My New Crop

Orientation is over.

Two weeks of school have passed.

And then I got Pneumonia.

I guess thats my body's way of telling me that working for 5 or so weeks straight, everyday, all day is not a good thing.

But what a whirlwind it was.

I AM NOW THE FIELD DIRECTOR OF WORLDTEACH IN AMERICAN SAMOA.

There are now 23 NEW volunteers who arrived as fresh faced and eager as I did those 13 months ago.

It was awesome to lead their orientation and make it so much better than mine was. With the experience of living and teaching here for a year, I was really able to add things to the orientation that I thought my new volunteers would find useful and appropriate. Was it a demanding schedule? Of course it was, because I usually think its better to go big or go home.

I'm sure most of them enjoyed the activities when I took them out of the classroom but my favorite was watching them work together to brainstorm teaching ideas that they will hopefully use in their classrooms.

I really think this is going to be a great year!

A New Year

It's been a while since I posted anything to this blog. Lots has happened since then. After a long year of teaching the children of American Samoa, I was afforded a three week break vacation in the states to visit all of my friends and family that I missed. It was a great trip.

First, I started in California where I spent some days in LA visiting friends Ariel, Cindy and I even got to see a NYC friend Liz. I also drove three hours north of LA to visit my Grandma Claire. I was able to see her last year before I left and I was again happy to see her. She was so great to me growing up that it feels nice to be able to spend time with her as an adult.

I then was off to the Northeast where I spent a couple days with my friend Sara and her fiance Brett. They live in a small town in New Hampshire. It was beautiful. I have always loved New England since my mother took me to Rhode Island for the summers when I was a kid and it still has the same attraction to me now. I also had the chance to go to Fenway Park in Boston for the very first time. Thanks to my AMAZING father, I had some pretty good seats. Too bad the Sox lost. But it was still a great experience. I also spent an evening with my friends Jay and Rick who took me to an awesome concert on the Boston Harbor. We saw Florence and the Machine. She was awesome!



Next stop, was New York City. I was able to see plenty of friends that I miss though there were still some that I wish I could have seen but schedules did not permit it. It also happened to be Pride Weekend in NYC which was fun to be at. Its too bad that I only had a weekend in the City, though after having visited for a couple days, I'm just not sure I could live there again. The highlight was being able to see my friends Kristi and Chris who had since moved back to Colorado. To be reunited with them, almost a year after witnessing the union of their love felt really special.


After friend time, came family time. And off to Columbus, Ohio I went. I spent the next 4 days with my brother Mike, his wife Gretchen and their three amazing kids. My nieces and nephew are the greatest children ever. I was so happy to be able to spend so much quality time with them. I took them to the park, the movies, the pool, the zoo and fun lunches at restaurants that I've missed too. It was a great time. I wish I could put them in my suitcases and take me wherever I go.



Lastly, I headed down to Florida to visit my parents and see some more friends. I love visiting my parents in Florida, which is funny because I absolutely hated living there. But now its nice to come home and relax. I feel a little bit guilty that at the age of 29 my parents still spoil me but what can ya do. I guess they just love me too much. I was also able to see my dear friend Steven and his boyfriend Michael. We went to one of West Palm Beach's trashy gay bars. EEK. A visit to florida isn't complete without a visit with the Noto clan which was great because there is a new addition this year.



After 3 weeks of traveling around the states, it was time to head back to American Samoa. First I had a night layover in Phoenix but then I was off. In total over 3 flights from Fort Lauderdale to Pago Pago, I spent 16 hours on a plane. SO NOT FUN.

I arrived back in Samoa on the evening of July 7 and that's when the real fun began. But I'll save that for another post.

XO

back in the usa

first stop on the limited engagement comeback tour is LA!

so happy to see my Grandma, Ariel, Elizabeth and Cindy!

Off to Boston tonight!

