No Longer on the Rock

We enjoyed our time had some great adventures and as usual met some wonderful people along the way. As the song goes...

Oh, I never will forget you, Samoa e ne'i galo atu

Goodbye, I never will forget you, Samoa e ne'i galo atu

We're Going Home We've Done Our Time...

After four years on the Rock we're finally heading back to the Land of the Long White Cloud.
So as we count down we reflect on all the wonderful things we've seen, done and people we've met.
There are so many things about Island living that has been great and some things that have been frustrating. I've tried so hard not to compare this island and home. Having lived away from NZ before I knew how that just takes away from the whole experience of living in a new place. In a lot of ways this place has not been foreign at all. My parents and grandparents have lived here too for a time, so that gave this experience a connection to the past and a feeling of belonging.
The kids have gotten more than American accents for their experience. They've made many friends and experienced living in a different culture. Hopefully I haven't turned them into gypsies. No.2 tells me he'd be happy to move back for a little and then move somewhere else and stay there for a little while and move on - At least he's open to change! No.1 is super excited about reuniting with cousins and going to a new school.

Uke Spooks

I originally picked up a ukulele to learn how to play Kookaburra for my class. I had fond memories from primary school of singing songs in the class while the teacher played her guitar. So here I thought that could be me (except I'd have a ukulele)! Unfortunately in my dreams I forgot it was in my dreams! So I conned the husband to teach me Kookaburra a two-chord song for the next day. I do believe some of the kids comments after my debut were:

Do you think we could get a professional to play it for us?

We can sing that song much better if you play to the beat?

I think we could play the ukulele better than you.

So there I was shamed out by my class you think I would've given up the instrument and yet I have done the opposite!

I am truly a beginner with no apparent musical gifts; and yet for some reason I have not biffed the whole instrument in a hissy fit and called it a day. Learning to play the ukulele for me is like rubbing your tummy and patting your head at the same time. I can only do one of those things really well - strum or find the chords ( I think I maybe a little too generous with myself there). I am constantly challenged and inspired by the husband, who is quite an accomplished player, it's helpful to have him because for the most part he is truthful and helpful, but you know we have issues.

We have been attending a ukulele club, once a fortnight for two hours we get to strum it out and sing hokey songs. I sit next to a couple of young guys from church who are really good, I think they're about 13 or 14 years old. What I can't believe about these guys is that they're learning odd songs from the 70's and 80's and they get it almost straight away. I thought I had an advantage in knowing the hokey songs, but after eight weeks and sporadic practise I only have one song down pat kind of, "Under the Boardwalk". The young guys tell me maybe I should choose another instrument. Maybe. For now despite ALL of that I am enjoying learning and trying something new.

Three Years on the Rock!

Living on this island has been an enjoyable adventure with my family, so far.  

Highlights:

The people we've met.

The things we've done.

My mum lives only a 40 min plane ride away

School

The new roads

Warm climate

Fresh pineapple

Internet shopping

Swimming club

Seawall walk

Beautiful scenery

Carl's Jr

Lowlights:

Saying goodbye to the people we've met.

The 20kg I've gained.

We've missed birthdays and family occasions but on the whole it's all been good.

Here's to another three years! (Maybe)

The Wonderful Tisa!

Tisa!

Mostly every Wednesday night Tisa's Barefoot Bar prepares an umu full of traditional Samoan foods.  An umu is a traditional way of cooking, some say it's the Samoan oven.  Hot rocks are heated to a high heat and then the food (wrapped in banana leaves or alumnium foil these days) are placed on the rocks.  Once all of the food is on the rocks (chicken, pork, lamb, fish, taro, breadfruit etc.) then it's covered with leaves and left to cook for a few hours.  When it's finally uncovered a great smelling culinary feast awaits.

The umu is a great cultural experience for visitors coming to the island and Tisa's Barefoot Bar does a great job. We had a visitor coming on island and friends also had some visitors so we were keen to take them out to Tisa's for the umu experience.  I had made a booking on Sunday and called to confirm on Monday - however I had a sneaking suspicion that these hadn't been written down or added to the list.  We arrived Wednesday and it was crowded, no it was packed.  We then found out we had not made a reservation - hmmm.

To cut a story short, it turned out fine.  Tisa did a wonderful job!  She assured us it would be fine, there would be plenty of food and she'd rustle up a table. Then she went on her way ukulele in hand and singing.

Blog Abandonment

The school's Arts Festival had an international flavour to it this year. Here is our Korean and Chinese performers.
The Dreamgirls outfit for Siva Maia.

Blame it on the rain...Haven't had a lot of it this year and in the last couple of weeks we've had a deluge.

I should be arrested and put into www jail for not posting regular updates here. Here are some pics to make up for the lack of posts, as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. And more to the point ever since the fibre optic cable has been connected (I think it has?), our internet connection has been super duper fast.

It's Been A While...

Kid No. 2

Kid No.1

Siva Maia dancers shaking what their Mama gave them.

Rain clouds over Rainmaker Mountain.

A whole month has passed by and no blog update, very sorry about that.

The weather has been pitiful this past week, lots of rain and wind - fortunately no snow. All this cooler weather did cause me to turn on the heater in the car this week, which was a first.

