Father's Day Weekend

Today is Father’s Day in Samoa, and the 3-day weekend has attracted volunteers to pour into Apia to spend the weekend. Occasions like this are similar to a sort of social symposium in which attendees can pick and choose which events they’d like to attend based on a number of factors including the nature of the occasion, cost, whether it conflicts with higher priority errands, and who else may or may not be in attendance. It’s a time to get together, a time to see and be seen. Here was this weekend’s event log:

Friday, 7 August

Event: Fish Market Luncheon
Host/Organizer: Paul
Time/Place: 12:30 p.m. / Fish Market
Brief Description: Traditional pilgrimage to Apia’s best/cheapest oka and fish and chips. Arrive early for chance to get a niu with lunch.

Event: Saimini with Supy
Host/Organizer: Supy
Time/Place: 6:00 p.m. / Office
Brief Description: PCV reunion dinner with usual Peace Corps fare. Menu will include wide variety of Ramen flavors including Pho Ga, Hot & Sour Seafood, Crab, Shrimp, and Mushroom. Note: This event is BYO plastic spoon.

Event: Drinks at Henny’s Sports Bar
Host/Organizer: Matt/Paul/Supy
Time/Place: 9:30 p.m. / Henny’s
Brief Description: Come have deep philosophical discussions about Samoa and teaching and computers and whatever else strikes your fancy. Darts to be played after the Auckland/Cantebury rugby game.

Saturday, 8 August

Event: Fish Market Brunch
Host/Organizer: Phil/ Matt/ Supy
Time/Place: 11:30 a.m. / Fish Market
Brief Description: Traditional pilgrimage to Apia’s best/cheapest oka and fish and chips. Guaranteed to please attendants of yesterday’s Lunch at Fish Market event.

Event: Capture the Flag
Host/Organizer: Blakey
Time/Place: 12:00 p.m. / Behind Government Building
Brief Description: With so many people in town, why not get together for a game at the park? True, it will be sweltering in the midday sun. And yes, you’re bound to get sunburned. How about if we all just hang out in the shade and toss a Frisbee around? Cool?

Event: Sit Around the Peace Corps Office for Seeming Eternity
Host/Organizer: Ensemble
Time/Place: 2:00 p.m. / Behind Government Building
Brief Description: Take a hot shower. Or a nap. Play cards. Have meaningless conversation about the finer points of anti-virus programs. Free internet until 5:00 p.m. If you sit around long enough, Supy will probably offer to buy you an Ice Pop.

Event: Chris’s Birthday Celebration
Host/Organizer: Chris/AJ
Time/Place: 7:00 p.m. / Italiano Pizzeria
Brief Description: Headlining event! Everyone’s favorite pizza (unless it’s not) followed by drinks and dancing. Highlights include punchy Samoan banter with pizza waitress, requesting Toto’s “Africa”, meaningless conversation about the even finer points of anti-virus programs, and perhaps the sweatiest nightclub dancing ever. Good times guaranteed.

Sunday, 9 August

Event: Pinati’s™ After Party
Host/Organizer: Matt/Supy
Time/Place: 12:45 a.m. / Pinati’s Restaurant
Brief Description: Greasy cheap eats with Samoa’s finest! Samoan-style Chinese food will be served for dirt cheap. Beef stir-fry, fried chicken, curry and rice for less than $5 WST. Whether you’re looking for a midnight snack or simply looking for an authentic local experience, this event is for you!

Event: Ramen Brunch
Host/Organizer: Phil/Matt
Time/Place: 11:30 a.m. / Office
Brief Description: Come enjoy more of K.K Mart’s finest cuisine and discuss the events of last night. Commiserate about going back to work on Tuesday. Worry frantically about how you only have 6 days to teach your year 13s to use Microsoft Access before the combined CAT. Don’t forget your plastic spoon!

Pick and choose carefully. Pictures below.

Note: My camera's battery died halfway through the weekend so I have frustratingly few pictures. Apologies.
















Saimini with Supy.
















Helicopter lands during Capture the flag.
















Pinati’s™ After Party.
















PCV Casey's visiting brother, Ryan, at dinner at Erik's on Sunday (Late addition to schedule).