Talofa and Hello

Well, it's official, I made it all the way through New Zealand and into Samoa and didn't die...so now, if something happens to me, someone will notice that I'm missing. I found that that was one thing about New Zealand that made me nervous...no one would know I was missing until I didn't get off the plane here in Samoa. I found that made me a little more hesitant to do a few things that might be considered a little more "risky" like cave exploration. It is late and I have a few things to do before I go to sleep so this won't be a long post and I won't go into all the New Zealand information just now...but I will say it's great to be here in Samoa. We landed before I even realized it because there aren't many lights in Samoa...there's no real City if you will. So, all of a sudden our wheels were hitting the tarmac...it was kinda crazy. Then I actually got to get off the plane on one of those roll up stair-cases that people would always use in the old days...or that famous people use so they don't have to go through regular airport rigamarole...I went through customs and forgot that had left a New Zealand kiwi in my carry on and got a quick lecture about what foreign bugs can do to an island environment and was told, like a second grader that was chewing gum in class, to go and place it in the garbage. I was greeted at the airport by Brother and Sister Harker with a lei made of beautiful white pua flowers. The flowers were so beautiful and smelled so good it made me realize how not good I smelled :S but then we got to drive the "long way" to the house... It is amazing how much it is like El Salvador. The humidity and heat are the same, the people walking along the sides of the street are the same, the owner-less dogs all over the place, the bright blue painted houses, the smells, the Catholic churches, the plants, etc...they all remind me so much of El Salvador. It's amazing how similar they are in just the general environment. Even now as I sit here, i can hear through the slatted windows that the bugs sound the same, there are the dogs barking in the distance, and there are the same chattering birds that used to wake me up in El Salvador. I am excited to get to know more of the island, of the people... It is going to be quite the adventure. On a side note, we got to drive by the temple, it is BEAUTIFUL. We also got to drive by my first house. I was imagining it in my mind with the mini-moke out in front of it or the little kiddie swimming pool on the side with Lissa lecturing Jared because he knocked her off her feet. It will be fun to see all the places that I've seen in videos growing up. I have to admit I am really excited to find the ferns that curl up when you touch them...
Well, that is all I should post for now. I will make this a regular thing where I post a little bit every couple of nights or so. I won't be doing pictures now because it costs extra to do uploads, but I will do it when I get home.
Talofa!!!!
P.S. Even my feet and hands are swelling like they did in El Salvador...gotta love hot dog fingers and toes huh?

Kia Ora

Hello hello! I am sorry for the long absense. I did get home from El Salvador safely and I miss it terribly! But, I am planning to go back, hopefully in the new year.

Other news. I am back working part time at the HELP International office as a Recruiting Specialist and have applied and interviewed for the Executive Director position. We'll see what happens around the 19th.

And, at this time I am in New Zealand. Some good family friends are living in Samoa and head home (to Canada) in December so I decided now was a good time to go to visit when I would have guides that know the area and family to stay with! But I couldn't go all the way to the South Pacific without visiting New Zealand right? So, for the next few days I will be exploring New Zealand and then heading over to Samoa on the 7th. Internet is expensive and I'm not sure where I am going to be each night, so I don't know if I will update my blog much until I go to Samoa (free internet in the house! How wonderful!!) but I will make sure to update it and put in information about my time in New Zealand. Talk to you all soon and Kia Ora (which means Welcome, I think, in Maori!)

Rachel

PS I will be driving on the left side of the road and we are only 4 hours different in Utah than Samoa...well, that and a day...so right now it is Friday the 2nd of November here and the 1st in Utah. TTFN!