Tweet, tweet

If you're an international traveler, Twitter me this, Twitter me that! I'd love to follow.

Have you ever used a Tahitian telephone?

Watch as our guide, Teiva, attempts to communicate with people throughout the valley. Although the "telephone" doesn't "work" as well as the modern telephone, Tahitians used to communicate throughout the valleys by knocking on chestnut trees and counting the echoes.

Use social media to enhance your travels

I found a great link that shares "10 Social Media Travel Resources You May Have Missed" that can add to your traveling adventure!

What's a gap year??

Innovations in Civic Participation recently posted about the lack of awareness that American high school students have about the "gap year" as compared to other students in Europe.

Having grown up in Iowa, I attest that the idea of a break between high school and college was foreign to me until my step mom, a worldly traveler, mentioned that European students commonly take at least a year off before furthering their education. In our American culture, we're led to believe that continuing onto college is the way it's "supposed to be" if we want to do something with our lives. I agree with ICP that not enough American high school students understand fully the concept of a gap year or its advantages. Awareness needs to be spread in the U. S. Students need to know that they are not alone and that there are programs available to help find education programs, work and housing.

The gap year does not serve as a year of drinking and partying. As ICP states, "What all of these gap year programs have in common is a sense of broadening horizons." Living and working with diverse people helps you understand not only others, but also yourself. Although you may not know it when you're "in the moment," once you resume furthering your education you will have accomplishments to share in your college application or with other students you meet.

A family friend graduated recently from high school and is working in Germany for six months. One of my sorority sisters volunteered in South America for a year before enrolling at Simpson. A former professor of mine studied in Switzerland for a year. These are only a few examples of individuals I know personally, and I can only hope that these instances help others understand that a gap year can be done. Whether it is to work, volunteer or study, a gap year can present positive opportunities for recent high school graduates.

The most difficult aspect is not only deciding to have a gap year, but acting on having a gap year. Have a gap year NOW rather than after you assume personal or fiscal responsibilities!

Traveling Around the World and Now the Web

Now you can follow me on Twitter AND YouTube AND Flickr!

"Live" Tahitian Dancing Featured Online

I uploaded my first video from studying abroad this afternoon! It will be the first of several! It features Tahitian dancing, and the way the women move is truly amazing. Some of the female Simpson students took dance classes while we were abroad, and I tried dancing a few times... but couldn't quite get the hang of it. I think I'll stick to playing volleyball! Feel free to offer your comments after you view it!

Where am I now? Iowa!

For those of you who do not know me personally, I could still be in French Polynesia! In reality, I returned to the States May 14, and it has been over two months since my last post. It has been difficult to bring myself to write a "closing" to my study abroad experience, but it must be done. Tonight I will work on summarizing the final experiences and emotions so that I may pay tribute to the people I met. Check back in the coming days as I update you and upload pictures!

I can't believe it...Only 28 days left

I have one month left in French Polynesia. Where did the time go?! Ever since I switched host families, the time has flown by, and I finally feel at home. For example, after I returned from Fakarava, I unconsciously included "home" in my Facebook status.

Ever since I began noticing "little" things like that, I started realizing I have made Tahiti my home, and it was an unconscious effort. I'm adaptable to situations and try to make them positive experiences, but this is a curse as well; I know I will shed more than just a few tears after I say my good-byes and the plane leaves Papeete.

A few of the other students are extremely excited to go back home. They began counting down the days our second week in French Polynesia. As for me, there were a couple weeks when I hit rock bottom and fell victim to this mentality, but I persevered knowing that things would truly become easier. Also, I didn't want to count down the days until I had to go home.... I wanted to think, "I only have X number of days left??"

My objective for this study abroad experience was to focus on enriching and broadening my international understanding of the world we live in. Having never studied abroad, I wasn't sure what to expect, but that is what I wanted. According to our text, based solely on how to maximize study abroad, it is helpful to have a goal but no expectations. Whether it is to strengthen language skills or dive into the culture, I agree that goals help and expectations harm. Or, if you have an expectation, you must be willing to recognize and accept it as a false hope. You will never fully understand or know what will occur. Sometimes the culture itself, or situations such as host families or friendships, doesn't measure up to what you imagine. Be willing to adapt to or let go of the image you have of how your experience will unveil.

Now that finals are over (YES!!), May term commences Monday and leaves us with four weeks left. We travel to three other islands the after next week. After we return, we have one more final week of class, and I leave the week after. I graduate soon, and finally it is the real world!!

