Previous Updates
November 2011
- Sa'anapu Wednesday 30
- Farewell and welcome Tuesday 29
- Sunday and Church Tuesday 29
- Day Two Sunday 27
- journey and arrival Saturday 26
The Samoa Bulletin
Written by Bruce Henderson
An ongoing diary of the adventures of our students in Samoa.
Sa'anapu
Posted on 30 November 2011 - 3:41 PM
The umu, school and a cultural evening.
The day dawns warm and sunny, with blues skies. Every afternoon the clouds roll in, there is a tropical downpour, but it clears quickly and everything dries out. Everyone is fit and healthy, and discovering the importance of staying well hydrated in the heat.
Today was umu day. Our children watched the whole pig being prepared - a new experience in finding out where your pork chop comes from! They helped prep the food -lots of chickens, taro, bananas, fresh fish- and made the banana leaf baskets. They also made banana leaf hats, and are unhappy that they won't be able to bring them home through customs because of quarantine regulations.
Breakfast each day consists of a wide range of tropical fruits -apparently their tastes are becoming rather less picky (Mike hopes they will bring this new-found versatility home!). The local students have served them each morning at the big table.
They have an interesting routine at school; 1.00 to 3.00 is rest time -even the school principal has a nap on the hall floor. Mike is wondering whether he should introduce this at RBS. At 3.00 they all go home.
Our children are surprising themselves as to what they find they can do and experience, and are having an amazing time. They are loving being with the local children ,wandering around hand in hand, arms around shoulders. They are playing each other in sports -volleyball, rugby- and are getting soundly beaten (the local boys are about the size and build of David Tua!).
Tonight the village is putting on a cultural show, and our children will be performing for them. They will also be teaching the Ka Mate -the haka- and in return are to be taught a Samoan war dance.
Mike tells me the have "zillions" of photos and lots of video -when they get home we will find a way of sharing it with you all.
Comments
Comment by Carolyn Thomson on 30 November 2011 - 4:17 PM:
Yes, a video and photo night a must! Love the rest time :-)
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