A tradition on-island is to see your friends off at the airport when they are making their final departure. The flight leaves late and it's always a school night, Sunday and Thursday (thanks Hawaiian!), so this takes commitment and love (esp from us as we live on the opposite side of the island). I have done this a few times but I'm rather choosy with my airport goodbyes.
Aaron and Naomi who fell from the sky around the same time I did were leaving this past Thursday and I really wanted to see them off at the airport. Matt opened his house for a BBQ with the plan to "do the airport" afterward. Unfortunately, there was something wrong with the plane (I've yet to find out what) and the flight was delayed until the next morning. Having to work, there was no way to make it all the way out there the next morning. I was convinced that this was some crazy plot development out of LOST where Naomi and Aaron wouldn't be able to make it off the island. And eventually, by extension neither would we. Which leads me to my next blog entry....Getting Lost. (Naomi and Aaron and there kitty did make it off the island afterall).
Aaron decided he wanted to do politician handshake series with everyone.
This month will see a lot of palagi losses. As you know, Markus and I are heading back to Portland, Aaron (of the AG's office) and Naomi (librarian extraordinaire) and Barbara (EPA) will all be gone by the end of this month.
We had some farewell festivities to commemorate. Lisa and Nate organized a great Palagi Olympics/Sloshball game and lots of people showed up for the fun. Markus and I were sloshball captains and, of course, my team won. Which is good because I almost never keep score on these games and have to depend on the more competitive on the league to know if we are up or down. I believe in delegation. Thanks Doug and Amity. I was on Naomi's team for Palagi Olympics and we came out the overall winners on that one, as well. It's nice to go out on top! Afterward we ate well at Samoan Steve's house. Naomi up to bat (no Naomi that's not how you play sloshball!)
This island off shore from Lanomanu was an old Leper colony.
One of the best known beaches in Western Samoa is Lalomanu. It is also one of the most densely built up beaches with cheap beach fale accomodations. If you want a beach front accomodation for a mere forty tala and don't mind sleeping on woven mats and fighting off mosquitos-this is the place for you!
Luckily, our resort Seabreeze was just a short drive down the road. I think the crowded accomodations is just a breeding ground for dengue. Not that I can prove this but it just stands to reason. Plus I enjoy sleeping off the floor. But I'm old what can I say.
The beach and reef here offers some of the best snorkeling and swimming around. It does come with Samoa's own form of adventure with ava's (rip tides) and strong currents, but with fins on, strong swimming skills and knowing where the avas are you can have a great time.
I actually saw my first turtle in Samoa there. Yes I'm leaving after two years and this is my first turtle. I have been extremely unlucky in this department-other people see turtles all the time. It was a nice parting gift.
If you are keeping up on my blogs you might recall my last trip to Western Samoa (which was literally supposed to be my LAST trip). Weeeellll....have I mentioned how much I love Western Samoa and the fact that I didn't get any market shopping done last time and that, combined, with a three day weekend (thanks Dr. King!), and Markus being back on island, all added up in my mind to another trip to Western.
I got this awesome shot of Apia from the plane when we were leaving. Yup that's it. The grand metropolis of Apia. That's exactly what it feels like for us, too.
Aerial shot of part of the hillside in Upolu.
We stayed again at Manumea in Apia. I highly recommend this place. We got to watch some really bad tv to remind us not to miss TV. The highlight of which is the following expert from what appeared to be a lip sink music video.
We had our usual amazing pizza at Giordanos pizza, where Markus had to sit with his back to this painting as it creeps him out. The next two nights we stayed at Seabreeze. I've blogged about this place before, but I can't say enough good things about this place. The food was great again in their wonderful cliff hugging restaurant.
The little fales have giant hammocks in them for lazing, as below.
Driving on Upolu is one of my favorite things in the world. The roads are awesome (esp compaired to American Samoa), the views are incredible, there are no cops (I'll leave this to your imagination what this implies), and there are NO cars on the road, esp on Sundays. American Samoa is literally overrun with cars and the citizens are not better off for it.
