We arrived at the airport at 5:00 AM on Wednesday the 6th of June after about 26 hours of travel and airports. After collecting our baggage and clearing customs, our rental truck was waiting for us and we drove directly to Pesega where we are staying. It is a short distance but takes over half an hour as the speed limit is only about 40 km/hr. and slower through the many villages. We arrived at our village at about 7:00 and managed to arouse the housing representative to let us into our house. After taking care of necessities, we tried for bit of a sleep.
What are the chances? It was the day to do the grounds manicuring. I think every man between the age of 16 and 60 from a ten mile radius was here with a lawn mover or gas powered weed eater. The walls on our house are mostly louvered windows and open because of the heat. We might have rested fitfully for a couple of hours. The noise was intense and right outside our windows all day long.
Even though it doesn't get light until 6:00 the sounds of activity begin shortly after 4:oo AM. Roosters begin crowing, dogs barking and slowly the island comes to life. By 6:00 the island is humming. Often school children in the nearby villages are up by 4 or 5 to prepare for school and catch a bus. Many must travel long distances to attend school.
Yesterday morning we awoke at 6:00 to hear the washing machine just outside our bedroom window going strong.
It is so hot here that windows are always open or the air conditioning on. Air conditioning is nice but very expensive. It can increase your monthly electricity bill by hundreds of US dollars per month. We try not to use it. At first we used it to cool down the bedroom just before bedtime but now we take a cold shower instead. It is just as effective.
We arrived one week ago and spent the first few days settling in. Our internet was installed yesterday late afternoon and so we are now on our way.
We have a very comfortable 2 bedroom home in the lower (teacher's) village just 2 houses down the street from the house we lived in in 1978/79 when teaching here. The village is very well cared for with lovely shrubs and flowers. The big trees that were here last time are mostly gone but the grounds are much more meticulously maintained.
All of the teachers here are Samoan and so the village has very few palagi (whites) living here. A few houses are reserved for missionaries and we live in one of them. The only other palagi here are a senior missionary couple (Elder and Sister Smart) who live directly across the road from us. He works for ITEP (International Teacher Education Program) out of BYUH. They give the local teachers an opportunity to complete an education degree through BYUH.
Today is Kathy birthday. She is 39 again. We are going to the back of the island to a resort for the Fiafia night (traditional party and entertainment) buffet and program with some friends and other visiting church representatives.
The negotiations for the school contractor are continuing and I hope to be able to make a decision regarding construction this week.
We will try to write weekly and keep you all posted.