I'm still not sure what to think about life post graduation. I won't resume classes in September, I won't have to work out for volleyball, and I won't have the luxury knowing what will happen in the upcoming year. I will work at Simpson as a mentor through June, but after that I am not 100 percent positive where life will take me. The "plan" is to be in Washington, D.C. by Aug. 1, but we all know plans change.

I do know though that this experience helped emotionally prepare me for the possibility of serving in the Peace Corps. Going from talking to my parents almost every day to not speaking for five weeks was difficult. I never thought it would affect me the way it did. They are my support group, and as I was undergoing an extremely emotionally charged experience, I was unavailable to reach them. The lack of communication with home is also difficult for Peace Corps volunteers. Lucky for me I got a taste of it! It really made me question whether or not I could make it as a volunteer. Also, knowing that I'm leaving a home in Tahiti will surely result again if I am accepted as a volunteer to serve elsewhere; it is always difficult to leave when you grow to be fond of where you live. Now I know at least a little of what to expect, and I still want to help others.

The weather is nice, the people are nice....even Polynesian sharks are nice

While in Fakarava, I snorkeled with sharks, scuba dived, saw one of the former presidents of French Polynesia, and took an 1.5 hr boat ride to snorkel at a motu while my host dad and host sister scuba dived with thousands of sharks.

Not only was the trip amazing because of what we did, but the hospitality of the people I met was heart-warming. We attended mass twice, once the night before Easter and once the second Sunday we were there. Both times random women would welcome us. Even with the simple faire du bisou (kissing of the cheeks), you could feel them welcoming your presence.

A beautiful Catholic church. Garlands made of shells strung across the ceiling, and  many shell chandeliers hung as well.

In front of us sat former French Polynesian President Gaston Flosse. He spent Christmas in jail and Easter at his home at Fakarava. Yes, you read that correctly. He was in jail for corruption that he committed during his presidency.

The first time I saw a shark, I was snorkeling by myself and swam back to shore as fast as possible. After the shock of realizing that I could quite possibly be attacked, I decided getting back into the water was worth price. Haha. Actually, my host parents convinced me that the Polynesians sharks are just as nice as the people. Rarely are there attacks, and people have safely swam with them for years.

The second time I snorkeled was at the motu I visited. At that time I saw six of them at once. I can't imagine swimming with thousands like my host dad and host sisters have!!

I met several interesting people who were visiting Fakarava. After I landed, no one was there to pick me up because my host parents thought my plane was stopping at another island before landing in Fakarava. As I spoke to a woman that worked at the pension we were staying at, I'm pretty sure this one couple overheard my feeble attempt to speak my accented French because after I hung up the phone, they asked if I was American. Haha. Come to find out, this couple had been traveling the world for the past year and wrapping up their journey in French Polynesia before their final destination in southern California.

I also met a family of five on a five-month world tour. They were traveling en route to Peru where the father will be working for a NGO. Their last globe trotting adventure lasted 18 months!! Their next destinations included Tahiti, Easter Island, Chili and finally Peru. What I would give to be able to do that with a family of my own one day!!

Back to the real world

I returned today from Fakarava, the most beautiful place I have visited in my life thus far! It was absolutely gorgeous, and it was an amazing week spent with my wonderful host family! I will post tomorrow about the week and let you know more! For now, I have a quiz to study for and e-mails needing responses!

The Real Tahiti

This is for all of you who thought I would be spending the semester in paradise....

The real Tahiti... Approximately 131,000 people reside in Papeete, the capitol of French Polynesia and located in Tahiti, and its development shows. Hundreds of cars travel to and from the city; commuting is extremely time-consuming because Papeete is where a majority of people work, and there is also only one main road that enters and leaves the city. If someone lives across the island, oftentimes they have to leave work two or three hours prior. Traffic is mainly regulated by round-abouts, which can back up traffic the same as stoplights. Also, businesses that are based in Papeete, such as Hinano and Air Tahiti, contribute to the amount traffic flowing in and out of the city because they are sources of employment. 

Tahiti is not as clean as most people might believe. As beautiful as the island is in certain areas, trash is littered throughout the streets, alongside the roads and corners, as well as on the beaches. Clusters of trash, cans, and bottles are observable once you leave the resorts. In addition to trash, sometimes the occasional smell of sewage occurs in Papeete, and wild chickens and dogs stroll throughout the island. 

