Samoa (FINAL)

Just random pictures documenting our final day in Samoa...Above and Below: Yes, that is what you think it is. 4 buckets of it growing behind a real (non illegal plant) to help keep it hidden...Geez...

Above: Levi cooking in the outdoor kitchen.

Below: This is how curly Leila's hair was on a daily basis. It was SO dang cute.

Above: Toetu's mom and our mom. This is a cool picture for Alofa's family to have because it has both grandma's in the same picture. Plus, I love that Nuga is actually smiling!

Below: Leila, Palepa (Atonio's wife), Lupe. Palepa talked to me quite a bit during this trip. The past trips she hasn't said much, but we spent more time at the house this time, so obviously we spent more time with the family. It was nice to get to know my sister-in-law a little better.

Above: Semi in his church clothes.

Below: Nuga in her church clothes. I'm pretty sure this puletasi was made by grandma. Seriously, so talented.

Above: This is what Voi does all day, every day. Sits at this table and reads church materials. He fits in eating and sleeping too, but if he is awake, this is what he is doing.

Below: Where we slept. Leila and I were on the futon and Kuso was on the couch scooted up to the futon. The firs two nights we slept in one of the actual rooms...too freakin' hot. SO, the rest of the trip we slept out in the big common room with everyone else.

By the windows you can see tarps rolled up (kind of like a camp trailer.) The last night we actually had to drop the tarps because the rain was coming down so hard. But as soon as the rain stops, you need to put the tarps back up or it gets WAY hot and muggy.

Above: Kuso's good friend, wife, and Leila. The last night there, these guys, Keli & Imi, and some of the family sat out in the back talking, drinking koko, and laughing. We stayed up REALLY late, but when we were going to sleep, Kuso had the biggest smile, gave me a hug, and told me that he had SO much fun that night.

Below: Mom and Dad. It's not often you get both of these in a picture, dressed in nice clothes, and looking at the camera. I'll be making prints of this for Kuso's family.

Above: Leila and Grandpa. Grandpa Voi LOVES this little girl. While he would be eating, studying, watching TV, anything, he would randomly call her name for her to come over. He would pick her up, kiss her, then send her on her way again. Voi always sits at the head of the table. I looked down the hall one day and saw Leila in his chair and he was sitting on the bench beside her. She definitely knows how to wrap people around her cute little fingers.

Kuso also enjoyed being with his father. He said several times that he wishes he could live with him now that he is calm and loving. Growing up, Kuso's dad was very loud, demanding, hard working, and sometimes mean. There were not loving words exchanged. They knew they were loved, but it was never expressed. Voi has softened up a lot the past few years and Kuso wishes he could be around more to enjoy that side of his father.

Above: Semi and Nuga in their school uniform.

Below: Leila enjoying a bowl of sapasui before we head off to the airport.

If I haven't said it in previous posts, this trip was MUCH different than my last trips. We spent more time with the family and we spent more time living the local life and not being so "touristy." Because we had Leila, I was more aware of "gross" things like worms on the floor, cockroaches, spiders, mosquitoes, wild dogs, lizards, etc. Also because of Leila, we were more aware of a food schedule. Past trips we would come and go as we pleased and eat when it was convenient. You can't tell an 18 month old to wait, so we always had to be prepared for that too.

I'm so grateful for the opportunities I have had to visit Samoa. For the chance it has given me to see where Kuso is from, how he was raised, and develop an understanding and appreciation for different aspects of their culture. (not just the fun side of dancing and food!) I'm grateful that we were able to set aside the money for Kuso to visit his homeland. I'm grateful that even though she won't remember it, that Leila had the opportunity to meet her cousins and aunties/uncles that live in Samoa and may never travel to the states.

Although this was not the relaxing tropical vacation that most people think Samoa would be, I hope that someday we will be able to take our entire family again, when our kids are old enough to remember and appreciate the beauty of Samoa.