2009.10.29: Peace Corps volunteer Matthew Crichton enjoys flavor of life in Western Samoa
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2009.10.29: Peace Corps volunteer Matthew Crichton enjoys flavor of life in Western Samoa
Peace Corps volunteer Matthew Crichton enjoys flavor of life in Western Samoa
Crichton said the students arrive at school and pick up rubbish, clean classrooms and make tea for the teachers before a morning assembly. "This includes singing a song, flag raising, morning prayer, uniform inspection and any announcements and/or punishments by the teachers," he said. "There is corporal punishment here in Samoa, and that has been really hard for me, because I don't do that," he said. Time is different in there, Crichton said. "Samoa is a very event-based society. People don't live by the clock as a rule. A big event is when a pastor visits a village." The villagers pulled out all the hospitality stops, he said. Samoans also like competition, Crichton said. "Singing and dancing are two big things. When I first got to Samoa, there was the 'Samoan Star Search' on TV. Now Samoans are watching 'American Idol.'" When he arrived, Crichton said he felt he was in a "fish bowl." "Everyone stared at the white person. Now people are more used to me. I don't feel so much like a guest." As a testament to his acceptance one family named their newborn after him.
Peace Corps volunteer Matthew Crichton enjoys flavor of life in Western Samoa
Peace Corps volunteer from Astoria enjoys flavor of life in Western Samoa
By SUE CODY
The Daily Astorian
Matthew Crichton graduated from Astoria HIgh School in 1995 and is finishing two years of service in the Peace Corps in Western Samoa, an island west of American Samoa.
He studied electrical engineering and computer science at the University of Portland, then served as a Vista volunteer in Boston and in AmeriCorps in Seattle.
Crichton teaches computer classes to students from ninth through 12th grades at Lefaga Secondary School near the capital of Apia in Western Samoa. He teaches 15 classes a week and helps students during reading.
Crichton experienced the recent earthquake, but wasn't in danger. He wrote in an e-mail: "I don't remember the exact time, but I was walking on the road as I do every morning when I felt the earthquake. I just stood still and waited. It was an interesting feeling. I've never felt an earthquake that strong before.
"When it had finished I walked to my school building to check my phone and I had a few text messages, saying 'go quickly to higher ground.' That's what I did after quickly packing emergency stuff in a backpack.
Because he has fair skin, living in a climate that is a constant 85 to 90 degrees with high humidity has been a challenge for Crichton. But he loves swimming in the warm Pacific Ocean. "The water in the South Pacific is warm," he wrote to an Astoria elementary class. "It feels so nice, I can swim in the ocean any time I like, and I swim around the coral and through schools of brightly colored fish at least two or three times each week. I also see my friend the six-legged starfish almost every time I swim in the ocean."
Crichton said the students arrive at school and pick up rubbish, clean classrooms and make tea for the teachers before a morning assembly. "This includes singing a song, flag raising, morning prayer, uniform inspection and any announcements and/or punishments by the teachers," he said.
"There is corporal punishment here in Samoa, and that has been really hard for me, because I don't do that," he said.
Time is different in there, Crichton said. "Samoa is a very event-based society. People don't live by the clock as a rule. A big event is when a pastor visits a village." The villagers pulled out all the hospitality stops, he said.
Samoans also like competition, Crichton said. "Singing and dancing are two big things. When I first got to Samoa, there was the 'Samoan Star Search' on TV. Now Samoans are watching 'American Idol.'"
When he arrived, Crichton said he felt he was in a "fish bowl." "Everyone stared at the white person. Now people are more used to me. I don't feel so much like a guest." As a testament to his acceptance one family named their newborn after him.
Of his experience, Crichton said the experience has "made my eyes open to the power of volunteerism."
Crichton said he has three words he uses to guide his work: movement, service and inspiration.
For more information and photos, visit Crichton's blog: (http://mrcpeacecorps.blogspot.com/)
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: October, 2009; Peace Corps Samoa; Directory of Samoa RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Samoa RPCVs
When this story was posted in May 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
| Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams |
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Story Source: Daily Astorian
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Samoa
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