Homeless dogs roam the streets throughout the island. At the university, they stroll through the café or cafeteria and lounge where students congregate. Personally, it is difficult to watch these dogs beg for attention or food. There are simply not enough people who want to own a dog, nor do a lot of people desire to keep a dog as a pet. Owning a dog is quite difficult because most people keep their homes as open as possible for ventilation, and dogs can also run away when the gates to their driveway are opened. People can call an organization that will come to euthanize a dog, but it does not appear many people do this. 

Despite what people believe, Tahiti is not a paradise. Living in Tahiti is different than vacationing the island. Although it has gorgeous beaches and beautiful colored water, paradise does not consist of geological landscapes, like I once believed. When living in Tahiti, you notice cultural differences and experience the hospitality from others living on the island as well as the frustrations that result in adapting and integrating into a different culture. It is sometimes difficult, but if an individual has the desire to become familiar with Polynesian culture, he or she will leave with a greater understanding of what lies behind just a beautiful beach.

Downside: Exhausted from hiking ... Upside: Visiting another island soon

Meeting prior to the hike.

We- Simpson group- finished hiking up a mountain about an hour ago. I am exhausted!! Not only was it quite a long hike, but it was also pretty steep. There was even a rope at the end that you had to use!!! Luckily, what greeted us at the end of our hike were three waterfalls! We were able to slide down the first two, which were pretty small. If you went down the third waterfall, you would die.

Right before we had to use the rope, we saw a decrepit stone wall. Our professor informed us that it is a wall of a fort built by the French during the French-Tahitian War in the 1840's.

Fakarava, which is an atoll, is only about 2-3 meters high. I've included a picture of the island. As you may have already noticed, there's no land in the center! Before studying here, I always thought islands were an "island." You know, land throughout the entire thing. Well, here's a geography lesson for you! Islands are formed by underwater volcanoes. The lava builds up and hardens enough so that it peaks out from the water and continues forming. Eventually, the volcano stops erupting and begins sinking and coral forms-creating a lagoon- around the island. The volcano will eventually be fully submerged under the ocean, leaving the coral reef, making it an atoll. These specific island formations are common throughout the Pacific, because of the warm ocean waters. I learned this in our first geography class of the semester.... Interesting!!

The water was FREEZING, but it was still a great to swim with everyone and eat lunch together. We even had a few extra people with us that were friends of another woman that came with us.

Oh!!! Exciting news!! I will be going to Fakarava in the Tuamotu Islands with my host family next weekend!! Last week they invited me to go, but I had to see if I could rearrange a final, and they had to check on seat availability. Well, it's official; I have my ticket!!

I'll be missing a week of school, so I have quite a bit to accomplish before I leave!! I have to complete my cultural rich points journal and take my French exam and Polynesial cultural oral exam. Busy!!

*I wish I could post more pictures, but the pictures aren't going through the upload.

Winning my first international athletic competition

At lunch yesterday, my host mom invited me to go walking with her and her friends this morning. Exercise?! Of course I said yes!

Once again, the morning came too early. After we picked up a couple of her friends and met the third woman at the location, I noticed it wasn't just walking. It was an actual competion, and it was up one of the steepest hills I have ever seen! There were a few other runners and a lot of bikers. I can't imagine riding up the steep grade on a bike.

As I'm running up, I could feel the burn throughout my body and the humidity in my lungs. There wasn't a cloud in the sky, but luckily there was some shade provided by the flora. The competition was timed like the Tour de France, and I was the last one to begin. I caught up to one of the other woman, and we finished together.

On our way up, I couldn't wait to blog about this event. If I knew more French, I know Bridgette would have been able to give me more information on what I was agreeing to! But, that's part of an exciting study abroad experience!! :D

We finished the uphill 2.5 km and casually walked down together as the five-member group we were. We ended at a gazebo near the starting line where everyone was looking at the results. Come to find out, I was first! I was so shocked!! I hadn't even tried to win. I just wanted to reach the end where water was available for the particpants! I received a "medal" made from a shell, which has the competition's logo engraved on it, and t-shirt.

There's a triatholon in a couple weeks that I'd like to do. Bridgette and two of her friends are splitting the events, so hopefully I can find two others to join me!

Afterwards we came home, showered, and took the rest of the family to meet Roxanne (host sister) and Pascal (host dad) for lunch. Finally, we have some time at home before attending mass at 6 p.m. This has been the busiest weekend in Tahiti yet!!