Final Week of School

What a week it was. It was exam week so I was having my final exams, however, for most of my classes my final exam was actually a final presentation. See we spent the last quarter reading THE HUNGER GAMES even though some days my students lost interest heavily in the book, but I was determined to finish it. And we did. And even though there were days were kids complained, when it got to the end they wanted to read the next book and the next. They didn't want to admit it, but they thoroughly enjoyed the book.



So even though most people had already checked out from school, I was trying to have final presentations. It was amazing to see what some of the kids came up with. They had 5 options. Create a model of the arena, create a billboard advertising a product, create a mural of their favorite scenes, write an essay convincing the president to end the games, or perform a monologue as their favorite character. Most students chose the model option. And boy some of them were very creative. I was so pleased with their work. Of course there were some students who "forgot" about it or "didn't finish" but those were the students who will not be pleased with their final grades when they get them this summer.



All of these pictures are from some of my students models.



But it was still a weird feeling when the week came to a close. I didn't want to say goodbye because I will be on island next year but I wanted some closure because I was not going to be their teacher anymore. It was a mixture of byes, i'll see you next year, i'll still be here to support you in everything that you do and don't hesitate to contact me if you need help with that SAT essay!



I'm very sad to be leaving my students. These kids changed my lives. Sure they were a pain in the ass most days, but they are such creative, inspiring, caring and interesting creatures that I don't think I could ever forget them. They taught me so much about myself. They made me realize things about myself which I don't think I could have come to the same understanding without their bluntness.



But I really am happy that I will be here next year to see them continue to grow. And I will get the chance to see my 100 juniors graduate. I know that some of them will remember the things I taught them. I hope most of them make an effort to say some words properly. Like "homework" instead of "homeworkS." I'm sure they'll be glad to not here my nagging them about that anymore though.



As I say goodbye to one chapter of my life in American Samoa, I am more than ready to begin the next.

How Time Flies

It's been a while since I've posted anything. My apologies. I have been a busy boy.

School is winding down. Less than 2 weeks left of school. At this point a year ago, I thought I would be readying myself to say goodbye to Samoa and come back to the good ole US of A. But something happened down here. Something I can't always put my finger on. But something has grabbed a hold of me and is pulling me back here for another year.



Maybe its the breathtaking scenery. Maybe its the amazing friends I've met. Maybe its my amazing students. Maybe its the sense of pride I get from the work I'm doing. Whatever it may be, I'm excited to be staying here another year.

BUT DON'T GET ME WRONG.

I cannot wait to go home for three weeks at the end of June/beginning of July. I will be so excited to see my family and friends that I have missed so dearly. I cant wait to have my first meal at chipotle. I can't wait to have a real beer such as Blue Moon. I can't wait to be able to watch tv on ABC and NBC, that is not two weeks behind. It will be a fast three weeks but I intend on savoring every moment.

Until then, there is still 2 weeks left. Still finals to be given. Grades to be posted. Orientation to be planned. June 16, cannot come soon enough.

One Day At A Time

In 6 (really, only 6?!) short weeks, the school year in American Samoa will be over. And to think it feels like yesterday (well kinda) that we stepped off Hawaiian flight #465 on a humid Thursday evening and began this crazy journey on this island. Before I came here, I kept telling myself and others that it would only be 11 months (less than a year!) and then I would be back. Well as these 11 months come to a close, I am also getting ready for another 11 (or probably 12) months here in American Samoa.

And I couldn't be happier. So much has happened over the last few weeks that I couldn't imagine these being my last few weeks on island. There still feels like there is so much to be done and so much that I can accomplish with these students.

At school, I began the arduous task of reading THE HUNGER GAMES with my 11th grade students. I'm pretty sure that they have never read a whole novel as a part of their studies before so it has been quite challenging. After finishing the book earlier this winter (haha, still think in that sense even though we have no seasons here), I decided that I was going to try and read the entire book with my class. I knew it was going to be a difficult. First off, because there was no way that I would be able to obtain enough copies of the book for each of my students. And there certainly isn't a Barnes and Noble around the corner where I could ask them to pick up a copy for themselves either. So I've had to be resourceful. I purchased the Audiobook so I could have them listen to chapters. I also read it aloud allow to them, which some of them love, especially when I do a messed up British accent for one of the characters. And I've resorted to a couple of other ways which I won't divulge here in case it gets me into some trouble with the publisher, hehe.



