Scuba diving, marathon training and the ABCs

Well, I guess it has been awhile since I last wrote. Time is really flying by. The whole concept that we are now counting down is just strange. March 1st? Been in Samoa for almost a year and a half...wierd. So my two personal goals for the year are to become a certified scuba diver and to run in the 1st international marathon in Samoa..June 7th. The first goal...3/4 accomplished yea! I am taking the classes with Todd another volunteer---they are held through Aqua Samoa, which runs their business at Aggie Grey's resort. Blue starfish, zebra fish, yellow fish, blue fish (I think I have been reading too much Dr Seuss...), even squid, and we haven't even made it to the "cool" sites yet. 2nd goal, well we are only up to 8 miles, however the great part is that I have a running buddy and we have been running before school---I have to saw running right by the ocean at 6 am when it is still nice and cool, well, I guess I can't complain.

New things happening at school...We got 100 fruit trees from Yazaki in Samoa this week--it was sweet. The Nutrition Center from the M of Health came and did a presentation about the benefits of healthy eating/ eating fruit for snacks and then the Yazaki presented us with the trees. Village boys came and made a fence and then the kids planted the trees behind the school---It even made the paper and the news! The kids were nice and dirty by the end, so you could tell they were enjoying themselves. Started a Homework center at the library in the afternoons for sec schools and a reading hour at church for the Sunday School kids.

This year, I teaching diff classes. I have two classes of the kids who need extra help with reading, and then years 4-8 each come to library period once a week and years 6-8 have computer once a week. My goodness, the excitement from the kids to 1 be able to take books home to read from the first time and 2 to use computers, well, it is definitely pretty extraordinary! (Yes, and thanks to all for the books---1500 books labeled and stamped---they are very appreciated by the kids!)

Rugby season is beginning again next Saturday--looking forward to watching the games, as all the district games take place at our field. The last two weekends, the youth groups from the village have all gotten together for games, cricket, and volleyball, and then track events. I ran the 4x100, did shotput and discus HA. I never knew when I would need those shotput throwing skills from 8th grade. Anyway, been enjoying myself hanging out with the youth group, swimming in the ocean, and running.

Hope all is well in chilly NY! Love, Sally