Learning the language, exploring the culture...

Talofa!

The past couple of days have been amazing---we have had training all day until around 5 and then can do whatever at night. Lot of medical (our arms are a bit sore, but there are not many vaccinations and mostly just ones you get in the US), cross cultural, safety, and language that we began yesterday afternoon. We have small groups of 5 or 6 to learn the language and the trainers are great---My trainer is awesome! and she makes the classes like kindergarten again! with singing, games, and other activites. She is a very enthusiastic lady and is like a mom to us, especially the girls. She took the 4 of us to a store yesterday to buy fabirc and then to a seamstress to take our measurements to make puletais, the dresss that the Samoan women wear. Last night, we went out to a restaurant with some Volunteers from out group and a bunch from the group that has been here for 4 months----It was nice to be out and experience another aspect of the culture. Tonight, we are going to a fiafia, a party where the other volunteers are going to be doing dances for us and where there is a ton of Samoan food! Looking forward to it! Tomorrow is cultural exploration, where we will be exploring the beach!

Hope all is well! One of the guys in our group said it was 35 degress in Detriot the other night. Stay warm! Also, when we go to the village next week for 5 weeks, we probably will not have access to Internet, just so you all know. (It may be over a month before I am able to post anything else.)

Love you all! Tofa!
Love, Sally