While naturally there are some kids who are not enjoying the experience, I firmly believe that the book has captured of majority of their interests and they can't wait to see how it ends. The keep asking me to spoil the ending for them but I refuse. Even though the question they really want answered does not come until the end of the trilogy, which sadly we will not have time to read. They may not be reading every chapter to themselves, but I am still happy to say that my kids are going to read an entire book in my class. And they are going to like it. Unlike reading THE SCARLET LETTER which would go so far over their heads. I can't wait to see what creative projects them come up with for their final presentation.

Last week, I found out that I passed the Praxis 1. For those of you who are not familiar, the Praxis tests are taken by individuals entering the teaching profession as part of the certification process required by many states and professional licensing organizations. It is pretty much an easier version of the SAT test. And even though I just said it was easier, after I took the test I was certain that I wasn't going to pass the Math section. I mean, I haven't been in a math class since the spring of 2000. That's a long time. In any event, I passed and am very excited. If I decide to try teaching when I return to the States, this test should make it easier to become certified. It will also be a good experience for me because all of the volunteers next year will be required to take the test, so now I will be able to assure them that if my sorry self can, they will as well.


Even though I'm not leaving, I also feel like there is a sense of "I have to go, see and do every hike, waterfall, beach" before June. I think part of it is because I know that my WorldTeach Volunteer Family will be leaving me shortly. Even though we don't see each other every day, there is a comfort knowing that there are 21 other people around these islands that have your back. We all know what we're all going through. We know the rewards and challenges that we face. Since being together 24/7 for the last two weeks of July, we have become a family away from our families and it will be sad to see them all go.



So yes, I will go to Vatia to see Leslie and Jenn before they leave. And I hope to get out to Aunu'u one last time to see my girl V's home. And hopefully we can have one last big climb over a mountain. And maybe a final BBQ in Leone to say goodbye. :)

In other news, I have to begin preparing for my job next year. So I'm off. Till next time.

My Samoan Family

The school year is almost over. Then comes my brief return visit to the States and then I'll be back here for another amazing year in the adventures of American Samoa. Teaching has become very challenging again these past couple of weeks. I'm determined to end the year on a high note reading a fascinating book to my students but some love to fight back as much as they can. Though, no matter how difficult school can be some days, I am lucky to have found a group of people who I enjoy spending so much time with. They are my new Samoan family. Without them, I'm not sure I would have the strength to come back here next year.



If I need a friend to talk to, they are there.
If I need to borrow some money, they will lend it.
If I need a ride to Cost U Less, they will take me.
If I need a night of laughter and good times, they can provide it.
If I need a lesson in Samoan slang, they will try to teach me.
If I need some exercise, tennis we shall play.



While some call me Barrymore, Kracker, Palagi, Drewzy and any other assortment of names, I call them my friends.

Thank you to Jayleen, Lisa, Leni, Danielle, Pua, Nellie, and Trisha (baby mama) for making me feel so welcome in your dysfunctional family!

Junior Prom

There really isn't much to say. I "chaperoned" our Junior Prom last Thursday. It was at our school gym. The biggest difference from Proms back in the States and here in Samoa is that parents attend the festivities. So they can watch their children be presented to the audience with flowers and bouquets. It was a little strange but the kids had a great night.



Oh and they were served dinner in Styrofoam take out containers filled with an orange, a bag of chips and a homemade tuna sandwich! YUM!






My favorite student and I. She was so nervous to be wearing that dress. Doesn't she look adorable!

Speech Festival

Remember FTC, State Thespians or Districts? Well they have them in American Samoa too. Well kinda. I mean there are only 8 high schools on island so its not much of a competition. And remember those schools that had tacky sets, awful acting and ghetto costumes. Well they also have that on island too. Jokes Jokes.