Dance Dance and Scuba

Saturday: What a busy weekend this has been already!! Last night I went out with Manuel—the lone male from Simpson on this experience—and met up with a few other people from school whom I had never met before. They took us to a Tahitian bar, and I “tried” to dance “Tahitian style.” You know it’s been a fun night when you’re missing a button from your shorts by the end of it!! Haha. The three girls I met were extremely sweet and a blast to hang out with! One of them even—Lorilie— invited Manual and I to her home for a Tahitian dinner she is having at her home next Saturday.

The morning came early and then I was headed to scuba dive for the first time!! I was so nervous!! I never realized fully the amount of precautions and level of experience a diver must have. Since I was a newbie, an experienced diver held on to me at all times and guided me around the coral. Although Emmanuel didn’t speak English, he was great at making sure I felt comfortable under the water. I can see why first-times are required to have a diver hold onto them.

To be honest, once I was under the water I was terrified. Sometimes while I’m snorkeling I become claustrophobic. It has happened a few times while I’m far from shore, and once it occurs I race back to land as fast as possible. Take that emotion and times it by 20…that’s how I felt today (Saturday) but couldn’t come up on my own or reach land by swimming. Also, breathing from a tank while submerged five meters is a lot different than being only foot under water and using a snorkel. I felt like I couldn’t breathe or that I needed more air from the tank, but I forced myself to realize that I was only psyching myself out. I’m pretty sure Emmanuel noticed that I was gripping his hand a little too hard. Thankfully, I overcame the mini panic attack and managed to enjoy the dive after the first five minutes. It was pretty exhilarating to know that I was “one with the ocean” even if it was for only 20 minutes. To anyone even remotely interested in scuba diving, do it at least once!!

This afternoon my host mom, Bridget, had dance class at our house. She and a group of women from her studio dance class get together throughout the week for more practice. Well, today I danced with them. I’ll be honest…I was horrible! Even though the women aren’t expert Tahitian dancers, they definitely aren’t beginners!

This evening we went to Le Meridien (hotel) for an art exhibition. I had mentioned to my family that a couple of my friends were contributing artists. Come to find out, one of their friends was also featured in the exhibition so Pascal, Bridget, Roxanne and I went for a night out.

A group of rooms had been blocked off for artists to with their room as they pleased. Each room was uniquely different. My favorite room was titled "Evolution-Revolution." As you entered, the sound of beating drums blasted from the speakers. It reminded me of Africa. There were two paintings on the wall, and each painting had its own projector. From the projector, different "light" designs hit the painting and highlighted the colors. The one painting had what looked like Leonardo da Vinci's Vitruvian Man. The other had a horse sketched with minimal strokes. The artwork and music were touching and the room beautifully expressed

After we left Le Meridien, we went to a restaurant, Caption Bligh. They had Tahitian dancers for the patrons and what do you know....a minute after we were seated I was asked by one of the dancers to dance, which is typical of dancers. As the show nears the end, each dancer grabs someone of the opposite sex to dance on stage for "fun." I accused my host parents of calling the restaurant and telling them we were on our way. Haha. After my embarrassing display of dancing earlier today, the last thing I wanted was to dance in front of strangers! :)

Tahitian dancing at the Beachcomber Intercontinental Hotel that I saw for the first time right before my family visited. The island's major resorts have shows Friday and Saturday nights for people to watch.

I provided a couple links for you to check out Tahitian dancing! The first features how the men dance and the second features the women.

I'm working on putting together a Youtube account that will feature not only my videos, but also the other Simpson students, which will some of the actual dancing that we have seen here in Tahiti!

Another "interesting" room was made to look like a beach party. Black tarps hung across the room, separating the area, and Hinano beers cars were strewn throughout the floor. Extremely loud music also added contributed to the ambiance. There was a girl sleeping on the floor. Sleeping? Right! The others girls were dressed in short dresses and high heels, and the guys had their shirts wrapped around their heads. A couple of other guys were wrapped in Saran wrap....with nothing underneath.

Tahitian Excursion and Moving to the Big City

The past weekend was AMAZING!! Saturday the Simpson students, my professor and her family, and a couple of visiting Simpson faculty members went on an excursion through the volcano's crater that formed Tahiti. It was stunningly beautiful and breath taking. I was finally able to see waterfalls, but we weren't able to swim in the one we planned on because of all the rain we have received.

Standing up while holding on to the barrier in the back of a Land Rover was both frightening and exciting. The terrain through the valley was extremely steep and rocky! I have a huge bruise on my right hip from hitting the barrier.

We did have a French woman in our vehicle as well. She was vacationing in Tahiti because she won the trip through a raffle at a language conference! She mentioned the "if I was only 20 years younger I'd be able to keep up with this group" while on the excursion...us Simpson students were having a pretty good time!

