To-Do List

For some unknown reason, Samoa celebrates Father’s Day in August. It was yesterday. And as with every other national holiday, the day after, i.e. today, is also a holiday. There was no school today, and most shops and businesses around town were shut down. As is my end-of-the-weekend habit, I’m hung up on the big picture tonight; focused on the grand scheme. For me at this point, the grand scheme is all about getting ready to leave Samoa. True, I’ve still got 4 months. But I’m thinking grand here.

The following is the list of things I need to do before I leave:

• School Magazine. This is first because it’s the only one I’m truly afraid of. It keeps me up at night. I’m supposed to be heading up the school magazine this year; holding committee meetings, taking photos, putting together a layout. But I’ve never done anything like this before. I never participated in yearbook stuff growing up. I haven’t even decided what program I should use. I guess that’s where the stress comes from: I don’t know what the process will be. I do know that once the magazine is finished, I will start to feel finished. It’s the final hurdle.
  
• Law School/Grad School Applications. Okay, so this one’s a pretty big hurdle as well. I’m working on getting all my Letters of Rec—1 out of 4 received, not bad—and I’ve been struggling with the personal statement for weeks. Most schools haven’t opened their application window yet, so I feel a little ahead of schedule here. That won’t last.
  
• Impart All of My Computer Knowledge to the School Secretary. I have no idea what will happen to my computer lab once I leave. Maybe we’ll have computer classes next year, maybe not. The only tangible things I will leave behind are my automated spreadsheets, which I think are incredibly useful. But they require a working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, and my school secretary’s just not there yet. I got 4 months to get her up and running. Oh, and she’s pregnant, so probably she’ll be on maternity leave pretty soon. This one might be a lost cause.
  
• Finish Books and TV Shows. There’s a lot I want to read and watch. Books:
  
  • The Milagro Beanfield War;
    
  • Genius;
    
  • The Magnificent Ambersons;
    
  • One Hundred Years of Solitude;
    
  • Mao II; and
    
  • Guns, Germs, and Steel.
  TV Shows:
  
  • Six Feet Under (all seasons);
    
  • Deadwood (all seasons); and
    
  • Lost (seasons 5 and 6).
  Books-wise, I still have those 2 on hold that are listed on the side bar. TV-wise, I’m working my way through Northern Exposure right now, which will surely take at least a month to finish.
• Visit Fiji. Or American Samoa again. Technically PCVs aren’t allowed to take vacation their last 3 months in country, so I’m not sure how likely either of these options is, especially since I haven’t done any planning at all. Oh well.

There are other things I’m leaving off this list—packing, tattoos, etc.—but I’m going to chalk those up to logistics and Samoan Bucket List respectively; not list-worthy.

The list looks pretty impossible. Ehhh... I’ll do what I can.

I hope you’re well. Pictures below.

Note: I hate the term “Bucket List”.

Boys playing water rugby in Vaisigano River this afternoon.

AJ at Friday's soccer game.