National Exams

WWe are in the Samoan National Exam period where regular instruction begins to shut down in order to accommodate these exams.  It is an accepted fact that learning concludes and only review lessons are held (if school is in session).  The last month and a half of learning time is compromised.  It is a little hard for us to "wrap our heads around."

We have been very busy teaching lessons and preparing.  We had the delight of catching Sister Vidal and Sister Bunker from the area office in New Zealand.  We spent a couple of nights visiting with them and talked a lot about the progress of the schools in Samoa particularly in Reading

Some of our teachers taking our literature class.

(their specialty).  Sister Bunker is a retired BYU Hawaii ESL teacher now serving as a missionary in the area office. Sister Vidal is from Utah and has moved to New Zealand.  She was hired by the pacific area schools to train the teachers in the island on the TALL English computer program.

We just attended our ward's primary program today.  It was fantastic.  All of the children recited their parts with perfection without any script or adult help.  Of course, the music was glorious.  They sing with such enthusiasm.

It is pineapple season again and our little “plantation” has yielded another one.

We are also just about ready to pick our first papaya!

Last Term of the School Year

We are nearing the Samoan National Exams which means that the students and the teachers are all preparing for these important assessments.  All normal studies are suspended and the main focus now is on review.  We are keeping very busy with the last three weeks of our Reading in the Content Area class as well as planning for two make-up courses that we will teach right up to the day we leave for our quick visit home.  November will bring us exciting things such as Sauniatu day, prize giving, and of course Janice's birthday (the big 65!).  We also hope to graduate the first two of many of our teachers with their ITEP certificates.  They are just a few weeks away from doing so.  We are so excited and very proud of them!

Janice and Joe in the kitchen

West end of the island

We have had a lot of grandchildren have birthdays these past two months.   We are amazed with how fast they are growing up!

Staff Retreat and White Sunday Holiday

Last week both the High School and the Middle School held their staff retreats.  We attended both of them.  The high school staff started the day with a 6:00 AM temple session.  We joined them and then went over to the school for breakfast and a quick trip to a retirement home.  There are not many of them here.  This one is run by the Catholic Church (The Little Sisters of the Poor).  It was good to put a place to the collection boxes we have seen around town.  Most people here really do feel sorry for those who are put into the retirement center because there is a strong sense of obligation to take care of one's parents here even to those who have left overseas to work.  They do not have a very good social security system here (they only get about $50 US every month) so the children feel a strong obligation to take care of them.  The school teachers donated food, laundry detergent, soap and toiletries.  We assembled at one end of a large fale whilst the retirees were arranged at the other end.  There were formal speeches in Samoan announcing our gifts and greetings and of course singing and dancing.  It was so tender when the residents in wheelchairs gracefully motioned with their arms in time with the music as their contribution to the siva celebration.  We spent the remainder of the day swimming in the sporting event olympic pool and then into the night with entertainment and dancing before being served a huge buffet at 10:00 PM.

Lloyd's with one of their students - Julius Pao at Vavau Beach

The next day we got up and attended a breakfast with the middle school and then spent the rest of the day on the south side of the Island on our favorite beach at Vavau.  We ended that day with a huge buffet at a resort and a fiafia show there.  We were glad it was our week off so we could physically rest for a few days before we had to start teaching again. 

Sunset on the South Side of the Island

Beautiful Tafatafa Beach

Janice at Vavau

This past week found us "back in the saddle" teaching every night and doing classroom observations. We finished the week with a quick trip to Sauniatu in the rain and touched base with our dear teacher friends there.
We are satisfactorily healthy (although, I have a nagging cough that we can't seem to figure out).  We are seeing the fruits of our labors and feel good to be making a difference here.  It really sweetens the deal when we spend every chance we get on a beautiful beach!  We love all of you and think of you often.

When it rains at Sauniatu, waterfalls cascade down the mountains