This week at school I have been having much less issues with management as the students are getting used to their schedule and how my classroom runs. It was nice to finally see some learning being done, even if it was still a major adjustment to realize how behind the students are. Thursday once again became our fun group dinner rout night as we met again at Rubble’s to chat about our weeks, and celebrate that the weekend was almost upon us. Friday was a extremely interesting day at school because I got laid. Oops sorry, I mean leid, as we had an assembly to introduce the teachers and welcome the new teachers. Along with introducing all the teachers and staff, there was some serious class competitions going on seeing which class could do the best cheers (always better than kids in the US). However Leone High School has a very interesting way of inducting their new teachers. I will now relate how our vice principle, Dorian aka “Viper” began the inducting:
(All 900 students are assembled in the open air gym sitting on the floor by class. Dorian stands in front of the student with the microphone)
“Alright, now is the time were we induct our new teachers. So what we are going to do is we are going to play some jams, and the new teachers have to come up and just let loose and get down!”
We all look at each other with raised eyebrows as some Samoan R&B starts blaring out of the speakers and our names are called.
“Come on Thanh, Raj, Kate, Ben, Julia! It is tradition!” Dorian yells.
So with resigned sighs and apprehensive Why-the-hell-not-let’s-just-embrace-it looks we head front and center and start getting funky. The kids are cheering and laughing and having a great time, and we all get really into and just get down. Dorian soon pushes us out further in front one at a time for our solos, and soon the seniors are running up and dancing with us (or should I say up on us?) which causes us to laugh hysterically as the kids are going absolutely crazy cheering and laughing at our palagi ways. Ben goes 100% crazy and looks like he is having a seizure, and his football boys love it!
After all the dancing we are all laughing and surprisingly not embarrassed. While a few years ago that might have been might have been my worst nightmare, now it just made me feel like I was really a part of the school and officially let loose. As Raj and I walked back to our end of the campus at the end of the assembly every few seconds we heard “nice dancing!” and could tell the kids loved it, even if our dancing was more funny than actually good.
Now all jived up on school spirit, Thanh, Julia and I headed into town to hit up the library for some decent internet and to return and checkout new books. After some sweet internet time, I was finished and as I was waiting for the others I decided to sit in a fale by the harbor and read the book I just checked out. Some things are so relaxing.
After grabbing some delish Chinese food we headed to the football game in Tafuna where we were facing last year’s champions (and cheaters as their coach legitimately paid the ref to make calls in favor of their team. Like I said corruption here is a little crazy) Faga’itua. Sadly both our JV and varsity lost pretty miserably, but we are hoping next week against Tafuna will be better. Even with our team losing, and the teams not having the best technique you can’t help but marvel at some of the pure talent that the kids have.
After the game we said goodbye to other WT folk we had met up with at the game, and headed back home to Leone with Julia and Rosemary to do some star gazing at sliding rock. It was a beautiful clear night, and we carried two foam mattresses all the way to the beach and laid down to watch the stars.
You seriously can’t imagine how awesome the stargazing is here! It was a new moon the night before so it was dark, and the milky way stretched out brightly across the whole sky. There were more stars than I have ever seen before, and in the course of the few hours that we were there we say easily 20 big shooting stars while we talked about life and such. Incredible.
Saturday brought an morning of sleeping, reading and relaxing that was much needed after a busy week, but at around 2:30 we headed out to our school Staff party at my department head’s house. Ben was sick, so he couldn’t come which was a bummer, but Thanh and I made our way over, but ended up stopping in the home ec department to help make some of the food. After some helping we made it to the party and hung out with staff and teachers just chatting and the like. Dinner was some traditional Samoan umu as well as some other delicious dishes and you cannot believe how high people stack their plates! We tucked in and soon were full and happy. After the food the dancing started, and for the second time in as many days we were made to dance again in front of everyone, but we are getting pretty used to that. The party was a fun time, and definitely laid back to the point of my department head saying.
“Kate, I am ordering you as your department head to drink some rum!”
Which was nice as he knew that was my drink and got some special. After the festivities died down a bit we headed into town to meet up with our other WT friends who were having dinner. Long story short (too late…) about 17 of us ended up down at Malio Mai dancing the night away, some having a little more fun than others…
Today at our house we buckled down and got to work, and I actually have planned the next two weeks for my classes which is insane considering how much I usually procrastinate. That leads me to the present moment where I am in Kelly and Raj’s house typing this and using their internet, finally ready for the next week.
Note*** It is now Wednesday, and I finally have internet again to post.***
I would kill for some internet... Salu come home!
Peace.
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