While I may be extending my service for another year, my project, my island, my village, my school, and my name are all changing. With the completion of my two years of (original) Peace Corps service, I am leaving behind my village persona of Sana.
For the past two years, I have gone by the name of Sana. It comes from Alesana, which is Samoan for Alexandra. This is who I am known as to my family, my teachers, my students and my village. With my change in project next year, I will be going back to my real name, Alex.
With this change has come goodbyes. I am saying goodbye to where I have called home for the past two years. I am saying goodbye to the ferries I watch coming and going from the wharf, to the cars and buses always passing by, to the church hall where choir practice is heard many nights a week, to the kids yelling "Sana!", to the view of all the islands from my school, to the walk up the plantation hill, to the single stoplight on the entire island, to the fancy new sidewalks, but most of all to the people.
Saying goodbye in Sāmoa is not a quick and easy thing. There must be people constantly asking when you are leaving and of course celebration. And there are also the gifts.
My teachers did a papakiu (barbecue) at school and presented me with some souvenirs to take back home. I also said my goodbye by giving a speech in Samoan and presenting the teachers with superlative awards. I got a little teary eyed when I gave my speech. On my official last day, they all sang to me and I gave each of them hugs. It was a wonderful and heartfelt goodbye.
I also had to say goodbye to my host family who I have been living with for two years. We spent a lot of time together this week, just sitting around and chatting. On my last night we went to my mom’s family’s house and had our evening prayer and dinner. We then had a 30 minute photo shoot with varying people in the family and me.
On my last morning, my family gave me gifts to take home. My host mom started to cry as she she gave them to me. I also had to say goodbye to Tusi, the cat I rescued.
Before we left for the wharf so I could take the boat to Upolu, we had another family photo shoot. It was a sweet way to say goodbye. The advantage I have of extending though is that I’m not too sad since I know I can go and visit next year.
