Nothing but Wandering

What to do when you visit American Samoa

2010-03-16T17:10:00.000-07:00

Finally some tourist information for this beautiful island. I know this is a bizarre name but download it and read through.

FINALsmall.pdf

Natural waterpark

2010-03-15T12:26:00.000-07:00

In the Flow

2010-03-11T11:09:00.000-08:00

Sorry I have been quiet I think I have finally gotten into a routine. Work then a little play time either paddling, surfing, tae bo or yoga. Then early to bed under a fan blasting full with 3 pillows no blanket just one sheet. Its the perfect formula for hot sleeping. AC is in the works. Oh this is week 7-8 of trying to get internet. I am not sure it will ever happen but I'll keep trying!

I'm enjoying my euk, still need a little more practice but here is an island tune for you.
dropbaby%201.mp3

B-Day Waterfall Fun!

2010-02-26T11:55:00.000-08:00

Sunny Weekend!

2010-02-22T10:31:00.000-08:00

I drove out to the east side this weekend it was beautiful. Then hiked up Mount Alava to see an awesome view of both sides of the island. Check it out.

There used to be a cable car that came to the top here, but I propose a zip line down!
South Side

North side. I really have the exact same picture taking angles. Scary!
Fala at the top.

Morning & Evening

2010-02-18T15:49:00.000-08:00

Morning Sunshine
Morning sleepiness
Evening playing

clearly.mp3

I surfed!!

2010-02-16T11:07:00.000-08:00

No cyclone, all surfing this weekend ;). After a day and a half of bracing and staying inside the storm passed the plywood came down off the windows and I went surfing! Sorry no more pictures I've been a delinquent about my camera. The waves here are definitely a lot different than Rhode Island, but my 2nd day I managed to "catch" some. Mostly on my stomach and knees but baby steps are good!

Anyway its the first day back after being out for 4 days trying to remember what my job is!

Rene is here!

2010-02-12T15:50:00.001-08:00

rene.tiff

See the little white cross? That is where we are. Everyone's windows are boarded up winds gusting 90 mph and all are safely inside.

The biggest threat now is boredom. Thank goodness I have my America's next top model activity handbook where I can design my new line and practice my poses.

Would you like to go on a tour of where I live & work?

2010-02-11T18:31:00.000-08:00

Download google earth from here:
http://earth.google.com/download-earth.html

Then save this to your computer.
Christin%20in%20American%20Samoa.kmz

Then double click on the file and enjoy!

Activities of the Day

2010-02-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

1) Eat breakfast over looking the ocean
2) Drive in my new barbie car to work along the coast
3) Check the status of the cyclone http://www.pdc.org/atlas/
4) Do some work http://gis.doc.as/resources/maps.html (check out NEW)
5) Eat a chef salad at a picnic table with other off island science ladies
6) Get a cold coconut w/ straw to go
7) Back at office with coconut mmm better than coffee

Probably will head to Yoga tonight. The landlord is boarding up my windows just in case this storm Rene does hit. No worrying I've got a friend who lives "inland" where I'll probably stay on friday night. The center line of the storm track won't hit us directly and even if it changes direction it is only category 3. But I think I will get a full tank of gas, some batteries and water on my way home.

Thanks to many of you I have good first aid kits and flashlights ;).

Sunshine Euk

2010-02-09T11:05:00.000-08:00

What do you do when you're feeling lonely? What do you do when you're feeling down. Play a little song makes the world go round. Click on mp3 below to hear.

sunshine_euk.mp3

oneWorld oneWater

2010-02-08T14:15:00.000-08:00

Hey Hey

I just started another website
www.oneworldonewater.org

this one is all water all the time.

weekend was much lazier than expected, no pictures to share at this point, but I did play the eukeleleleeee a lot and that will be my next purchase.

home status: new curtains sheer green and white mmm. Thanks mom!

I call her Freedom!

2010-02-05T23:34:00.000-08:00

It is hard to get around on the island without a car. Enter car! I'm really excited for a weekend with car. Tonight I got to see the above sunset with people I really like because of it! YAY. More to come!

Freedom!

2010-02-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

I found a car! And internet next week. I can talk more soon! I'll share a pic of me and my new ride after I pick it up this afternoon. Got my first paycheck, sure is a pay cut. But after these initial purchases there isn't much to spend money on.

If you want to visit start thinking about when surprisingly the spots at my hotel Christin are starting to fill up! I'll link to a calendar for all those planning on visiting.

Pictures soon. I hope to have some wonderful adventures in my new car this weekend! Don't worry mom & other mom like worriers I'll be safe.

hold please

2010-02-01T18:47:00.000-08:00

Hold for more updates and pictures. It has been raining so not much to report. I did have my first local tuna sandwich it was awesome!

Work is going well. Making some progress here.

Also I just got another cell phone number in addition to the one I have because I don't get service at my place with the original one. Internet is still weeks away!

It has cooled off since my first week or my blood is getting thinner so I'm actually able to do somethings without dripping.

I'll share more inspiration soon!

