New Primary School

This project is still on going. The village is currently finishing the clearing of the new land for the school. We expect to start construction within the next month and it will be ready for the 2011 school year.


The road that split the old school grounds in which our proposal was based.


School committee members So'oalo Siliga and So'oalo Timo at the signing ceremony with the Japanese Ambassador.


School Committee President Lemana Ioane signs the financial agreement with the Japanese Ambassador. Japan agreed to fund materials for seven classrooms. The village will come up with the remaining funds.


Coconut trees come down in the clearing of the new land for the new school.


Local chief Tupa'i Sio makes sure no coconut goes to waste.


This guy needs to the palm fronds to make some baskets.


Locals watch on as the work continues.


This guy is slicing me open a coconut.

Homework Center

Fuatino, Fa'afetai, and Ime rehydrate before study time.


Vagai, Serafi, and Seipua have a laugh over the word "diameter". You had to be there.


Serafi, Seipua, and Ime, wish I would stop taking pictures so they can get back to work.


Fa'atoafe, Salamo, Fa'afetai, Vagai, Serafi, and Seipua concentrate on their copying.

Everybody celebrates after the Prize Giving Ceremony.

Gardening

Musu gets ready to make a healthy feast.


Bok Choy


Cantelope


Peanuts on the left, corn on the right.


Cucumbers

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