Our guide, Teiva, was awesome, and we-Simpson students- are planning on a two day trek with him through Tahiti Iti, the smaller section of the island. Hopefully it works out because taking a boat is part of the trek. The area in which the trek is located is that undeveloped and left in a more pristine condition than Tahiti Nui, which is the larger section of the island.

Other new news is that I am switching host families. Out of respect to Tumata and her studies and my goals, I was presented with and accepted an opportunity to live with another host family. They are French and have lived in Tahiti since July. They have six children and cannot wait!! It will feel somewhat like home since I am the oldest of five kids!

They also have internet so no excuses for not updating my blog! I move tomorrow but am spending the night in Papara with Tumata. Today we went to a beautiful black sand beach-uncommon since most of the beaches here are corally- after class and had enjoyed dinner with the family afterward. I have found a second home in Tahiti and am always welcomed back. :) I am leaving a family who I know cares a lot about me, but this is an opportunity for both of us to reach our goals during our final semesters.

Doing fine :)

I'm not sure how many people knew, or paid attention to this, but the threat of a tsunami was possible Saturday morning as a result of the earthquake in Chile. Lucky for Tahiti, we were not affected. Mom and Casey landed only about an hour behind that night, and I have been busy showing them around the island!

Yesterday we did the "touristy thing" by visiting the market and walking around Papeete.

Today we went to Moorea and swam the stingrays and sharks. We were also able to snorkel, and it was absolutely gorgeous for the two hour excursion!! It's been raining off and on all week, so we were extremely lucky for the perfect weather while we were out on the boat.

Tomorrow we are renting a car and driving around the island. We are also headed to the doctor for what could possibly be a Staph infection that I may have.....we will see.... so besides that hiccup, it's been great to have them visit!!

Chinese New Year

I don't have much time on the Internet, so short update about the weekend. I enjoyed the past couple days with a few other Simpson students. The highlight included going to the Chinese New Year celebration in Papeete and watching the dragon dance. One of the girls, who actually goes to school in Pennsylvania and whose mom is Asian, filled us in on the historical background of the Chinese New Year. Interesting!!

I'm working on getting a couple more detailed posts for tomorrow!

Understanding Hardships of Studying and Living Abroad

I just finished watching Pai –Whale Rider in English— and I highly recommend it!! It revolves around an ancient Maori legend whose ancestor rode on the back of a whale from Havaiki to New Zealand. Set in modern day, the eldest/first-born male of the direct descendant is expected to lead the people. Unfortunately, the chief’s eldest son leaves New Zealand after his wife dies in childbirth and refuses to assume the responsibility of becoming the next chief. He also loses one of their twins, a son, leaving him with a daughter, “Pai,” who is raised by his parents. Although she is ten or twelve-years-old, Pai struggles to fulfill the role her father left, leading to not only a generational conflict, but also to differences in tradition between her and her grandfather.

The movie was filmed where the Maori live. (FYI: The area is actually known for its beached whale occurrences.) While the director and various actors and actresses discussed filming the movie, they touched on the respect they gave to the community and the respect they received. This section of the movie resonated with my goal of studying abroad— to learn and respect other another culture by incorporating it into my life. It’s about living the life of another even when my culture is pitted against the other.

Despite the emotional roller coaster of adjusting, I’m understanding the difficulties associated with learning how to respect and understand other cultures. Everyone always says that study abroad “broadens your horizons.” It’s true that it does, but you don’t fully realize just how much until you’re in it. It depends on the individual and his or her openness of course, and because I’m willing to embrace another culture, I’ve been hit full-force with unexpected highs and low, and my comfort zone has been pushed daily. You want to hang on to your former way of life, but if you do, you’re unhappy. Many frustrations arise because you don’t want to accept the way of life that surrounds you.

For once, I’m the minority. Although I traveled to Japan, I did so by myself and interpreted the culture in the way that I, an American, understood it, and not necessarily how Japanese individuals do. I only had what I knew, which was minimal or learned from my guidebook, but studying and living in a foreign country throws you off track. It’s not merely a vacation. It’s a life you settle into and forced to live if you want to be happy, and living with a host definitely provides you with endless opportunities to learn how. I’ve heard stories of French families or couples coming to Tahiti because of a spouse’s work. If the other spouse yearns for home and clings to their former life, depression oftentimes occurs. If they learn how to incorporate the island way of life and balance the Tahitian and French lifestyle, they are quite happier.