In all seriousness, American Samoa goes all out for their Annual Speech Festival Competition. The festival is run by the English Departments on island, as there are no drama departments at any of the high schools. Kids love participating in Speech Festival in everything from onstage to backstage. I think we had over 100 kids representing Leone High School.

I will have to admit though that I did not have the privilege of attending the festival because I "volunteered" to stay back at school and watch the English classes for the rest of the department. You may ask why a person who graduated from college with a degree in Drama did not attend a "theatre festival." Well, it was a lot different than what I was used to. It seemed to be more of a Speech and Debate/Theatre Festival which I had difficulty wrapping my head around. I was asked to help out with our piece for Dramatic Interpretation of Drama. That means, 1 person acts out a scene involving 2 people. Now call me crazy, but when have you ever watched a TV show or Movie where 1 person pretends to be 2 different people in the same scene. You don't see Colin Firth playing his speech therapist played by Geoffry Rush and his original part at the same time. No you see two different actors. So yeah, I didn't get it.



Much could be said to explain my absence from this festival and it would just be an excuse, because now looking back, I completely regret it. But it was hard being new to a department who has been organizing speech festival for years and say, "hey, I have a degree in drama, let me run the play category." That just didn't fly. Therefore, I am grateful that I will be here next year to experience Speech Festival as a spectator so that I can fully appreciate the theatrical aspirations of our wonderful students.

To this years contestants at my school, I deeply apologize.



These pictures throughout the blog, are from our run-through the day before the competition. They are from the Play category, in which we did Jack and the Beanstalk, and from the Choral Recitation category, which I still don't really understand, but they LOVE IT here in Samoa.

PS. Do these pictures remember anyone of a lil ole production of INTO THE WOODS?!?

Sliding Rock in perspective

Last weekend, I went to sliding rock by myself before playing some tennis with my Samoan teacher friends. It was great to be in such a beautiful place at a time in my life where I'm reflecting on my decision to live another year on this island. Of course I have doubts that I'm making the right decision but then I look out into the Pacific Ocean and think, "I live here. I really, really live here. And I kinda like it. A lot. How could I not?" Below is a poem I wrote that day sitting on the rocks.


Storms are brewing out at sea,
Sun is shining on the shore.
Waves rise and fall to the sound of delight.
A soul can be transported to a life of sorrow and pain.

The rocks are hard and hot like a blazing desert.
Does peace exist?

Sand between your toes.
A ocean breeze that hits your face.
The wind blows through the palm trees.
A life can be lifted into serenity.

Life is grand.
Life is the world around you.


Oh right, and of course I'm staying because of the kids as well. These are a couple of my favorites. They always keep me smiling.

Samoan Day

Finally, last Friday my school held their annual Samoan Day festivities. Each class performed three numbers for a panel of judges in categories that I'm not sure I can explain. This has been an event almost a month in the making. It was originally scheduled for the Friday before spring break but then it kept on getting pushed back. Can you imagine how difficult it must be to teach 100-200 kids of each class different routines that they are required to do in unison. I tried to stay away from the daily, yes daily, practices that were held so that I would be surprised when the event happened.

As I just said, everyday for the past month, a hour rehearsal period was added to our schedule. That means, that all of our classes were cut short by 10 minutes. At first I wondered why so many hours of rehearsal were needed but then when I finally saw the event, I understood why.

Each class had their own traditional Samoan outfit that they wore for the festivities. Every student wore the selected fabric for their class as their "ie" and then the girls wore a white puletasi top with a flower or something in their hair and the guys were just topless. And they were oiled up in baby oil. Why? I'm not sure. But as you can see from above, it looked a little weird.

The freshmen class seen above was my favorite class because of their music. This is something to be proud of because the freshmen have usually ranked the lowest in previous class competitions. I do not know any freshmen but I was proud to see that all of their hard work paid off.




Next up was the sophomore class, which am I an advisor for even though until a month ago I was not teaching any sophomores, and I also thought they were good. I particularly enjoyed the fabric that was chosen for them especially since I had to wear it myself. I thought one of their dances was the best. Below is a sneak peak.



