The Bittersweet Island Goodbye Blog Top Five: Part Four

Good afternoon, loyal blog readers...I'm ready to write another entry...One of the last ones...So, lets enjoy these final few blog entries...Although, on the inside, I'm gettin' kinda sick of writin' 'em ;-)

I just have a few things to write about (it's actually been a very interesting few days) and then we have our farewell list...Lets begin...

The pictures today are from the baccalaureate...It's a traditional graduation ceremony that Samoans participate in...Even though I've heard of a baccalaureate, we don't really do this in the states...Especially in the public schools...Essentially, it's when all the high school graduates gather for a communal Sunday Mass...Since all Samoans are basically Christians, there are no problems with this practice on island...In the states, I don't think this could ever happen...However, how cool would it be if high schoolers and their families in the states were open-minded enough to go to a different church mass every year?...I mean, maybe one year they go to a Universalist church and the next year they go to a Jewish synagogue...And a Baptist the next and a Buddhist temple the next year after that...Hmm, in a perfect world, huh?...Well, the kids looked beautiful on this day...And their singing in the church and the pastor's sermon about the difference between knowledge and wisdom was heavenly...

I've been hella excited to come home...But there's been two things that have come up in the last week, as I'm hectically runnin' around packing and cleaning and gettin' stuff ready for graduation, that have made me almost change my mind about leaving so early...I depart in six days...Maybe I should stay a lil' longer?...

Two Reasons Why It Has Crossed My Mind to Stay A Little Longer in Samoa:

1. The other day Sammy and I were eatin' breakfast together and he said something that made my heart sink...He asked, "Who picked that day for you to leave?...Why is it so early?...Can you change the date?"...I was devastated when he asked these questions...We continued talking and I eventually concluded that he wants me to stay until he leaves for off-island...I've been so thrilled to leave this island so I can get back home to my friends and family that I haven't completely thought about how my leaving will change the boys' lives...Especially Sammy's...Y'all know that Sammy's entire family, besides his lil' bro, have been in California for two years...Since Sammy has lived with me for a year now, it’s going to be a significant adjustment for him once I leave next Thursday…He’s gonna have to do everything for himself again…I think he’s terrified of this change…And I’m scared, too…I know Sammy (I won’t go into details here) but he needs someone there to motivate him and keep him organized…I just really hope his family gets him that ticket to go off-island and go to college…But without a visa or a sponsor (he’s not a U.S. citizen), it’s going to be very difficult…I wish I could stay and help him with it…To be honest, I think all of us have some fear…Me, Gene, Sammy, and Tim are all a tad frightened of what our lives will be like without eachother…Which makes me want to stay here for longer…But all good things must come to an end…And Sammy, and the boys, understand my happiness is at stake…I NEED to come home…So, this Thursday I will definetly be boarding that plane…

2. Or maybe I will stay a little longer on this rock…I mean, I finally met a guy here!…Yup, it’s that time for Samoa Joe to talk about his inappropriate, R-rated love life…In brief, I’ve gotten some action with this one guy twice this week…His name is Billi (pronounced bee-lee) and he’s probably the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever been with…His body is wonderful and his Samoan eyes are dreamy, and he’s very straight acting…I woulda neva known he was into me, but my friend Jon hooked us up…What’s so amazing is that he actually says he’s gay…And he says he wants to be gay forever…A Samoan guy who wants to be gay?...He’s not in the closet?!...Or married?!...And he isn’t into fafafines!?...Woah!...It’s a miracle!…Praise Jesus!…I could actually have a hot boyfriend here…Should I stay in American Samoa?...Are my friends and family back home more important than a chance at love?...Or is Billi totally worth staying for?...Well, for now, Billi is just gonna have to wait…Sorry Billi…Although you’re hotter than a Chick-O-Stick, I really wanna go home…But, sole, it was good while it lasted...