The same has been true for me. If I let go of my American mentality and accept the Tahitian mindset, I’m less frustrated. Though I may not always be happy, I understand and acknowledge that I must take myself out of one culture and into another if I want to accomplish my goals, let alone be happy here. According to one of our books focused on maximizing study abroad, the individual hits rock bottom around week five. Well, I’ve hit both week five and rock bottom, and there’s nowhere to go but up from here!

Despite the “paradise” everyone thinks Tahiti is, it has its own issues and tensions to resolve. There is an extreme gap between the rich and poor. The country is faced with political instability, resulting in the lack of decisions within the assembly. Unclaimed dogs run free around the island, which upsets me extremely, and graffiti is common. Broader concepts, such as time, structure and interactions are also different, which I will continue blogging about in latter posts, so keep checking back to learn more!

Formation of the Tahitian Protestant Church

Since first attending a church function when I first arrived, the way in which Tumata’s church and its congregation is composed is unlike the structure of American Protestantism or Catholicism that I'm familiar with. I hope my explanation is clear enough to understand, and there are a few other "levels" I left out so as to simplify the structure.

Together, there are nine Protestant “districts” of churches in French Polynesia. Tumata’s church is in the second district, which includes southern Tahiti. Within those districts, each church is known by their town’s location. From there, each church’s congregation is divided into amuira’a. Having at least 100 people per amuira’a, three amuira’a is a good number, and Papara has nine amuira’a! Side note: “Amuira’a” is Tahitian, and there is no plural in the language.

Though there are leadership positions within my Methodist church, and other churches across America, there are usually only a small number—secretary, treasurer, etc. Yet, in Tumata’s church, each amuira’a has roles that need to be filled, allowing for more people to be involved from within the congregation. The more that people are involved, the more they make God a part of their life…the more they feel included…and don’t just worship on Sundays.

Each amuira’a is slightly distinctive from the others. For example, one of the amuira’a at Tumata’s church is known for its original hats uniquely designed, such as with feathers. Tumata’s amuira’a is known for their singing.


Women in an amuira’a who are known for their hats. 

Within each amuira’a there is a “president.” The president is responsible for leading the group, and one of his responsibilities is to represent the amuira’a and keep the group updated on the church’s activities. He can also give the sermon at Sunday’s sermon.

One of the president’s giving the sermon.

Part of the president’s wife’s job is to be involved with the church’s women’s associations. While she leads the women’s association group within the amuira’a, there are five other leadership positions. Viviane, Tumata’s mom for example, is the secretary. This is the same for all other amuira’a as well. So, for Papara alone, there are 54 leaders as part of the women’s association (9 amuira’a X 6 positions within each).

At the first of every year, each president’s wife chooses a print and color for their amuira’a. For the rest of the year, the amuira’a can wear their print, which is designed to be a dress, shirt, or skirt, so as to identify with their amuira’a. They can also wear prints from previous years as well.


When joining an amuira’a, members can check to see if they know someone in the group. It could be a friend or relative, or they “try” an amuira’a to learn if that’s where they want to be. For most members though, they are or were “born” into their amuira’a because their parent, who was also born into it, is part of that specific group.

The reason behind the flashy hats? There is none. “Because they’re pretty,” according to Tumata, and it expresses individuality. But as far as the structure of the congregation and the significance of the amuira’a, it is to keep people practicing. When you join an amuira’a, which most members are but not required to, God and church becomes a part of your everyday life; there is a church event or meeting to attend almost every night of the week if you want to.

Not only are there nine amuira’a in Papara, but each group sings their own song, of their own choosing, every Sunday. It can be a traditional Tahitian hymn or tweaked, which Tumata’s amuira’a uses the beat but inserts original lyrics. This allows for each group to worship in a way of their choosing. Some groups choose songs from their origin of heritage- remember most people are born into an amuira’a- such as Bora or Raiatea or other island. It also teaches members to be prepared for God and their express their devotion to Him.

By now you may have noticed that the traditional American Protestant congregation is structured differently from Tahitian Protestant congregation. Where we show up at church, worship, leave, and return to it the next Sunday—if we’re lucky. Here, the members of each amuira’a are bonded together by not only through God, but also through their heritage. While some members have grown up together, or their grandparents inhabitant the same island, their history is apparent within the amuira’a, unlike us in America who attend and leave church as individuals, and do not see other church members until the following Sunday. Here I am, attending a church with over 900 members, yet they remember their history together.

