Believe it or not, sometimes I'd like to move. I just say "Ephraim, how much longer are we gonna live here?!" or "Ephraim, when can we go someplace civilized?" Today was one of those days. We were watching a movie and the guy bought strawberries on the side of the road (Ironman2). Isaac asked, "Mom, when are we going to have strawberries again?" I almost cried. I did cry later, actually. I answered "There ARE no strawberries in this country." Ugh.
It's not just about the strawberries, folks. It's the stores that sell expired food, the mold on my cupboards, the jungle trail we call our road (which has no real name), the offices that close early, the power that shuts off randomly, the water that turns off during a shower, the dogs that prevent my family from bike rides, frustrating mess of ordering things online to an unrecognized territory, the overall lack of qualified workers in important positions... I'll stop there. You get the picture.
Sometimes the grass seems greener NOT in the jungle.
Someone please comment and tell me living in the states is not all it's cracked up to be and I'm so lucky to live here. And who needs a real shopping center anyway, and the less choices the simpler the life, etc. Please.
15 comments:
Oh, the small price to pay living in paradise. You get to experience first hand a beautiful culture or a beautiful island. The warm ocean is always moments away.
Who needs strawberries when you have bread fruit. It's bread that is a fruit or is it fruit that is a bread?
You really don't need a mall or Wal-mart when you have KS Mart and the Laufo Center. You have the most important thing - a McDonald's. Actually, you have 2!!!
I am actually quite impressed you lasted over 3 years. I'll I could handle was 18 months.
if we move to nz, you can visit us anytime. it looks quite civilized there. and then we can visit you!
or, you could visit us here in IN, and see how civilization mows down all of nature and puts cornfields and soybean fields in her place.
I'm trying. I'm really trying, but I just want to tell you to come home to Oregon!
Okay, okay. I'll stop undermining your efforts and try to come up with something encouraging. Certainly, the beaches are a plus. I've never been to a beach where the water was actually warm. I've seen all your amazing pictures. Just think, you're in the type of tropical, exotic place where people dream about honeymooning. Your life is one big long honeymoon! Now go kiss your husband . . . a lot!
Strawberries and apples are overrated. There are always mangos, avocados,and lychee. Civilization is also easily overdone. I think you guys are probably right around or below the minimum acceptable level for most people. Although I think I would be happy with less rather than more. We are in Indiana, and I really miss the ocean, the mountains, the wilderness of any sort. Also, fall colors are nice, but it's only October and it is sooo cold. When I go running in the morning, it is pitch black and only get light after about 40 minutes. I don't get up that early either. I dream of going to the beach, at night, to swim in the middle of December. To say nothing of surfing, swimming in pools below waterfalls, hiking in the jungle, exploring new beaches, coves, islands, etc, etc. Still, I think it is important to be grateful to even have a job right now, and in such a great place. You also need to stay there long enough that we can come visit. As Bekah mentioned, we may be in NZ next year.
I'll tell you what:
Hosiery at church.
Required hairstyling.
Flip flops.
Bears.
That's what awaits you.
But if you move to Hawaii you get the best of both worlds.
Strawberries ARE wonderful. Sometimes I find myself complaining about CA strawberries which are crunchy and white inside. So unless we're talking OR strawberries from the U=pick, you ain't missing much.
I would have to disagree with Mariko, CA strawberries are amazing. That's because I get them from the source.
With that said I often look at your blog and am totally jealous that we don't live there. All the flowers and natural beauty seem amazing.
If you come back to the US you'll have the Tea Party awaiting you and it's not a fun tea party either. Politics here blows my mind and things are getting too intense for my taste.
Look at that picture of shirtless kids. Being shirtless tastes way better than strawberries.
Hey, I've never met you but I am a friend of one of your friends from Oregon. I moved here to Am Sam in July. I miss Oregon and some of the amazing things from there, but I know in another month or so I will be glad I am here where it is warm and I can go snorkeling while they are all home staying inside. I would actually love to connect with you if you are interested. I live in Fogagogo really close to the KS Mart and my office is in Utulei. My phone # is 770-9373. Now go enjoy a fresh coconut... something you could not do in Oregon!!!
