Friday, December 11, 2009

More Tattoo Info

I have some additional information on the Suluape family.  Sara (from group 79) sent me some information to clarify the specifics.  The Suluape family has three guys that do the traditional tattooing.  The father and the son as mentioned in my previous post and an additional son that does it as well.  The father's (or Senior's) name is Petelo and he also has a matai title (chief title) of Su'a. The son I didn't know about is Peter and like his father he does the tattooing in the village.  The second son who I referred to as Junior is named Paulo and was named for Petelo Senior's dead brother who was also a well known tattoo artist. So just to clarify, the son that is nicknamed Junior is the one who doesn't have the same name as his father.  Just want to say thanks to Sara for the clarification.

The healing is going well so far and I am just trying to stay on top of cleaning, moisturizing and massaging it.  I've been going down to the Peace Corps office two times a day to take a hot shower which of course is good for the tattoo and has the added perk of not being a cold shower. (I hate cold showers!) Sometimes it's hard to decide which was the greater sacrifice in joining the Peace Corps, giving up hot showers or living away from my girlfriend for 2 years.  Whitney, I am kidding!  (And there goes my chances for getting some when I get back)

I am officially under a week until I depart for vacation.  I am extremely excited and the last few months have really flown by so it seems like it's on top of me all of the sudden.  I am working hard to get things wrapped up at work before I take off but we'll see what happens.  There always seem to be things coming up that get in the way.  We still have to finalize the planning for the first 6 months of 2010, though we have made progress.  I have 5 more wprk days to try and push that to completion before I get on the plane.  Wish me luck because I am going to need it.


 
Joey Brown
Peace Corps Volunteer
Samoa Red Cross
www.redcross.org.ws
Joey.PCV@gmail.com
+685 726 2121

1 comments:

samoabob said...

I was a volunteer in Samoa way back in 1980-82. You're a braver man than me getting the full body tattoo. I wimped out with just one around my wrist and one on my thigh. The reason I'm writing is that my tattoos were done by Petelo (senior) too. At least I assume it's the same guy. Glad to know he's still at it and has maintained his good reputation.