Survived swimming with the sharks

Since my last post, I've visited a museum, traveled to Moorea, snorkeled and swam with sharks and stingrays! Don't worry about the sharks; they're too afraid of humans to get within touching distance, unlike the the stingrays.

The Simpson group took an hour long ferry ride to Moorea last Saturday. Though the weather wasn't perfect, it didn't rain! The group split up into shifts and snorkeled near one of two of Moorea's bays. Then we moved another location to pet stingrays and swim with black tip sharks. Its beaches are gorgeous and coral-free. Moorea is less developed and less inhabited than Tahiti, and it truly feels like paradise. When Mom and Casey visit, hopefully it'll work to take them there!

Over the weekend I also created an "itinerary" for their visit....only 16 more days!

Safe!

Cyclone Oli hit the island sometime yesterday. I'm not really sure when since Tumata and I are opposite where it hit. The winds came from the NE, and we went to her home in Papara on the west coast. When a cyclone hits, there are extremely strong winds. If you're in the area but not "hit," you experiene a lot of rain. In Papara, it hasn't really stopped raining since yesterday. Lucky for us it's only rain!

We lost electricity last night and water sometime while we were sleeping. The electricity came back on a while ago.

It was pretty stressful yesterday. UPF sits on a hill, and at lunch I could see the waves breaking against the reef just past the marina. Quite a few boats are docked there because it's so calm. To be able to see the waves breaking meant there was something coming.

Then, one of the ferries that travels to Moorea came into the marina area, which it NEVER does, nor is it supposed to, went through the marina, only to cut back towards Moorea. I could hear students talking about how the waves were reaching the streets in Papeete and that all the schools in the town were canceled.....hence the ferry cutting through the marina....the waves were too rough.

A few minutes later, school officials posted signs across campus canceling afternoon classes. It's no suprise that classes are canceled for today.

Code Red went into affect last night and is still in affect. Cars aren't allowed on the road, and the Gendarme -French police- are stationed throughout the island fining drivers.

Tumata spoke with her aunt this morning, and houses in her aunt's town have lost roofs and/or damaged homes. I can only imagine what happened in Papeete!

I feel so blessed and yet helpless. While I'm safe, have a roof over my head, and working electricity, there are people across the island without a home right now. I hope that when this is over, Simpson will have a hand in helping the island recover.

Iowa gets blizzards...Tahiti gets tropical storms

Cyclone or no cyclone? For the past few days, Nisha has been inching towards Tahiti. Unfortunately, it seems no one knows for sure if it's going to hit the island or not. Supposedly, it was going to hit today, but so far all we have is wind, clouds and some off and on again rain.

Olga, another cyclone, is forming off the coast of Australia, so we may be hit by that one later this week.

Life is good

Tumata and I on the island tour (Saturday).

I just came back inside from spending a couple of p.m. hours on the beach, and I haven't quite been this content since I spent the semester in D.C. Though I miss my family and friends back home, I have a wonderful host and friend, Tumata, who makes me feel at home here in Tahiti.

It's going on week three of studying abroad, and I have my good days and not-so-good days. A good day consists of feeling like I fit in at UPF; I recognize other students I have met and do the official Tahitian greeting of side-cheek kissing.

Seven Simpson students and the four Tahitian students that studied at Simpson last semester.

Thursday I ate lunch with another student in the program, and she had to leave shortly after I joined the group. Not knowing anyone or able to speak the language, we were able to communicate through the little English they know and what little French I know, and it sufficed! They invited me, and a couple other Simpson students they have met, to spend a weekend with them on Moorea, the closest island to island, over holiday break. Hopefully it works out that I can spend my last weekend of break on the other island since Mom and Casey are visiting for the first half!

But still, the most frustrating part of this experience is the language barrier, because my French is so limited. For those who know me, I love to laugh, and nothing stings worse than listening in on a conversation and A. not understanding the conversation and B. not understanding the joke or comical comments being shared. Aw. Frustrating, but I will work through it, and hopefully by the end of the semester I will be able to understand!

Tomorrow it is an island tour with the other Simpson students!

Hint of home

As Tumata and I headed to Papara this morning, I noticed the similarities of our fathers' trucks: bolts and screws scattered along the floor, random pieces of paper along the dashboard, and the dusty, woody scent of someone who works with his hands. I saw and smelled the life of a man's hard work.

*Like my dad, Tumata's father is a carpenter who owned his business of building houses. Though he is retired, he still assists his son in building homes on the island.

Check back on Sundays!