Top Five Samoa Joe Pros of American Samoa:

5. The Small Town-esque Vibe = There is no way that I’ll ever feel legendary in Wisconsin…Here, everyone knows my name…I’ve been in the newspaper about 6-8 times…In two years!...The quaint, safe feel of this island is addictive…And so is the fame…Whether it was directing the first high school musical or getting my blood pressure at a local medical center, everything seems big and significant in a tiny, rural area…

4. The Boys = While I am delighted to finally focus on myself when I get home (because I think I’ve put the boys and my students before me for way too long), I will still miss them terribly…They’ve been fun and inspirational…And they’ve given me a family I will never experience again…Plus, what palagi can say they created a Samoan family in Samoa?...Not very many…It’s been an extraordinary experience…

3. The Scenery = The beautiful beaches and lovely mountains have dazzled me for two years now…And I am still astounded by the island’s majesty and magnificence…I will never forget looking out my front windows and gazing at the ancient, mighty green mountains…Heck, I’ll even miss the chickens and roosters outside my window!...I lived on a tropical island paradise…Lucky me!...

2. The Laziness = Yeah, this one was on my list of the cons of American Samoa…So why is it a pro, as well?...Because sometimes life should be about relaxing and enjoying life to the fullest…Working is not life, and Samoans live this theory…Family and nature and enjoying life is fundamental…The hectic life of the states is creeping up on me…My life will be busy and fast soon…And I’m dreading it…No more lazy, sunny afternoons…No more sleepy, calm nights…Highways and elevators and deadlines here I come…
1. The Love for Performance = The singing and dancing on this South Pacific island has been profound to me…The culture of performance has been powerful because it not only entertained and amazed me, but also taught me how to become a better teacher…You see, I plan to bring the Samoans’ adoration for art, performance, and creativity into my classroom…The imagination and using the body to express creative thought will be included in all of my teaching activities…Even the lesson plans on grammar…My philosophy of teaching has become stronger since being on this island…Plus, who doesn’t love a great song and dance?...I’ll never forget the songs and dances my students have blessed me with…

Okay, I think we will have one more Bittersweet Island Goodbye Blog Top Five…I was thinkin’ the final list could be the ways in which I’ve grown since moving to American Samoa…If some of you have been reading since the beginning, have you noticed any changes in me?...How have I become a better person since coming to Samoa?...How has my personality or beliefs changed?...Have I become more confident in anything?...What have I learned about myself?...Take a look back at those first few entries...What's different about me?...Leave me a comment on how this experience on this island has effected me…Give me some ideas for our Top Five Samoa Joe Changes…How has Samoa Joe changed?...

Oh, and can someone translate what my student Alex wrote to me on MySpace…Man, the kids these days…They have a language of their own!...(I do know that “Uce” is derived from Uso, Samoan for brother)…I did not teach him to write like this...

“AYE NEMAN.HOWz iT UCE.DANG MAN U GOTz 6 MORE DAYz OF MEMORiEz ON THA ROKK UCE.DANG NEMAN HOPE TAH SEE YOU AGEN in A FOURYEAR.GET?NEWAYz CHEA MAN DiS BE THA FiRST TiME i THiNK iM POSTiN UP ON YAH PAYGE.BUT CHEA UCE NUTTiN BUT LOVE FOR YOU MAN. Uz BEEN NUTTiN BUT A CLOSE FRiEND,A BROTHER, ND ALSO A DAD.WEN THA BOiZ BE ROKKiN YOH HOUZ NEMAN.BUT CHEA LiKE AGEN UCE.i GOTz NUTTiN BUT LOVE FOR YOU UCE. SO MAY THA GOOD LORD BELSS U WiD A GOOD TRiP WEN U BE OUT OF THA ROKK ND HOPEFULLY BRiNG U BAKK SAFELY TO THA ROKK ONCE AGEN.BUT CHEA NEMAN MUCH LUV.GONE~>”

I gotta go…Leave me a comment…There’s only a couple of blog entries left…So show me some love before it’s too late…Should I stay longer in American Samoa for Sammy and the boys?...Should I stay longer for Billi?...What changes have you seen in me over the past two years?...How has this island transformed me?...And what the heck did Alex say to me?...

Love ya and miss ya…

-JOE

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

~Carol Sobieski and Thomas Meehan, Annie