Kitchen Picasso & Cool Sleeping

2010-01-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

I don't have cabinets, but I do have colorfull kitchen wear and now I have art!

For those really hot nights I've got a place to sleep. Note: I used my splicing rope skills from the marina days to rig this up. I also threw a boland in there somewhere; the rabbit comes out of the hole around the tree and back down through the hole.

Fa'alavelava

2010-01-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

I went to a funeral service last week, I was at the se'e part of the fa'alavalava it is an offering of gifts to show your support for the loss. Our office put together money and gifts to give to the family, the family then tries to give some of the gifts back, we take some of them but not others. I would explain more if I understood more anyone feel free to research and update my interpretation. Lots of beautifully made mats and also a lot of meat. I took home chicken (frozen chicken parts) and cans of tuna. Our department was given a pig. Sorry for the graphic photo I mean you're welcome!

weekend update

2010-01-25T11:45:00.000-08:00

I met some really cool people from the World Teach Program. Some of them surf too! If anyone wants to live in American Samoa for a year check this out:

http://www.worldteach.org/programs/american_samoa_year/

It seems like a great program. If you want to come here in July for a year you should apply by this April. I have a room for you. :)

Because of the rain on Sunday the temperature dropped to 80.1. I for once stopped sweating and was able to enjoy a rainy Sunday of movies and books. I'm feeling a bit more sane now. The first two weeks were a whirlwind of work and heat. I have figured out the buses have some camping chairs to sit in. I'm just waiting to be able to get to the store for hammock hooks. Then I'll be living the life for sure!

Okay time to plot some jurisdiction boundaries and create land-use data. Whooo hooo!

On the communication front I am planning on getting a house phone, since my cell phone is a bit shotty in my little oasis of a cove. Apparently like internet this could take up to a month to hook up!

Getting Settled

2010-01-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

Slowly but surely I have moved in. I have a big empty place, but a full bedroom fridge and bathroom. Now I'm on the hunt for furniture. Still not connected at home to the internet, that could take up to a month. So hope to have some skype conversations home in February, patience is a virtue!

I met some people who surf so maybe I'll try that out this weekend. Work has been awesome, lots of new ideas on how to improve things here. Love my staff. I can tell things can be frustratingly slow and political but whats life without a little challenge. Apparently getting off island every 3 months is a necessary coping strategy. First stop I think will be Western Samoa, then I'll be doing a southern wedding tour in May.

Little men that hold my toothbrush and razor from Mom, sadly one jumped off the wall and broke his leg, then he jumped again and broke his head, but they looked nice for a little bit. I would jump of that wall too it is dirty. I need to get some cleaning stuff.

Can't wait to use this board.

Lamp from Christmas tree shops that I shipped myself, and clock from Grandma & gramps it works great!

Anyone want to come over for a beer?

Camping & My New Place

2010-01-20T10:21:00.000-08:00

Sarah took me to the other side of the island this weekend to go camping with some of the other pelangis (off-islanders). I don't know why this designation is so critical but people use it all the time. It was gorgeous, but so so so hot. Even that nice looking water, HoT! I'm going to be spending a lot of time at waterfalls.

We slept on this wooden platforms with shelter which is much needed because it downpours at night quite often.

My New Place!!! Sunrise views and just last night I got a bed and all my packages so my room is starting to feel like a real room. Except I tapped plastic bags together over my mattress because it is a bit icky so I need to purchase a mattress pad so it doesn't feel like i'm sleeping on a slip n slide.

My first night in my new place = deflating aero bed. Not so comfy. Last night was better in my real bed, still not sleeping all that great in the heat. Word on the street is you get used to it.

Kitchen, big hallway on the left you see something blue? Thats the tip of the surfboard I managed to find a $40. I had no bed but I had a surfboard.

2 Full bathrooms and 3 bedrooms. Spatious with waterviews perfect for visitors ;).

Planes, Phones and Internet

2010-01-16T20:26:00.000-08:00

I just found out that it is probably cheaper to fly to Apia in Western Samoa. Then there are just little island hopper planes between the two.

Also apparently if you call me here it might be charged more than just long distance so check your rates. However you can always use skype to call me on my cell phone and that will always be cheap.

I'll be moving tomorrow to my new place and might be without internet there till I figure out how to connect.

Peace!

First Saturday in American Samoa = Water

2010-01-16T18:36:00.000-08:00

Coming out of Hibernation

2010-01-15T20:53:00.000-08:00

I get to meet other people tonight over drinks! Some fellow pelangis. So isolation over.

Tell you more about it tomorrow hopefully some pictures of this beautiful island too.

I want water

2010-01-14T20:45:00.000-08:00

I want to swim in it I want to drink it!

This 3-day weekend should bring time to adventure the island and enjoy the water. But it is sooooo hot!

I'm going to try to live in my new place without AC, I'm not sure if I'll be able to do it, but I'll try.

its whats for dinner

2010-01-13T21:03:00.000-08:00

I'm tired of fried food, this is my dinner! Yum!