Living in Siumu

I’ve finally moved into my house and school has begun. Well, it’s officially begun but I haven’t been really teaching yet. I think that is going to happen next week. This first week the students signed up for classes, had singing practice, and started their basic classes like English, History, and Maths (and yes, I meant to add the s at the end).

The house is great and it's nice to finally be able to unpack my things after three months of moving between hotels and the training village. My house is on a family's compound and for now I've been using their bathroom facilities but they've said that the school will build me my own as well as a shower off my house. Not exactly sure when this is supposed to happen but I'm looking forward to it. Until then I've been sharing and taking bucket showers and I'm actually really getting used to it. Luckily I have my own refridgerator and stove and have been trying to cook meals for myself. My host family, having very low confidence in my cooking abilities, still sends meals over to my house every day.

How to Take a Bucket Shower:
Bucket showers definitely have their benefits. For one as you always get the water to use beforehand it’s much harder for you to waste water (something I think my dad would greatly appreciate). First you need to get a bucket of water from the nearest working tap. This could be available on your family’s compound, there could also be a tap on your neighbor's property and you could always get water from the village pool if there is one. (A pool in the village is a closed area of clean fresh water that can be used for bathing in). Once you've got your bucket you find a nice preferibly enclosed place. If one is not available you could always shower with a lavalava wrapped around you. Using a small bowl or cup you can then dump water over yourself, taking time to lather up and shampoo your hair and then using the remaining water to rinse.

How to Get from Here to There:
There are basically five basic means of transportation (not including the ferry it takes to travel between Upolu and Savai'i).

1. Walk

Highly under rated but not always the best solution for long distances

2. Bicycle
Each volunteer was issued a bicycle upon swearing-in which make us all stand out gloriously as we are the only ones in the entire country who wear helmets (Peace Corps requirement). Very good for traveling between villages to see other volunteers or for getting around Apia

3. Hitchhike
Keep in mind that hitchhiking in Samoa is not the same as hitchhiking in the states. We’re still careful but it is definitely a more common means of travel. Nice for long distances when paying for a taxi or riding a bus is not desirable

4. Bus
Cheap but can get very packed, in which case people generally sit on each others’ laps for the duration of the ride

5. Taxi
Can get pricy when going long distances but sometimes can be worth it (A ride across Apia is only a few Tala and a ride across the island is at least fifty but consider the fact that fifty Tala is about 20USD and if you go in a group it’s not that bad.)

How to Get Internet Access:
A few of the schools across the country have internet access and even some volunteers have internet at their sites but sadly I do not. So, how does a volunteer in my situation get access to the internet? There are two ways, both of which are in Apia. There’s always the internet cafes which really aren’t that expensive and can be found all around the city. There’s even one that’s open on Sundays. Secondly, there’s the Peace Corps office, which along with providing numerous resources for teaching and study, also has two volunteer computers. These computers have internet twice a day everyday (from 9am-11am and then again from 4pm-6pm) and like the good children that we are, all of the volunteers who are in the office at the time share.