going and when I said I was looking for fa’i pula, he said to come with him because he had a hanging bunch. He had a kid wait at the road to flag down the bus, if it came, and we headed to get some bananas. Meanwhile, I passed Lauesi and she told me to come back and say hi. So, I did. We chatted, her baby is so cute. And then I headed back to my house. On the way, I ran into Tasi (who lives behind Mele, who lives next to me) and asked if he could scrape some coconut for me when he got home. He asked if he could borrow my bike when I was done. I stopped and chatted with Koreti and her husband, who had returned from the plantation in their car and picked up my pineapple. Then I stopped at the small store and bought flour and sugar. They didn’t have eggs or butter, so the cake making was on hold until Junior returned from Salelologa and opened his store. About 10AM, I was hanging with Mele when we saw Junior’s truck go by, so I headed back to the store with Fiti (he is 5 and so cute) but Junior said there were no eggs for him to buy in Salelologa. I bought butter and decided to make the cakes anyway, but substitute double baking powder for the eggs. In the meantime, Mele’s oldest daughter brought me one egg from under a chicken somewhere to use. I made the first cake, no problem, but then as I put the second cake into the toaster oven, the power went out. This is a usual problem in Savaii, we loose power every other night, but usually in the evenings…hence the cooking the cakes during the day. Mele was over and she and I were making candy necklaces with yarn and saran wrap. So we finished that task and then took our naps. The power was out for about three hours and finally I was back on cake making duty. By the time the fourth and final cake came out of the oven, it was 5:30PM. The fourth cake I divided up and gave to the moms of the families that provided me with supplies, which was appreciated. And now I will go put the other three in the fridge to avoid letting the cats indulge themselves. Task accomplished. Malolo (rest).

Mormon Siva “Dance”

So, I got back from Apia today after a bit of errand running. Did you know you have to have your visa before you get to India? Well, we sent our passports away so that they can issue them…meanwhile we are living overseas without a passport. I don’t think we have any risk of a ku (sp?) but it still feels weird to not have it on my person. Town was packed with tons of people shopping for Aso Sa Tina (Mothers Day)…I would say second biggest holiday here in Samoa, second only to Aso Sa Tamaiti (White Sunday). The lines were crazy and I too had to bring some gifts back so a little shopping was inevitable. The littlest things make me happy though. I was waiting in line when I looked up and saw one roll of Oral B special dental floss. It sounds so silly, but I have been using this unwaxed thick generic floss since my roll of good stuff ran out and I never appreciated the good stuff more. It was a wonderful treat and my teeth are very happy. Anyway, enough of that aside. We, then hopped the 2PM boat, full, packed, squeezed in like sardines in oil in 100˚ heat. Got to the Savaii and did some email checking, talked to mom on the phone, and then headed back to Taga on the bus of the last boat. I had barely gotten showered and unpacked when Mele invited me to the Mormon Dance. I figured, what the heck…and I went. I swear, every boy in the whole town asked me to dance. Now, when I first got to Samoa, I hated dancing and I thought that by dancing with a guy here was similar to accepting a drink from a guy in the States. You know, your accepting means you too are interested in striking up a conversation and getting to know the person. I was so rude back then, turning down all these boys for a dance because as I now know, in the Samoan culture, dancing is the one time you can get your groove on and the boy doesn’t want anything more than a dance. Simple, innocent dancing. It had truly helped me loose my inhibitions on the dance floor and I look forward to hitting some clubs on our trip and just letting go. Although, I would also like to learn to dance to a bit better. Anyway, I am going to miss this place and I am going to try to accept any invite that comes my way for fun new experiences from now until I leave. Rarely, have I ever been totally disappointed for doing something fun.

Back in Apia...it was a nice week in the village, although not much to do right now. I went through my stuff and started giving things away. I hung out with friends, ate papaya...chilled with the ladies...it was Aso Fitu week. I know it sounds silly, but my first papaya was ripe today. I ate it! I grew that little one from seed. How cool.
Ethan came to visit. I was a bit bored and deciding what to do with my day, when Ethan called and said that he was going to bike to visit. I was pysched and we had a great time just tafaoing and making plans...

Its Tuesday...we watched Brokeback Mountain last night. Had salad for dinner. Slept. Ethan left for Savaii at 4:30AM and I went to work. I go back to Savaii tomorrow for the first time in over a week. Wow am I kaa! We are doing really well with sponsorships at the SAF (Samoa AIDS Foundation) and working out logistics on the actual show. Tomorrow, we'll head out in the car and collect some cash and make some designer contacts... Thats about it. I keep thinking about grad school, travel, next steps, and I am still here for another three months. Slow down...

Selma, Edwina, Peati, Me, and Ken at the SAF Office.



Ethan and Maggie Chilling at Nela's House.