Home Again

It's definitely good to be home. It's a strange, mixed feeling though. Although relieved to be home safe and sound, a melancholy feeling takes over knowing that the experience is over. The memories and pictures live on forever though!

A couple things I've remembered since coming home...

I was joined at dinner at Tisa's by four employees from NOAA. Their job is to travel around installing, calibrating, and repairing oceanographic equipment, and they are all certified deep divers. Their territory stretches from Fairbanks Alaska all the way down to Bora Bora! And they are on the road about 140 days a year. Not only were these guys fascinating to speak with, but they were really helpful at the Pago Pago Airport showing me the ropes on how to make my way through baggage claim, customs, immigration, and security. Samoa's airport is very 3rd world and their help probably saved me from missing my flight. Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have joined them!

My little island scooter had ABS. If I had been there any longer, the mod bug may have bitten and I would have been tempted to add braided lines, risers, and a jet kit.

The airfare was $1,800 round trip from New York. The hotel was $100/night and included breakfasts. The scooter was $15/day. The car was $50/day. Meals were cheap as was everything else. The total trip cost was less than $3,000 for 5 days and 4 nights.

The island of Samoa (not American Samoa) is about an hour away, is a much larger island, and features more of the typical tourist things to do, luxury hotels and restaurants, and cost. There is a ferry system that will take you to many of the other smaller islands in the chain.

My scooter ride resulted in the worst sunburn I've ever had in my life! I was really red but didn't peel right away. After I got home and went to the gym, my sweat glands backed up and I was quickly covered with large fluid filled vesicles which popped wildly and left my shirt soaked. Yuck! Now my skin is peeling off in sheets and it looks like I came home with leprosy!

During my flights, I read and really enjoyed "The Whole Truth" by David Baldacci. I also took along some noise cancelling headphones and my iPod Touch which was really nice blocking out the 36 hours of jet engine noise. The Boeing 777 is a massive aircraft which carries nearly 400 people. But make sure you get an aisle or window or you can find yourself with two people on each side of you.

When I left Samoa, it was 89 degrees on Thursday evening at 11:50 PM. When I arrived in New York on Saturday afternoon at 2:00 PM, it was 26 degrees and there was 7 inches of snow on the ground. The climate change was shocking. And I arrived home in shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and Birkenstocks. Dumb tourist!

Day III in American Samoa

After training the physicians of the LBJ Tropical Medical Center, my day ended with a drive to the east side of the island, to Tisa's Barefoot Bar. Tisa serves a traditional Samoan feast on Wednesday nights. Food is gathered from the mountains and the ocean -- chicken, turkey, squash, taro, fruitbread, onion, octopus, prawn, and banana leaves.


It is cooked in the traditional way - in an underground oven called an umu. A fire is built and stones placed on it. When the fire is down to the embers, the food is placed on the stones. When all the food has been placed on the umu, it is covered tightly with banana leaves and left to cook. The meal was delicious and we were treated to traditional Samoan song and dance after dinner. Tisa's is located right on the beach so the whole experience is delicious for the palette and the eyes.

After dinner, the rains came. And when it rains here, it really rains. The long drive back to the hotel on narrow, winding, flooded roads that dart around the cliffs was a white knuckle driving experience! A kayak may have been more appropriate than my rental car!

Day II in a Tropical Paradise

Today was a work day. The afternoon was spent at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center with the Medical Director, Dr. Anesi. I also met the CEO and the Network Administrator. Such a nice group of people! Dr. Anesi was thrilled that we had a new standalone version of VisualDx since their Internet connection is very slow. We did some training and made plans to meet with the rest of the staff tomorrow afternoon.

After training, I made my way east to Tisa's Barefoot Bar, but it was closed. Most of the island was a flurry of activity today due to a run-off election for Governor. But I headed back to the hotel and feasted on a Rib Eye steak from New Zealand. Sunburn is still there, and my arms and legs are very tender. And I'm exhausted from all this ocean air!

American Samoa

This week I have the honor and pleasure of visting the island paradise of American Samoa. Although a work trip - the LBJ Tropical Medical Center is a client and I will be training their physicians - there is some down time that will allow me to explore the island.

So, after 18 hours in flight time, I am here. And in my first full day on the island, I decided to rent a scooter and take a tour. American Samoa is about the size of Washington, DC. And a lap around the island by scooter is a wonderful way to take in the sights, smells, and sounds of this paradise.

My tour started from my hotel, the Tradewinds, and took me east through Maliua Beach, Coconut Point, Faga'Alu, past the Governor's residence, Pago Pago Harbor, Camel Rock, Alega, Avaio, Fagaitua, Amoouli, Ausi, Alao, and Onenoa. The white beaches on the east side of the island are the most beautiful and pristine I have ever seen. Samoa is also home to one of the largest tuna factories in the world owned by Starkist and is one of the island's largest employers.

The roads are a challenge with many sharp twists, and the challenge of avoiding the many road hazards like potholes, goats, chickens, and crazy drivers. Everyone drives 25MPH and no one uses turning signals. The only downside to the 4-hour tour-by-scooter is that I am as sunburned as I have ever been! But it was well worth it.

More tomorrow!