hats I am wearing are starting to pile up. Now, I'm not really
complaining but just venting a bit as I adjust to the increase in
workload. Of course this is temporary. We have the WASHE program
continuing for the next two weeks which was keeping me adequately
busy, I do have to still try and keep the website updated and respond
to inquiries, I have been asked to try and develop a database for
volunteer registration and tracking (which my old bro, Dave is being
awesome and helping me with) and we have begun developing a plan of
action for the next year which is taking the current plan and
developing more specifics and adjusting it for special considerations
in the tsunami affected population. Then throw on the duties as
president of Avanoa Tutusa (the Peace Corps Samoa NGO) and helping the
activities coordinator at the gym I have an overflowing plate!
As I said though, this is temporary. As the WASHE program winds down
a lot of time will be freed up, temporarily of course. Also, as far
as the website goes I need to start working with a volunteer on that
to teach them how to update it and maintain the site. Once they have
gotten a handle on it I am hoping to drop that responsibility all
together. I am thinking early next year some time. The planning we
are doing right now will definitely help to prevent an overflow like
this as well. We have started strong and over the next few weeks we
will be addressing all aspects of the health section's work and have a
clear picture of responsibilities and the direction. It is going to
be great.
We had our meeting today to try and finalize the Avanoa Tutusa project
coming up on Friday. Avanoa Tutusa, the Peace Corps Samoa NGO, is
going to be going out into the affected areas to do a water tank
painting project. The goal of the project is to promote water
conservation in the villages. This has been identified as a very
important public awareness topic due to the reliance of these people
on water delivered in a truck and stored in tanks. We are planning
the project in the village of Satitoa. There is a large group of
families living around a 5000L water tank inland. We are planning to
go out to this area, give the high school students a short lesson on
water conservation and then work with them to paint water conservation
themes on the water tank. if the program works well and the youth
respond positively then we may do the program in other villages in the
near future.
Besides that, there is not much going on. My hair is starting to get
ridiculously long, I have to admit I can't remember when my last
haircut was. I wanted to get it cut this week/weekend but due to the
combination of my long work hours and the inconvenient hours of the
barbershops here I have had no luck thus far. I am thinking maybe
this Saturday. It's got to happen soon, that's for sure.
We are going to be having Thanksgiving again this year. The Charge de
Affairs, Robin Jager, from the US embassy is going to host
Thanksgiving again this year which is awesome. She is really nice to
do that for all us home sick Americans. There will be turkey,
stuffing and all the other good stuff you would expect from
Thanksgiving. Now I just have to figure out what I am going to bring.
(It's pot luck style, with some of the key foods provided, like
turkey of course)
The countdown continues as I am now officially under a month until I
return home. I am thinking about leaving my laptop and credit card
here so I have the extra incentive to come back! It will be tough
coming back, but I have no doubt I will. I didn't wait through that
fantastically crappy situation earlier in the year just to bail when I
actually have a chance to make a difference.
Sorry for the lack of posts this week but I hope the description of my
work load helps to explain why (and fosters feelings of generosity for
all those back home in the form of free meals and drinks! I like
Chili's, authentic mexican food, italian food, hot wings, tequila and
dark beer just incase you were wondering).
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