Samoa is NOT a diet friendly place. Neither are airports for that matter. It seems like every time I turn around we are eating... and the food is so good. Because someone has been serving our food I['m not the one who is making my own plate. And I'm pretty sure, because I've been watching everyone else and I think I heard it somewhere too, that isn't rude if you don't finish all your food. So..... I've been pacing myself with my meals, watching how much everyone else eats and sneaking food from my plate to Kasala's plate. It's only the second day too..... I don't know how I am going to keep this up.
For breakfast today Kasala went out and picked a huge papaya off of the tree. Manamea and Terina just killed the thing. They love the fresh fruit. After breakfast Kasala went to town with his dad to do some food shopping. The kids all went outside to play in the house that the fmaily is building. The day wasn't so hot or humid, it was very nice and comfortable. We didn't do much... just hang out at home. Manamea is having a hard time I think with the weather more today than yesterday. I think she is uncomfortable. She also has a cough and I hope it's nothing serious. She has had it for some time now but we were told that it was just a cold. I would hate to find out that it was pneumonia or something worse when we get home.
A fe fun things happened yesterday. Kasala went out and picked some cocoa off of the tree. When he split it open it wasn't what I thought it would look like. It was all white. You have to suck this white stuff off of the cocoa bean and then the cocoa is inside! It was very tart but it tasted good. Terina and the kids of course loved it. But now I'm starting to wonder if that is how people make the cocoa..... suck all the white stuff off and spit the bean in a bucket until they have enough for some koko Samoa....if so....GROSS!! He also went and picked some other fruit from outside which was really good... I just don't know the name of the fruit.
Terina is having a blast with her cousins. She plays hard all day long. I really hoped that she wouldn't get attacked by the mosquitoes but she did. Even with the spray and the coils in the house she is getting eaten alive. We try to shower her before it gets dark outside so the bugs don't get her and we sleep in the netting but for some reason she is just losing the battle of the bugs. And so am I. It really sucks. Manamea and Kasala aren't bad at all so at least half of us are doing alright.
In preparations for Sunday, Kasala and Dad killed a pig. I went outside to watch and take some pictures of this cruel event but because Manamea was being a crybaby didn't get any pictures. So Papa, which is what all the grand kids call Dad, went in the pig pin to feed the pigs and find one for dinner. He grabbed it by its back legs and took it out and handed it to Mama. She walked it over to where Kasala was waiting with a piece of steel pipe. I wasn't sure if they were going to stab it, cut it, beat it to death or what with this pipe. So Mama held the back legs, Papa held the front and Kasala put the pipe across the pigs throat and then stood on it. He just chocked the thing to death! It was kind of sad to watch but I knew that is was going to be our Sunday dinner. It is the way of life for some people to raise their food and then kill it. The pigs aren't pets... they're food!
Last night was a little rough. It was very humid. Terina has bites all over her and they were itching. Kasala put salt water on them to help with the itching. When Manamea finally fell asleep I thought we were done for the night but she woke up a while later crying and threw up milk all over me. That woke up Terina who started crying about her bites. Terina got Benadryl, I changed my clothes and Manamea got an episode of Barney. I couldn't help but break down and cry thinking that I was a bad mom for not being able to take care of my kids. I did realize after a while that there are some factors that I can't control like the weather. I just need to remember to keep the kids hyderated, covered and have bug spray on them at all times. I'm not a bad mom... I'm just adjusting to my environment.
Saturday was a good day overall. It was very laid back and relaxing. Hopefully the kids are starting to adjust and the next few weeks will be enjoyable and stress free. I really do love being here with Kasala and his family. I'm starting to understand him more and realize how good I've had it my whole life.
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