Meeting the New Village and Emotional Good-byes

Meeting the New Village and Emotional Good-byes

It's about time that I got to know some of the people in my village. It's been about five weeks since I've gotten to my new place here in Savai'i, and prior to this week I had only a few people in the village. I had met the owners of the little store across the street, the family of mechanics who live to the right of the school compound, and a couple of people who live in the house in front of the school compound who thought something was up because of all the noise I was making while putting nails into my walls (I used a rock as my hammer) my first Sunday here (apparently I shouldn't have been doing that as Sunday is a day of rest), and on a separate occasion offered Paul and me a coconut (both times they climbed the fence separating the school and their land).
So, there's a big, two-story market opening tomorrow, Friday, January 30th. It was actually supposed to open at the beginning of December, but it wasn't finished (as of yesterday, Wednesday, it still didn't look ready). Some schools on Savai'i were selected to perform a siva (dance) and/or pese (song). Our school was selected to do both, so for the last three weeks or so students have been practicing. At first, practices were held at school, but recently they have moved it down the street to the faife'au (pastor's) house. I went to a couple at school, but felt uncomfortable sitting in front of all the students while they all sang/starred at me. I kind of felt obligated at first since they were practicing ten feet away from my place in the adjacent classroom. This week, my pule (principal) encouraged me to go, saying that they're gotten much better. So he and I went. The first two days I just sat with some of the school committee guys and watched the students do their thing. But to my surprise there was ava (cava) served yesterday and today. Yesterday, the ava was passed among the six or seven of the school committee guys and me in the backcorner of an open-fale. Today it seemed more official since: First, all ten of us sat spread apart along the perimeter of the fale. There was a guy directing to whom the ava should be given. There was a guy running the ava to them. Upon receiving the ava, people said a little blurb, essencially saying thanks to God, then soifua, spilled a bit, drank it, and threw the last couple of drops out. And finally, the ava bowl (actually it was a plastic tub,which makes the ceremony less official I guess) was placed in the back center of the fale. It's kind of funny how all the students arrive there early and sit there waiting for one of the school committee guys, basically the director, before they begin practice. I guess it's fa'asamoa (the Samoan way).
Today's practice was actually the dress rehersal. The girls dressed in their red and white pulatasi's, and the boys were shirtless and wore white ie faitoga's and had a red fabric tied around their waist. They danced first, then sang. But while I was sitting there watching, one of the school committe guys dragged me to the front and had me dance to their pese. At that point, it turned into a mini fund-raiser event as a bucket was placed in front of me, and people came up to threw money in it. Fifty-four tala, fifty sene were raised. The money went to the school committee who basically manages the school's money. Some are skeptical, and say that it helps fund the committee's drinking needs.
Though dancing in front of everyone was embarassing, I got to meet many people today. I met teachers with whom I'll be working, the vice-principal (or as Samoans call it, the deputy-principal), the entire school committee, the pulenu'u (mayor) of my village, and some villagers who have assured me that they'd help me with whatever I needed.
On a separate note, I spent all of last week on the other island, 'Upolu. All, but one of us in our group made it to Apia to celebrate Dan's birthday on January 20th. We all went to Chris' house where she prepared a Mexican dinner for us before we went out. I had planned on staying only for two or three days, but that turned into almost a week. I made my rounds, and stayed four different places (Joey's, Matt's, Jordan's, and Blakey's) during my time there. I'd say my time there was productive... I got to go shopping for food ('cause there's not much of a selection here on Savai'i), got a package (thanks Chai and Sahn)that was brought here by Hannah (from Group 78) who was home for the holidays, got to see Body of Lies at Magik Cinema (yeah, there's a movie theater here), helped Matt and Jordan out with their computers, had tacos at Eric's (from Group 79), learned how to make Matt's awesome grilled cheeses, got to hang out/go out...
I also went back to my host-family for two days. At first, I wasn't going to go since I wanted to get back to Savai'i. But since, yes, my brother did name his daughter after my mom at home, it's official and it was grandpa's birthday, I decided to go back. I bought loads of baby stuff for the baby, and didn't know what my seventy-four year old grandpa would have wanted, so I got him beer knowing that he loves his Vailimas (the beer here). I wish I had brought my camera, so that I could put up pictures of the baby. She's tiny though she was born 9.5 lbs. She's pretty light-skinned and has dark, curly hair.
I came back home on Monday, thinking that the principal and I would have to make final preparations for school. I meet up with him on Tuesday, and we have tea and talk for about thirty minutes before he tells me that he will not be at Palauli College this year, but rather, has been transfered to a school in Apia because of the progressive improvements of students on the national exams here. He's happy because his wife and kids live in Apia, and prior, he stayed here during the school week and went back to Apia for the weekends. Though he is no longer the principal here, he has stuck around to see the students' siva tomorrow . But how fa'asamoa, school starts in four days and there's no principal, no schedule set, no classes chosen, nothing.
So tonight, I had small dinner with my principal, his wife, one of the school committee guys, Mata'afa (who happens to be one of the matai's here), his wife, and his kid. We had breadfruit, banana, fish, pork, miti (coconut cream with onions and salt) and cocosamoa. It was great! But when dinner ended, Mata'afa spoke for five minutes then started tearing/crying. My principal ensued, and the same thing ended up happening. Then Mata'afa's wife started crying, then the principal wife. So it was a bit awkward. It's strange to see these big Samoan men be so emotional. It reminded me of my last week in my host-village when everyone was crying left and right.
The night ended positively. The matai and his wife who are extremely nice, though hard to understand, have promised to help me with whatever I need. Throughout the week, my principal and his wfie have been insisting that I go and stay with them in Apia. Overall, I'm glad to have met a lot of people this week, but particularly those with whom I had dinner tonight because they seem to be very genuine and happy about having me here in their country.
Okay, well it's past midnight and I have to be at breakfast at 6 AM. The principal's wife is making pancakes. Then off to the opening of the new market...
Oh, and thanks Matt (my compañero de piso) for the CD from Spain, I have it in right now and some David Bisbal song is on.
I'll post pictures of the dance soon.