Snorkeling!

What a great week! I finally left the classroom and ventured out to explore the island.  We drove the entire length of the island (it took about 15 minutes) in the back of a pick-up truck, which of course is the only way to ride.  

Here we are in the pick-up truck!

We got to see our friends, two other WorldTeach volunteers, on the other side of the island!  A little background on the island:

Our island, Ta’u, is the biggest of the three Manu’a islands, or outer islands, in American Samoa.  The other two outer islands are Olesega and Ofu.  Ta’u is about 6 miles long.  The majority of Ta’u is a jungle but there is civilization on the coast of one side of the island.  There is one road going through the entire island, no side roads.  Our house is at the beginning of the road;  It is at the end of the village Faleasao. There are three villages in Ta’u.  Faleasao is the smallest village with about 100 people living in it. After traveling through Faleasao, you hit the second village of Ta’u.  This is a much bigger village and is where the high school is located.  It’s not too far from us, about a 45 minute walk or a 20 minute run, lots and lots of hills.  The farthest and largest village is Fitiuta it is about 6 miles away and way too many hills to run up, but the other volunteers and I are determined to run it.   The ride to Fitiuta is beautiful, beach on one side jungle on the other. Simply amazing. 

Here is my village, Faleasao, from above!

The jungle on the right side! 

This was what we saw on our left on the drive down to Fitiuta

Saturday we got to go swimming and snorkeling and just enjoy the island.  You wouldn’t believe how blue the water is here! While snorkeling I saw these beautiful neon blue fish and fluorescent coral!  Volunteers in the past have seen turtles and even sharks! That would be amazing!  One person told us to watch out for the tiger sharks, but I’m pretty sure they were just messing with us…at least I hope.  The water is so warm, much warmer than our showers at least! Once schoolwork slows down I plan to be in the water everyday after school snorkeling and swimming and even spear fishing heeyyy!

Garrett and Jason swimming in the crazy blue ocean

Those are the islands Olesega and Ofu in the background