project out in the tsunami affected area. As with the first go round
we began the program with a short talk about the importance of
conserving water and then helped the kids paint a water conservation
themed mural on the water tank. We added a new dimension to the
program this time around due to the larger than expected participation
level of early elementary kids at the first one. Activities were held
for the young kids with games focused on water and conservation.
We had an excellent turnout for volunteers for round two. Twenty
Peace Corps Volunteers showed up to participate, more than twice the
original number. Transportation was touch and go up until the day
before, no surprise. Of course my cool demeanor slowly eroded away as
the clock began ticking down, though I think I did a good job
minimizing the damage produced on my war path. By Saturday morning we
had a large flatbed truck and a Toyota Hilux pick-up, both provided by
the Samoa Red Cross. Naturally we left late on Saturday and arrived
around an hour after the stated start time which I suppose is about
normal. I have come to the conclusion that when it comes to morning
departures I could say six, seven or eight and we still wouldn't leave
till nine or nine thirty. This is not anecdotal evidence, it's a
fact, trust me. But we did get going and that is something to be
happy about, 12 PCVs in the large flat bed, including me, and 8 in the
pick-up.
Though the pick-up was a double cab, everyone except for one PCV and
the driver, sat in the bed. Now, I am all for being polite, but if
there is a seat open in the cab of a truck in a country that has roads
full of pot holes, speed bumps (yes, massive speed bumps everywhere),
blind corners and the more than occasional taxi or bus driver who I
can only guess are taping their audition for NASCAR, you can be damn
sure I will gladly take the seat in the cab if no one else will. I'm
not judging, maybe they like the rush or are big fans of skin cancer,
to each their own. What did get me was on the way back, they put the
paint supplies in the cab, on the seat, and it leaked, and I had to
clean it up on Monday. If you want that roller-coaster rush when the
truck hits a pot hole or speed bump and nearly sends you flying from
the bed, great! But put the god damn paint in the bed too,
seriously! Anyway, I digress.
The turnout by the kids was great as well. We anticipated the PCV
turnout correctly and decided to go to two villages this time around,
Saleaaumua and Lotopue. All in all we had a little over 20 kids at
Salaaumua and about 90 at Lotopue. Lotopue had a huge turnout because
I had the primary school principal's phone number from when we went
out after the tsunami and called her to organize the day for their
village. She evidently told all the kids at her school. Luckily we
brought 12 of the 20 PCVs there just in case. Good thing! After a
little uneasy start as we quickly decided what to do with the ocean of
kids before us we split them up into two groups, 1 thru 3 and then
older kids. Some of the volunteers took the grades 1 thru 3 to the
school and had activities with them there and the rest of us took the
older kids to go paint. It worked out really well. Painting the
tanks wasn't what you would call seamless but with Chris and I
shuttling paint back and forth between two water tanks about 200 yards
apart it went as smooth as we could have hoped for. The tanks looked
terrific by the time we were finished and were plastered with phases
encouraging water conservation.
I apologize for not having picture to accompany this post. There were
at least a half dozen cameras floating around and one of my pet peeves
is the over use of cameras at one event. For god's sake people, they
are digital. Assign one camera and share the freaking files! When we
took the group picture I think there were at least six cameras. Now
keep in mind, the Samoan kids, and even the adults, usually love the
picture taking at events like these. But by the time we were past
camera 3 or 4 in the same pose, even the most enthusiastic seemed to
convey the body language that matched the thoughts in my head,
"Really? Really? Another camera?" And I know, you might be saying,
well, you don't have the pictures, but I will be getting them we
almost all have computers and there is a shared hard drive in the
office. Please don't doubt my logic, it's undeniable.
When I get my hands on those files (and I will), I will be sure to
throw them on to my Picasa Web Album for your viewing pleasure.
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