Day 7

Talofa!!

A week ago yesterday, I arrived in Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango). What a week it has been. We started training. We started learning the Samoan language. We toured the island. I've made new friends. And I got to see the outside of the school that I will be teaching at. It's been a whirlwind.

The island tour what quite amazing. We went from one side of the island to the other. The island is approximately 18 miles across though it doesn't feel that long. From one side to the other the island is filled of beauty and poverty. As you can see above and below the ocean and scenery is quite splendid but unfortunately most of Samoans do not live the life of luxury.



We started our orientation on Monday in earnest. Each day we have classes starting at 8am and usually go until 4pm or so. Everyone who comes to talk to us is so grateful that we are here and has so much information to impart on us. Yesterday we had a four hour presentation on the standards and benchmarks for each of the content areas that we will be teaching. It was very interesting to hear what they expect us to be teaching their students. I only hope that my students will allow me to teach them what I know.



Our Samoan language class has been quite fascinating. It doesn't seem to be too difficult of a language to learn because for the most part every letter that you see is pronounced. However, they LOVE their vowels here.

'Ae a 'oe

That is a full sentence. It means, "What about you?" It's very exciting to try and use the words and phrases that we have learned when we are oot and aboot. Most Samoans are very appreciative that we are making the effort to learn their language. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met especially compared to New Yorkers.

I have met some great people here that I am excited to be experiencing this with. We are keeping each other in check and keeping it real. I think we are all just anxious to get to our sites and start teaching.



Speaking of, here is the outside of my school. Leone High School. GO LIONS!!!

Actually, I can't upload it here. grrr. go to facebook....