Seven Weeks Away

This week I finally read through the field guide that WorldTeach sent me a month ago.  I’ll write a post later on about what I learned about the American Samoa education system, but for now here are some fun things I found out. 

• If I get cut by any of the coral reef I should get it check out by a doctor because coral can grow under skin! 
• There are 8 inch centipedes!!  You know I don’t do bugs.  After I read that the centipedes have an awful, but non-poisonous bite I decided to Google for what it looked like.  Bad idea.  Don’t do it.
• Tina (my nickname for my family) translates to “mother” in Samoan and it is the name used for older women.
• Samoa has a third gender.  Fa’afafine is a person who is physically male, but who takes on the demeanor, style, and work of a woman.

I also got more information about the trip.  I found out some stats about the group of volunteers going.  I think it is going to make for an interesting trip.

• There are 25 volunteers
• 17 females and 8 males (I picked yet another career with only a few males)
• 3 married couples
• 2 people are from the UK
• 13 states are represented
• 1 person who has volunteered with WorldTeach twice before
• An age range of 21-73 years old
• The average age is 30

I am glad there are older volunteers going who have experience teaching.  I think they will be a great resource.  I also received my tentative flight information.  I must be at Los Angeles International Airport at 8:00AM on July 16.  I will probably fly out of Richmond on July 15.

I guess I am now in the preparation stage.  It is beginning to set in that I am leaving in 7 short weeks.  I have an apartment to pack up and store, a test to study for and take, and numerous people that I want to spend time with.

Thankfully, the only vaccine that I need a booster for is Typhoid Fever.  I started in a few days ago and like all the oral travel medicines I’ve taken the side effects are hitting hard.  A few more days and I will have completed the medicine.

The Next Chapter

I’ve decided to start a blog as a way to keep my family and friends up to date on what I am doing for the next 13 months.  You will have to bear with me as I learn the blogging world.  I’ve never kept a journal or diary so who knows how these posts will turn out.

For those who do not know I will be volunteering with WorldTeach and be moving to American Samoa in July.  WorldTeach is a non-profit and non-governmental organization that partners with developing countries to provide volunteer teachers.  If you would like to know more about WorldTeach their website is www.worldteach.org

I do not have many details about what I will be doing while in American Samoa.  Some of what I do know is…

• I will be in Samoa from Mid-July 2012 until June 2013
• I will either live with a host family or in an apartment with other volunteers
• I will be assigned a class or classes in K-12
• The most likely subjects that I will teach will be English, math, science, or business
• American Samoans speak English in varying degrees, but there is a local language (Samoan) I must learn
• I must take and pass the Praxis 1 test by June 15.
• Ankle length skirts and short sleeve shirts are the dress code.  No bathing suits on the beach, not even one-pieces
• Internet access is not always reliable

I’m guessing one of your first questions when you started reading this was “Where in the world is American Samoa?”  It’s in the South Pacific about half way between Hawaii and New Zealand.  That’s approximately 7,000 miles away from Virginia.  The country is made of up five volcanic islands and is about the size of Rhode Island.  Samoa is an American territory and housed a Navy based until the 1950’s.

Another question you are probably asking yourself is, “Didn’t Kristina just graduate with a degree in social work?”  Yes, I did.  You are not losing your mind.  I was even accepted into VCU’s Advanced Standing masters program, but after many weeks (maybe even months) of prayers and tears I came to the conclusion that I needed to see if social work is really what I want to do for the next 40 years or if there is another career that I would be better at. 

Until I leave most postings will be about interesting facts I learn while reading about the country, possible break downs and moments of fear, and prayer needs. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.