It's HOT!!!

October 6 -

Did I tell you I take back what I said about being able to get used to the climate? If not, I take it back. Today, thankfully for the first time in a week, has not been too bad. We had raincloud cover almost all day which is a gigantic blessing believe me. Without it as soon as the sun clears the mountain on Upolu you start sweating, and that is at 6:30 am, maybe 6:45. By 9:00am it is HOT, by 11:30am it is unbearable, and by 1:00pm you just want to crawl in a cool dark hole somewhere. The biggest problem is that the tradewinds have died for the season and no breeze means no relief. We are heading into the hot, rainy season but so far all that has showed up is the hot part. We do get an occasional breeze from the southwest (tradewinds come from the southeast) and they are a mystery to me. You get a nice cooling breeze for a few minutes then you are blasted with one that is at least 15 degrees warmer and very humid. It's the most bizarre thing I've ever encountered.

So, lets see. What have I been up to? I spent my three days in Apia for my great escape and got to see some of my group that I haven't seen since we left the training village. I hung around at D's a lot and did not much of anything, although I did make some phone calls that were business related. I got a package from my darling daughter with some much needed pans and a coffee pot. There is no such thing here, believe me, I looked. I figure I have about 3 weeks of coffee left, so get those packages coming! She also sent me some DVDs which is great. I'm missing out on all the new season shows though. I looked into getting a TV but we only get one channel here on the island so it's probably not worth it. American Idol will have to do it without me this year. Bummer!

Starting next week I am going to be reading to the older Primary School students two days a week for an hour and a half in English. The principal thinks they need to hear English the way it is supposed to be spoken, not the way Samoan teachers speak it. It should be fun and I'm actually looking forward to it.

Yesterday was National Teacher's Day and I was invited to participate by walking down to the next village and then, along with all the students and all four teachers and assistants, walking back through Faleu and the next village as the kids sang and collected donations for the teachers. The money was to go towards a party which followed this excercise in insanity. Remember what I said about when it gets hot? We got back to Faleu about 9:30am and in spite of my hat I was dying. I bailed and went home so missed out on the party. It was actually kind of fun and I love to hear the kids sing but that old "acclimatization" thing hasn't kicked in yet I'm afraid.

I know, I know. When am I going to post some more pictures? Well, as soon as I take them I guess. It is just so bloody hot, photographic expeditions are not very high on my priority list. Getting a fan is!! I'm going back to Apia on Friday the 13th (not to worry, it's my lucky day) and staying till Monday. The next training group arrives on the 11th and custom has it that current volunteers (that's me!) put on a welcoming fiafia for them that first week on Saturday so I'm off to make them feel welcome. I also happen to have a meeting with a Samoa Water Authority engineer scheduled so I can get PC to pay my transportation - I think.


October 10 –
Here are some pictures. I got out the telephoto lens and played around with it. It wasn’t expensive enough to make a whole lot of difference actually, but it does make some interesting shots when you have it on and the lens is retracted inside the adapter. Oh no, wait! That’s right, I was going to tell you I did those round pictures on purpose! Ah well.