Talia started back at dance with Siva Maia. She is learning a new dance to perform at the Flag Day celebrations. Dance classes have shifted to town at the Fagatogo malae which is a trek for us, most of the other dancers and the teacher live that side of the island so that's where it is.

Crafty Kids

Talia and Noah met up with their friend Annie.

Noah's picture of a human, banana, sun, rainbow, airport ,apple and a wave.

Talia's picture of a flower and a rainbow.

The library runs a craft time for kids throughout the week, today the activity was a scrunched up paper collage. It involved parents tearing and scrunching up hundreds bits of paper for their child to glue. Annie's mum is more dedicated as you can see by the amount of scrunched up paper on her collage. In my defence, I had two kids to scrunch paper for and I didn't want to get OOS. We left the library with incomplete pictures, it'll give them something to do at home.

Blog by Talia

At school we play on the computer and we play poptropica. We like Nabootii Island on poptropica. You have to find all the missing jewels and when you find them all you get a Nabootii medal. I have finished spy and Noah has finished time tangle.

At taekwondo if I pass my test I will be a green belt. Noah has been practising his kicks and punches.

I am busy baking at school and I'm going to have a bake sale with my class. Noah's class is fun because he doesn't get told off by teachers! (I'm not sure about that?)

Bubbles

Me: Noah, can you help pick up some shoes and put them on the shelves?

Noah: Aww, what about Talia?

Me: I'm asking you to be a helper.

Noah: But what will I get?

Me: Ummm, a warm feeling in your heart.

Noah picks up shoes and we head out to the car.

Noah: Talia, do you know what I got? I got a warm feeling in my heart.

Talia: I've got one too.

Noah: Nope. Just me.

Cruisin' 25 mph

This is the main road that goes towards Pago Pago, enjoy!

Disco Dancing Elves

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

dads better than me

Sadness struck TKD as the kids realised that they do not have the masterful way of their father. Sure they got to test and they are both advanced one step whilst dad remains a white belt, but this is only because dad put his back out whilst throwing it down with the pros.

Christmas Tree

Will the Christmas tree survive...

Talia and Classmates

This year's Christmas wish list.

Hers

High School Musical journal

Blendy pens

Laptop

ipod

Bunkbed

His

Laptop

Bunkbed

Goldfish, in a bowl with water

Apple pie

Kool-Aid

We have been very busy lately. Last weekend we had the Swimming Carnival, it's amazing to see how much progress all the kids have made. A year or so ago the kids were mainly in kickboard and noodle races and this time they entered in freestyle, backstroke and breastroke ( Talia's favourite). Their teachers have done a wonderful job and give them great instruction. I'm also fortunate that Noah is taken to swimming in the "Double bus" while I finish up at school. Noah loves to compete, but unfortunately he takes his bows a little too early. Before the swim race was over he was looking over the pool lanes to see where the other competitors were placed and in so doing slips a couple of places, oka oka.

My class also held a very successful Market Day - we've been studying economics and decided to end it with a Market day. They all belonged to mini business', they brainstormed products and services to sell, undertook market surveys for products, applied for bank loans and then had to make the products and sell them at Market Day. It was quite an undertaking and a lot of hard work but they are all enjoyed the profits! Some are keen to do it again next quarter, me not so much.

More friends are leaving, it's so sad - but at least we'll get see them again. They've done their time and are moving on, we'll miss them alot! Tofa Soifua Chambers family.

By the Bay

At the new McDonalds by the Bay

You can see Rainmaker mountain through the windows.
The old cable cars that used to travel across the Bay

Dominating Dominoes

Noah and Talia love playing games and there's no better game than dominoes. It starts off all very friendly and polite at the beginning, "Thank you Noah, that's just the one I wanted." says Talia. This digresses to a cheeky, "Do you need the kitty, Talia" from Noah. When he thinks he's going to win there's no hiding the fact, off he starts grinning and dancing and adding quips like, "This is a amusing game!"we've affectionately nicknamed him Uncle Darrel.
This game didn't end in tears but lots of posturing from the boys who claimed overall victory over the girls.

Halloween

Ninja costumes and cheerleaders outfits were all the rage this year. The kids had lots of fun, they even went to a party without us! Talia and Noah kicked up their heels with the Murphy kids across island and returned with sugar-fuelled hangovers. Those Murphy kids sure know how to party.

Birthdays

Talia and Noah recently had a joint birthday party. In the past we've had separate parties on separate days, which has usually meant the whole weekend wiped out, not just for us but for extended family too. Talia shares a birthday with one of my neices so it's an especially hectic time for birthday party schedules. Last year we had two separate parties one after the other, that was tiresome. So this year we had one party, we ate hot dogs, played outside games and had a water fight, which is always a winner with kids.

It was a fun day for all.

Aunu'u Island

This pretty island lies off the eastern side of Tutuila.

Taekwondo Belt Ceremony

Not to be outdone by the children, Jason is joining the adults class of taekwondo, for fitness. Showing respect for authority is not one of Jason's strong points and I'm not sure if Mr. Brown will know what to do with such a wag. He'll either end up doing a gazillion press-ups for punishment or be asked to leave. I give him a month, tops.