Miss and Dont Miss

As most of you know dad has been here for the last 2 weeks. I will post pictures and an update of that when I have more time online, but for now i have some fun stuff instead...

Since I have been in this country I have kept an ongoing list of what I will and will not miss about both the States and Samoa. It consists of 2 large pieces of paper that I add to whenever something makes me feel sentimental or makes me frustrated. I started it as a reminder to myself that no place is perfect and also as sort of a way to help me transition back into the states. If I ever over reminisce about one place or the other I can just look at the list and remember that there where hardships as well as good stuff.

Just as a fun thing for you all back home, I thought it would be fun to post that list. However, because I don’t really want to offend anyone from Samoa or the states, I am just posting the things I will miss from both countries. The things I will not miss are better left un-published on a public website. :) The items below are listed in no particular order…

Miss About the States:
*Skim Milk
*A variety of cereals (although with the new store, the food items are easier to come by now)
*Good available medicines
*Friends weddings and friends having babies
*Margaritas with Richenda
*Actually making some $
*Cold mornings
*Hot water
*Hot showers
*Shower heads
*Being able to exercise
*Coffee breaks with Christi
*Washing machines and DRYERS
*Bubble baths
*Driving = “freedom”
*Trail biking with Brian and Mike
*Shorts
*24 hour Convenience stores
*Nights at El T with Mary and Bruce
*Nice, non-faded clothes
*Friends
*Random evenings with Miranda
*99c menus
*Fishing, snowboarding, hiking, backpacking
*Being inconspicuous (no bye byes)
*Being able to call whomever whenever
*Less tropical diseases
*Mexican food… really any food with lots of spices
*Food can be left out and there are no ants (meaning everything doesn’t have to go into the fridge)
*Real towels
*My parents, Bryan and family
*Lunch breaks with Jenny and Laura
*Toasters
*Bible Study
*Community at church
*The drive out to and the visit with Matt and Grace
*My cat and the family dogs
*Grandma Steyh, Grandpa Lloyd and Aunt Audrey

Will Miss About Samoa:
*Crazy loud rain
*Other Peace Corps volunteers
*How friendly most Samoans are
*Hearing the waves on the reef from my house
*The scenery
*Lunch at Lusia’s Lagoon
*Beautiful and VERY eventful bus rides
*No emphasis on time
*Frangipani (pua) trees
*Dog - ie. Timbo (pronounced Team-bow)
*The faletua (pastor’s wives I live with) and some faifeau (pastors)
*My students and other teachers
*The ava circle on the balcony of the 3rd floor lounge
*My bus driver
*Cocoa Samoa
*Traveling on the boat chatting with other volunteers
*Random t-shirts. Ex. NOS – Nitrous Oxide System, or ones from your hometown on some random person
*My view (My village is the best)
*Peace Corps Friendships: The 4 T’s and Girls Nights
*The bike ride down my village
*The dog that howls along to the 5:30am bell every morning
*Fa’apeacecorps (Peace Corps way)
*Rain louder than you can think
*The waterfalls, ocean and rainforests
*Student hugs
*My superkako (guy that helps the bus driver)
*Looking at pictures with students
*Laupama, Meaalofa, Paepae, Lesa and Seti
*Smokey fields Sunday mornings from the umu’s (earthen ovens)
*Zone bus rides
*Samoa’s Own Chilli Sauce (yes, spelled with 2 l’s)
*Breadfruit and palosami (food)
*Hibiscus flowers
*Random things that only happen in Samoa (TIS – This Is Samoa)
*Visiting other volunteers in their village
*Heading into Apia for a night after spending a month in the village
*Trips to Salelologa (main town on Savai'i)
*Throwing Fiafia’s for the new group
*Weeding with my neighbors and students
*Late nights with some of the volunteers
*Teasing Meaalofa and her teasing right back (She’s really the Samoan equivalent of me)