A Few Things I'm Going to Miss (some of you will have no idea what I'm referring to herein-that's ok)
Zero Epidural Rate
Women who can push out a baby in one or two pushes and who think a long push is over 15 minutes.
Women who want to walk and move around in labor and are surrounded by female family members that think birth is natural and not scary.
Fast labors
Women who want to go home in early labor
Women who labor at home until things are really cooking.
The hard working and under appreciated nurses (somethings are the same no matter WHERE you are)
An understanding of what a midwife is WITHOUT having to explain it.
A preference for midwives as birth attendent
A Few Things I'm Not Going to Miss:
Putting my foot into my shoe in the middle of night to feel a cockroach (a large one) squirming around in there. (Insert high pitched scream and shoe flying across the room).
Sleeping in the linen closet on a gurney.
Routine episiotomies (by OTHER practitioners)
Latex gloves that are moldy and disintegrate as soon as I put them on.
Lack of systematic health care
Going to the "delivery room"
Lack of adherence to Universal Precautions (gross and scary)
Chromic suture as the only suture
The lack of a neonatal crash team (hmmm I think there is a name for this but I've been without one for so long...it's like some sweet memory) Good thing bad babies are so few and far between.
Lack of urgency when a crash csection is called.
20 minute Decision to Incision Protocol
Women who refuse induction when they are REALLY, REALLY, REALLY overdue.
Babies going straight to the nursery because there is not enough staff to monitor babies during transition.
My time here in American Samoa is rolling to a close. I have two more months left on island. Though there are many great things about being here, I've decided not to renew my contract. I had hoped we would be able to move to Hawaii, but Markus found a good job at his alma matter, Portland State University, writing programs for researchers. So we will be returning to our old 'hood. It will be great to be close to family and friends in old Puddletown. Let's just hope I can adapt to the rain and cold.
Yes, I've been here long enough for the holidays to repeat themselves. Though Markus was off-island there was plenty of activities to keep me busy.
The now traditional Christmas Eve Gift Exchange at Naomi and Aaron's. I tried hard to get me the ukulele or the American Samoa flag (a few of this years "hot" items). Sadly, I came away empty handed after a cut throat round of ro0-sham-bo. As a wonderful surprise Dr. Dave came through for me and gave me my very own ukulele!
A few highlights:
Aaron, sporting his awesome Xmas shirt getting just what he asked for:
The much sought after ukulele
Einstein getting into the fun with Ben: Kelly gets a shoot a Parrot game:
Matt super stoked on his ping pong equipment.
Lisa and the much sought after American Samoa flag.
Maria super excited by her awesome tie. Naomi gets a calus cutter from Ned. Awesome.Ned gets this hat as Karmic payback. View from Naomi and Aaron's bungalow:View from Brian and Nadia's house on Christmas day, where we had a nice feast. And every Xmas post should end with a cute baby picture (Ona ready for walk):
How I fell from the sky and landed in American Samoa. A post of a National Health Service Corp. Nurse-Midwife working at LBJ Tropical Medical Center, helping Samoan women bring their babies into the beautiful island life.
A tradition on-island is to see your friends off at the airport when they are making their final departure. The flight leaves late and it's always a school night, Sunday and Thursday (thanks Hawaiian!), so this takes commitment and love (esp from us as we live on the opposite side of the island). I have done this a few times but I'm rather choosy with my airport goodbyes.
Aaron and Naomi who fell from the sky around the same time I did were leaving this past Thursday and I really wanted to see them off at the airport. Matt opened his house for a BBQ with the plan to "do the airport" afterward. Unfortunately, there was something wrong with the plane (I've yet to find out what) and the flight was delayed until the next morning. Having to work, there was no way to make it all the way out there the next morning. I was convinced that this was some crazy plot development out of LOST where Naomi and Aaron wouldn't be able to make it off the island. And eventually, by extension neither would we. Which leads me to my next blog entry....Getting Lost. (Naomi and Aaron and there kitty did make it off the island afterall).
Aaron decided he wanted to do politician handshake series with everyone.