Then came the junior class. I have the pleasure of teaching most of these students, so while I wanted to cheer for them, they did not perform up to the highest standard. There was a lot of sloppiness that could not be hidden from the judges. Still, I am proud of them and was excited to see them show off their culture.



Lastly, came the Seniors. Naturally with all sorts of experience, they were the best overall class in terms of presentation and style. Their choreographer was great and very inventive. However, their fabric left a little to be desired.




All in all, Samoan day was a wonderful experience. It was great to see the students perform traditional Samoan dances and get really into it. You sometimes forget when they are in your class that they're not your typical students from the mainland, and this was just another example of how they are unique individuals.



Another truly Samoan experience.

Oh, American Samoa, you had me at Talofa....

For those of you who may not know already, I have decided to reside in American Samoa for at least another year. This has been on my mind for quite some time, though it was still not an easy decision to make. At times, I'm still not sure that it is the best decision because I know that another year will be quite different from this one and harder in many aspects but it will also be easier in others.

I will not be teaching again. Though I continue to love my experience as a high school English teacher, I realize that it is probably not my lifelong calling. I will be staying on in a different capacity. One that I believe will provide experience that will propel me into the next phase of my life. I am extremely excited about staying here another year in these circumstances. I look forward to building on the relationships that I have already established and I am excited to build new ones as well.

However, I am deeply saddened that I will spend another year away from those that I love. The time away from my family and friends was the hardest idea to come to terms with and it will create different challenges for me in the year to come. But I know that I have the most supportive group of family and friends that have continued to support this journey and will be here for me when any bumps along the road try to slow me down.

I will be making a brief trip back to the mainland in late june and july and hope to see as many of you as I can.

Fa'afatei tele lava.

Spring Break in Oz

Oh to be in Australia! It's a place that I had always dreamt about visiting. I can not believe that I was actually there for a whole week. Now, I know, a week is not a long time to visit such a huge country but I had a great trip with my mom.



First we spent a couple days in Sydney. A big city that I have always wanted to visit. It looked spectacular in pictures and it certainly help up in person but something about the place didn't feel right. After visiting some big cities in New Zealand over winter break and now Sydney last week, I'm starting to think that my love for big cities may be ending. You may be thinking, how could that be? I did live in New York City for almost a decade. But I did leave New York City for a reason as well. Maybe this was one of the reasons. Perhaps I'm not the big city gal that I thought I was. Sydney felt too big. There was too many people. Too many things to do and see. Too many cars. I know i know, I'm living on a tiny tiny island so it's natural that I would be overwhelmed by a big city. Still, I wonder what this means for when I finally return to the states permanently.





After a couple of days in Sydney, we took a flight up to Cairns, rented a car and drove to a cute beach side town called Palm Cove. We settled in there for a couple of days of Rainforest's and Reef. It was much hotter up North, thank god, because the cold of Sydney did not make me happy (I know another effect of living on this island,) and we were able to visit some amazing sites. The Great Barrier Reef was so cool. Mom let me go Scuba Diving which was a real thrill. It was sooo cool to go down deep in the ocean and explore the coral and fish.



We also spent time exploring the Wet Tropical Rainforest's of Queensland. That was very cool as we got to see forests filled with beautiful and wildlife. And so many cool waterfalls. Another great treat in this awesome vacation.



One of the best parts of the trip was being able to eat so many different types of food. The variety of food options in American Samoa is quite limited but in Australia I was able to enjoy Greek, Italian, Seafood, Indian, Sushi, Gourmet Salads and so much more. I could have ate my way through the whole trip. Actually, I think I did, much to mom's chagrin.

It was a great week and I could not have been happier to have spent it with my mother. I'll be the first to admit that I'm a Momma's boy. Its been 8 long months since I've been able to be with her face to face. Of course, we do talk on the phone quite often but it just isn't the same as being in the same room as her. Anytime spent with Beachbum is a grand ole time.


Thanks to the best mother a boy could ask for fulfilling a lifelong dream and sharing in the adventure of a lifetime.