Our first large school activity in March was Senior Night. Senior Night is essentially the same as senior prom is in the States, but there are a few important differences. First, it's a big deal. It's a very big deal. It is best to be thought of as a mix between a senior prom, a fashion show and a family reunion. Second, having a date is very important. Unlike in the States where you may be able to get away with the old "I'm just going with some friends," here, the first 90 minutes of the event are spent announcing every senior who is present and their guest. The two walk onto the stage from opposite sides, meet in the middle, give each other flowers or ulas (Samoan leis) and then walk to the front of the stage to have their photo taken. The prom is also like a fashion show because during this presentation time, everyone sees what everyone else is wearing. Many times it is popular for the couple to have extremely matching coordinated outfits. Like this:
It was great. Then, Senior Night is also somewhat like a family reunion because 1) most everyone is already related anyway and 2) many of the parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents come to watch the kids at the dance. It makes things sort of awkward when the kids start dancing, but that's just how it is.
Overall, the evening was very nice. I saw a bunch of my students there and really enjoyed hanging out with some of them outside of the classroom. Here is a picture of how the gym was decorated for the occasion:
My next activity in early April was the Easter egg hunt! The posters advertising for the hunt claimed that there were 25,000 eggs in total... and I absolutely believe it. Steve and I headed over to the hunt around 9 am on the Friday before Easter. We helped with a bunch of the games and also aided the other volunteers "hiding" the eggs in this huge park (Lions Park) in Tafuna. All of the children were separated in different age groups and then mayhem ensued when they were let loose to collect as many eggs as possible. Surprisingly, the whole hunt went well. I didn't see any tears or injuries - always a good thing.
All the Easter eggs you could ever want
Easter egg hunt in beautiful Tafuna
Let the games begin!Then the month or so since the hunt occurred has been filled with a multitude of other events. One of the most notable experiences was a hike to a secret cove on the west side of the island. One Saturday, my friends Molly, Christin and I went venturing out to explore the island. Christin picked me up from my house, drove 10 minutes down a series of lefts and rights until she finally parked her car in front of a random house. I gave her a quizzical look, to which she laughed and replied, "It's okay. I know them." We then exited the car and I remained baffled. Although she and Molly assured me that we were in the right place, all I saw was a house surrounded by banana trees. Then, the two of them push through two large banana trees and begin the trek to the beach. I was shocked that this "path" was going to lead anywhere, but after a 15 minute walk down some hills, through a large meadow, we did emerge at a beautiful secluded beach. The water was nice, and the coral did not cover the whole beach so there was good swimming. We tanned, chatted and relaxed for a few hours before heading back home. Just another day in American Samoa.
Larson's Cove
And finally, I have a treat for all of you. In American Samoa, it is often common to see two people who are dating or married wearing clothes made from the same fabric. Not only is it common, it is also very amusing. So for hilarity's sake and also when in American Samoa...
Thanks for reading! Have a great week!