Hopefully, I'll be able to post pictures within the next couple weeks! And I apologize that I've let so much time go between postings; I wish I could post more often. We don't have internet at our house, but we will generally spend one night a week at Tumata's parents' home, which has internet. Check in on Sundays because we will usually spend Saturday nights at in Papara- her hometown- and go to church on Sunday mornings.

View from the Pink Coconut during a happy hour. Moorea- island nearest to Tahiti- can be seen in the background.

Je déteste les moustiques!

Just one view of the university and a few of the buildings.

I'm currently battling about 35 mosquito bites, but I'm managing- I'm just so sweet! :)

Classes are going well so far. The scheduling for classes here at UFP are quite different than in the U.S. Students here go to school for three years, and they choose their studies before their first year begins. Every student within their year and division of studies and has the exact same curriculum/classes together. Professors are then able to play around with class times and change them, possibly the day before it meets. Coming from an education system that values structure, this can be a shock. Sometimes professor A will have professor B tell his- professor B's class- that professor A's class is not meeting or class has changed to a different day, but some of professor A's students aren't in professor B's class. You might one or two students show up for the original scheduled time only to find no one there. Frustrating! And I hope that just made sense!

I have only one UPF class- American Civilization. My other classes are "Simpson Core Classes," which include a Tahitian language class, French language class, Polynesian culture class, and geography of French Polynesia. My geography class is in French, but I understood the essentials suprisingly! I'm sure it'll become more difficult as my français est tré limité- my French is very limited!

UPF's student newspaper- Te u'i mata- hosted a soirée last night at Le Meridien, one of Tahiti's gorgeous resorts, and Tumata and I went as she is involved with the organization. It was a a great time!! I met other students and danced. By the way, people my age here love techno; Blaiqe, you'd love it!!

Tumata lost her sandal in the ocean! She was giving me a night tour of the resort since my mom and brother will be staying there when they visit next month, and I just wanted to see the exclusive hotel. As we were about to sit down on the walkway that leads to the famous bungalows, which sit on top of the water and have a glass floor, she began to warn me to not lose my shoes in the ocean and sploop. She stopped mid-sentence because she had taken off her right sandal, and it was lost in the eight feet of water. Perhaps it'll still there be when I stay with my family? Most likely not.

We left about 1 p.m. and headed to her friends' house, which is conveniently located on the beach. I ended up falling asleep as the after-party continued.

You may be wondering how in the world could I have fallen asleep and not joined in at the beach. Well, no one ever told me this but I'm going to tell you.... studying abroad is exhausting. At the end of every day since I arrived, it's a struggle to make it past 10 p. m. Tumata assures me there will be plenty of occasions to spend the night at the beach.

Today we went to Tumata's aunt's house for her 50th birthday. There, I met some family and friends, as well as three extremely cute American Mormons. Daniel has been here only four months, and he already speaks French extremely well. I only hope to be as advanced as that before I leave!

Bienvenue!

Pictured: The market in Papeete.

I made it! I arrived Thursday night and was greeted by my professor who organized the partnership with the university in French Polynesia, her family, my host, Tumata, and her mom, Viviane.

Tumata is 21 years-old. We have a small house together in a short drive from the university.

Pictured: Dinner- fish and taro- my second night here. Yes, I ate all of it :)

Friday, I met up with Sharon, the professor from Simpson, and the other students for orientation. They showed me around the campus and hopefully I am able to find my classes come Monday! Beware: I am typing on a French keyboard so my punctuation may be off. We then into Papeete, the islands largest city and home of the university. We walked around the market and the city. To be honest, the city reminds me of Mexico with its busy, store-lined streets.

I still have so much to write- classes, Tahitian church services, and how exhausting study abroad is!

Not there yet

I left Sunday morning so that I could make it to L.A. without having to worry or push the hassles associated with flying stand by. I was supposed to be able to take a flight to Papeete, Tahiti on the fifth, but unfortunately flights have been booked solid through Thursday. The past few days I've been spending time with my uncle who lives in the area and my cousins.

Today Sarah and I went to Disneyland. To be a kid again! She's in fifth-grade and a pretty cool kid :) She knew her way around the park, so I just sat back and took it all in; you appreciate the atmosphere once you realize you're no longer a kid and life is not a fantasy.

But as much fun as I had today, I still wish I was beginning my study abroad experience. I just saw pictures of my classmates that landed there, and I can't explain how jealous I am.

Tomorrow I'll try my hand at attempting to get on a flight, and if that does not work out, there are a few options for Friday. Wish me luck!!