We've recently had two grandmothers, 4 cousins and 2 aunt/uncles visit us over the last few weeks. Sounds terrifying to a bunch of people but luckily they're actually rather nice relatives. Kids played supernice together, grownups even more so. We haven't spent so much time sifting on the beach since we arrived. Very pleasant, thanks family.
Cousin Lucy and Uncle John in a state of terror. A quick evacuation was needed when the water was inundated with Exotoxic Homing Turtles. Very dangerous.
Some random photo of us mucking around in the lagoon before dinner one evening. Warm water, safe, good snorkling. Double thumbs up.
I went out to a party for a parliamentary delegation from Australia recently. They were leaving the next day so were keen on a few drinks. The Hon Peter Slipper MP Speaker of the House kept filling my wine glass while treating me to a list of possible ways that Australia might absorb NZ into its economic systems. Very weird. But there were some great people there. Samoa has some things in common with Mongolia (!) – there are plenty of chances to get in contact with some powerful positions, bigfishsmallpond stuff. I’m unlikely to run into the New Zealand Speaker of the House for a few wines. Perhaps I’ve prioritized my life funny.
I climbed up the highest peak in Samoa a few weeks ago. Mount Silisili. The word means almighty/supreme but of course it just sounds sillysilly. Bush bashed from near sea level to 1850m in tropical heat but loved it. My Samoan language is pretty poor but could still act as translator for the boys I went up with and the Samoan guide. Unfortunately got a couple of minor scratches with weeks later turned into a massively swollen, angry red, pus-filled infection. Still on antibiotics 8 weeks later. Does the earth hate me somehow? 3 out of 4 of us got nasty infections. Maybe its like tutankhamun’s tomb and all cursed and stuff. Or possibly bad luck.
Here's me descending into one of the craters on Mt Silisili. You can see some of the others down below. Somewhere in those brambles are some evil bacteria just waiting for palagi legs to habitate. The first day was a 10 hour push to get to the top and back to the camp site. Well worth it though. (note to self: edit this bit if leg gets amputated).
Belinda is just about finished a huge month. There was an horrible incident involving stuff I won't put on the internet - but involved some tough calls by Belinda. After that, each week Belinda's work have been treated to loads of final year vet students. Most of them are nice enough, but they do tend to get in the way and slow things down. All month. She’s doing really well though. When Belinda puts her mind to something, shes on fire and unstoppable.
Last week our division (about 50 staff) was meant to have an AGM. Due to a few reasons (lack of interest featured), it got cancelled along with the games we were to play in the afternoon. Instead, the kava came out. Kava is a drink made from the root of some weird tuber and is half way between alcohol and opioids. Two 20 litre containers is a bunch of kava.
The CEO came in for a couple of cups too. My team is always scared of writing reports for this man because he’s such a senior that you need to use really fancy formal words. He’s a village chief as well as the boss of our section. Anyway the fancy formal language gets a bit stuck when English isn’t your first language. I don’t know the words that were in his head but I figure he wanted me to know that kava causes certain temporary physiological changes. The words he used however, were “Steve. This kava. It bad for your cock.” Had to giggle.
No internet at work for the 3rd day now. On the up side, we have had running water for like 2 weeks in a row! Stoked.
Survivor is still here. Ate a massive lunch at the fancy resort again with my team the other day. This time though I rejected one of their TV chickens because of Avian pox. This was a mild case where the meat would have been completely fine for human consumption. I rejected it because it had big sores on its head and would have looked ugly on tv. I'm sure the producers would have been horrified if I let it through. Keeping America safe from ugliness is important right?
Justus has started some Judo lessons and is really quite good when he puts his mind to it. Unsurprisingly, 6 year olds find it hard to “put their mind to it”. Half the time the judo mat is just a swarm of giggling, running craziness. I’m not big on martial arts, but judo seems that much cooler than karate or taikwando or whatever. Who knows how long it will last for but its great.
Justus is deciding whether to be an art teacher or a breakdancer when he grows up.
Righto.
Mum was keen on taking photos of the kids with their teachers. They've got quite the tan huh? Really pleased with their teachers this year. It's a bit of a gamble with teachers in Samoa so lets hope next year is just as good.
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