Computer Classes

Nimo practices his arithmatic


Presenting Angel, top typist in year 7, with a gift at the end of the year prize giving ceremony

Year 8 Boyz


One on one training on how to kill the chickens


Seuao, my partner in teaching, directing the class.

Coming Home!

Samoa has been good to me over these last two years. I am entering my 22nd month of service which means only two more to go until my current contract ends. Several months ago I decided to re-up for another year. As far as I'm concerned it's official that I will be working as a volunteer for the Samoa Tourism Authority. Just like my first assignment I anticipate it will be an adventure and challenge in adjusting to a job with new faces and a having a new role. But, the tougher the duty, the greater the rewards. If it's easy it's not worth doing.

I'll be coming home for a month this fall. I'm looking at the second week of September for arriving home and hope to see as many familiar faces as possible. I'm trying to pencil in a trip to Manhattan to see the KSU-NEB game so all of you in the Aggieville area get ready. The family is planning a trip to Colorado as well so if you live near Estas Park let's get in touch. Most of my time will be in Lincoln so we can catch up at Quik Way, Pizza Hut, or the park.

I'm going to post some blogs and pics of what I've been up to for the last two years. Hope some of you get a chance to read and enjoy.

See you soon,

Jim

School's In

Back to Work,

Hello everybody, my blog just woke up. It’s been hibernating for a while. Or maybe it’s me that’s been hibernating. School starts tomorrow and I’m ready to pick back up where I left off with the computer classes. Last term ended great in that I was able to have enough classes to test the 6th and 7th graders on typing. I had some real stars and rewarded them at the prize giving ceremony at the end of the year.

The health project that I mentioned in the last blog is at a standstill. To put on the seminars we need the approval from the Ministry of Health and we have yet to receive an answer.

Regarding the new primary school proposal to Japan I’m expecting good news fairly soon…..

For the last week I’ve been a shopkeeper at my families small store. We sell the bare necessities like, sugar, salt, candy, canned fish, spam, and mutton flaps. All the things that give people diabetes and hypertension. It’s amazing to see how much sugar people go through here. So I used the opportunity to try and do a little educating. Hopefully I got through to a few.

I got a new kitty. So that makes two cats now. The elder can’t stand the new one so they go at it all day. It’s better than HBO I swear. I hope 2010 is off to a good start for everyone and look forward to seeing you all at the end of this year.

Take care all,

Jim

Fundraising

I'm looking to friends and family for help in raising money for the health awareness seminars which are scheduled for next year. I'm trying to raise about US $950 to make it happen. The money will go towards purchasing diabetes testing equipment, weight scales, fresh veggies, seeds for planting veggies, and a few other props needed to make it a success. I realize times are tough back home but if you can spare a few bucks and want to help out send me an email at jmetz06@gmail.com

Happy Thanksgiving,

Miss and love you all,

Jim

Work Update

The dry season looks as though it's coming to an end and I'm looking forward to not carrying buckets of water to my garden every day. One of the sons of my host family has been home for a week with his wife and child. The wife is Australian and it's been nice speaking english for a change. They invited a couple tourists from the nearby resort to have the sunday meal with us which was very pleasant. I rarely get
feedback on the work I'm doing and it was nice to discuss my projects with other palagis (people of european decent). So I thought it was a good time to post some blogs since I"m a little rusty in that area.

I began teaching computer classes at the primary school about two weeks ago. I was able to get 4 second hand computers from another volunteer at a very reasonable price. So far I've been teaching the very basics of computers which is good because my knowledge of computers doesn't run to deep. The principal selected 12 students from years 6,7, and all year 8 kids. We've been doing some typing programs, mouse exercises, and of course a few games. Not very many primary schools have computers so this is good opportunity for Samauga. I'm trying to teach as much English in the classes as well. After all that is what they really need to know. So now you could say I finally have a day job again. The work I did in preparing the new school proposal is pretty much finished. We are just awaiting finaly approval from Japan which hopefully comes soon. We will do some fundraising over Christmas to capitalize on overseas visitors. That's right capitalize baby! Japan will only fund half of the materials to build the school so we must find other sources.

The other major project I was working on is renovating the women's committee house into a health and activity center. This proposal is also awaiting a decision from the Australian High Comission. This project ties into what I'm really trying to do here in Samoa. A volunteer who ended his service last August, Nico, started what is known as the Joint Health Project with Peace Corps Savaii (my island) and the National Health Services (NHS). Together volunteers and nurses performed diabetes and hypertension screenings in rural areas of Samoa. When Nico left he handed me his bag of testing equipment and left it to us remaining volunteers to see the project continues. Samoa has a serious problem with diabetes and hypertension. And most can agree that there is a strong correlation between weight and health and you are more likely to have these health problems if you are overweight. There seems to be a lack of understanding in Samoa of this relationship. People eat alot and don't get much exercise. My vision is to create that awareness and give people the right information to make better decisions on what they eat and feed their families. To make that happen I am attempting to organize health awareness seminars to be directed towards women's committees in about 20 or 25 villages starting next year. The idea is to do a skit showing the relationship between weight and health, provide information about the diseases, the causes, and how to prevent from getting them. After the session the plan is to have nurses from the NHS provide free screenings to the participants. The current problem is that the NHS is lacking the necessary testing equipment. For example, the hospital in my district, which is responsible for about 15 villages has only two sphygmometers and one glucose meter. The plan
is to properly equip each of the 4 hospitals on the island as well as the 5 subcenters with enough testers to meet the needs of the people. I've been in contact with several people back who are looking for equipment to send over. So if any of you know someone who might have access to extra sphygmometers/stethoscopes or glucose meters let me know. I might be able to use your help.

The time is ticking away. Only 9 months to go and then it's time for something else. What that is I have no idea. Anybody hiring? Anything but car rental or fast food Chinese.

Feelin Groovy

I don't think I'll ever grow out of halloween. It could quite possibly be the funnest holiday of the year. This year myself and a friend decided to take the costume idea to another level. "Simon and Garfunkel" Live! A few months ago the idea was brought up and we ran with it. Spencer (Garfunkel) had the hair and the on the mark harmonies and I am a short guy with a big forehead who plays some sloppy guitar. So we learned a few tunes, and serenaded the partygoers with hits like "Cecelia", "Mrs. Robinson", "Homeward Bound", and as a bonus we covered John Denver's "Country Roads" as well as Flight of the Conchords "You're so Beautiful". While there were no prizes for musical
talent or showmanship, we played and sung our hearts out.

There's a new guy in town

That's right the village finally has new pastor. Samauga has been without a shepard since February when the previous pastor and his family moved. The village has been busy preparing the church and house. New paint job and everything. When they arrived there was a big gathering with lots and lots of food. I was told by my family that day that I would be eating with the pastor and family from now on. After furthur questioning it was understood that I would eat with them for the first 2 weeks. Each family is responsible for 3 meals while the family gets settled in. And since I"m the village peace corps it was a good opportunity for the village to feed me lots of food. Cause that's what they love to do. So for the past two weeks I've been having enormous meals. The pig, which is a very important part of the culture here, was served every night. The point is that I ate very heavily and gained 7 pounds. For those of you who know me, you know that I can eat and eat and not gain weight. I mean I've been 150 lbs. since my senior year of high school. I've finally found my tipping point. Pig.