-Alison
Most strawberries are filled with a ton of nasty pesticides and herbicides and other things that are representive of civilization at its worst. Although they are delicious.
Don't leave until we come visit.
I wish I could help you. I'm missing the states too. I need a yard for my kids (or at least a place that is bigger than a matchbox) and stores that stay open late and all the variety (although we can get strawberries when they are in season). Still, living on a tropical island can't be all bad. At least you aren't a missionary and you get to enjoy the rough times with someone of your choice and not just a random stranger that you were assigned to. Of course, we did have some good times anyway eh? Miss you! (and America).
Melinda,
There are pros and cons to everywhere, I assure you. Well, not in Las Vegas. There are no pros. Well, there are professional pole dancers and professional poker players...but neither of these things are of interest to us. It's hot, but no ocean. It's civilized, but no culture. It's paved...it's ALL paved. And for as skanky as the town is, for some reason, you can't walk around without a shirt on, like Issac. It warps your sense of what "lush" is, since we now consider Utah tropical. The grass may not be greener in American Samoa, but at least SOMETHING is green. We love you and we wish you lived closer. But we want to visit you while you still live there. So don't move yet.
Loves,
Ken and Katie
and your husband is in shape and thin, and tan, and young and lovely because he doesn't work in a dark cubicle, catching the bus in the dark of not-so-early morning and coming home in the dark of early afternoon, all pasty white and fat from eating snacks in said cubicle. Snacks like cashews and those chocolate meltaways that are irresistible. Jesse, no lychee here :( or avocadoes and hardly any mangoes:( However, we do have papaya, bananas, and some pineapple :)
what? kids can't go shirtless to pizza hut in the states? really? we'd just come from the pool. i guess it was a little indecent, so we ate outside. the kids are frowning cause they had to wait 20 minutes for their greasy overpriced dinner.
you're all right. i know i'm lucky. i know that 90% of the time.
(if i lived in new zealand i'm sure it would be 100%.)
thanks for your affirmations. i guess i'll enjoy the papayas for now. although the other day i was thinking, when i leave here, i don't think i'm gonna say, man i wish i'd eaten more papaya. the novelty's pretty much over, and i eat plenty. but i'm glad it's not full of pesticides and things representing humanity at its worst.
But I really do miss you and it is about time to move back. But then the memories will be sweet and you will look back and say, "Wasn't life grand when we lived there?" We love you, and life really is that way for all of us!!
I'm late on the commenting, but I do have something to say. I think that if you moved it would probably be to HI, which would be nice for me. Of course you need to pray and go with what you feel, but you should bare in mind that the job market is the worst it's been in decades and having a job (even if it is in AM Samoa) is no small blessing. Recently Mariko and I sat down and made goals and plans on how to achieve them. After a while it occurred to me that it is important to envision a better future and work towards it but even more important is finding joy in the present. Most of that is a result of your mindset. If all you ever think about is having a nice house and all the other stuff that they don't have in Samoa then you will find your life less and less tolerable. If on the other hand you focus on feeling gratitude for all of the amazing things that you get to enjoy, things will be a lot better. I have to say that I am totally jealous of you guys getting to live in such a cool place...on the other hand when you guys are around here I am constantly feeling like I don't want you to go back.
Dear Melinda,
I am getting caught up on your blog and I will have to say that I truly miss Amerika Samoa. I am here freezing my fat buns off....teeth chattering. I miss the mountains, the ocean, and most of all my wonderful friends.....that being said....
I have not mold growing up my walls or critters crawling all over the place, on my tooth brushes, silverware, in my drawers, or leaving poop everywhere.
I can go walking without being accosted by dogs, the colors of the trees are amazing.
There is food galore and my waste line is showing it.
I went shopping at JoAnn's the other day and Khols and had a blast even if it was by myself.
The cost of living is high here, taxes are horrible and I miss my simple life of flip flops, capris, messed up hair (dont care becuase everyone looks the same).....
So there are good and bad everywhere but I say...enjoy the moment...enjoy where God has put you...
I sure miss you!!!
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