A Gecko Named Wilma.

Not really. I did think it might be a good idea to check in and let you all know that I am safe and fine, despite the cyclone that has descended on the island. My house lost power this morning, but so far it has not posed that much of an issue. In true Samoan fashion, we gathered some belongings, called a cab, and headed to.... McDonalds. McDonalds, haven that it is, has its own house sized generator. It never loses power, and most importantly, it has both internet and a big screen TV. All of the housemates and I are now firmly esconced here... along with about 25 assorted palangis and Samoans all intent on both Chicken McNuggets and the NFL.

In other news, before I return to rooting for the Jets (sorry, but Palumalu is not enough incentive to cheer for Roethlesberger (sp?)) I feel I have to share one of those moments which inevitably ends up on a tacky calendar, with the theme of "You know you are in Samoa when...."
Thursday morning I woke up as normal... maybe a little groggier due to the constant rain and lack of usual sunshine pouring through my window. I stumbled to my kitchen, pulled down my granola and looked in the bag... to find a GECKO. Staring back at me. Far be it from me to stop anything or anyone in Samoa trying to be healthy... plus geckos are cool with me. They eat termites. So, despite my overwhelming feelings of, "this is my LIFE. MY LIFE." I simply tipped the bag over, counted the granola as a casualty of the war on bugs, and went to school as normal.

Love (and lots of wind and rain)
Rosa

RSIOTD

Random Samoan insight of today- Samoans love synthesizers. The synthetic drum sounds, electronic plinky piano and anything else you can play on a keyboard are classic elements of popular Samoan music. Synthesizers also appear in churches- nothing says both “I Love to Party,” and “I love Jesus” more than a holy song set to “Pop Riff #2!” played by a 300 lb woman dressed in shiny white satin.

Its not easy being Green

I hate this week. It is exam week, which sounds like it should be a piece of cake. More like a foot shoved up you know where. In order to divert my mind from relieving all the stressful moments so far, I will instead discuss a fun quandary of the beautiful island of Amerika Samoa.

My parents visited for Christmas. I actually managed to introduce them to a lot of the food Samoans eat on a daily basis, and they got a pretty good idea of what was available, and what was not. Namely, most things which are green.

It is incredibly ironic- I live in a tropical area. There is greenery everywhere, flourishing proof that plenty of stuff grows. Everywhere you look there are mango trees, banana palms, coconut palms, breadfruit (ulu) trees, and taro plants. However, the only two common vegetables that seem to be grown here are bok choy and a green bean relative called longbeans. Both delicious, but it gets old fast. A few people seem to grow tomatoes, but they can’t quite grasp when to pick them- as a result, mostly, I have been making fried green tomatoes, which admittedly are delicious (if not very healthy).

The biggest problem with vegetables is obviously how far away we are from everything. Anything which comes here has to be shipped a loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong way. Often they simply don’t make it, or are in less than appetizing condition. Never has Kermit’s classic lament “It’s Not Easy Being Green,“ held truer than for the poor bell peppers and broccoli shipped over here.

Consequently, I eat a lot of frozen vegetables- there isn’t much variety so it tends to be either frozen spinach or some sort of peas, corn and carrot mixture. When I am not eating frozen, I am daydreaming about all the glorious things I am going to be eating in June- okra, snow peas, okra, fresh lettuce, fresh spinach, squash, zucchini, peppers, artichokes, Hanover tomatoes, fresh basil, lima beans. I hope to live like a rabbit for the first two weeks I am home, God willing.

In the meantime, I charge all of you to go to your local salad bar and load up- and don’t forget to spill a little lettuce on the floor, just for me.

Love,

Rosa