Same things, different country

Hi all
First of all, Skype is wonderful. We're all set up with the webcam, and last night I talked to Dad for half an hour. He could show off his pot plants, and I could watch a league game on TV. Everyone's happy! If you do get it, please let me know, and we can set up a time to chat. It will take a while for Taine to get comfortable using it, as he was happier giggling and hiding behind the chair rather than talking. Knowing the amount he talks, I'm sure it won't be long before he's yarning for hours.
This morning I went to the OMV (Office of Motor Vehicles) to get my drivers licence and change the ownership on the car. They made me sit a test! How the hell do I know what the alcohol blood limit is, or how many feet you have to indicate for before turning (it's 100 actually). There were some trick True False questions, like if a police officer asks you to stop, it's ok to run away, and one specifically aimed at palagi who don't like doing the DUI tests. I went for the government answer for that, rather than the answer based on everyone's stories. I had a very nice man supervising me, who kindly told me some of the answers when I didn't know the difference between a curve and a turn.
And then when I got the temporary licence (no Social Security Number yet, or proper residence permit, but that's another story), I may as well have made it myself on some of my blue cardstock and saved myself the bother! Not very high tech. Of course the car salesman hadn't given me the right forms, so I'll have to go back to him. Some professions are the same everywhere (apologies to any car salesmen reading this, and taxi drivers should feel singled out too).
Now it's off to the Leafou Shopping Mall (6 shops) as I've heard a rumour there are coffee plungers at the photo and gift shop. Of course.
We made an effort to get out at the weekend, with some success. Some of Matt's workmates are going to Apia for a team-building weekend (another thing that doesn't change -read drinking holiday) and had a fund-raising car wash. Car washes are everywhere. Every weekend and public holiday, and actually one opposite the supermarket on Monday morning, every church, youth group, family has a car wash. There'll be a dozen kids standing on the side of the road with signs yelling at you, and a few in the background armed with hoses and brushes. I thought wow, everyone on the island must have clean cars, but the standard MO is to just throw a couple of dollar notes out the window which the kids run on to the road to pick up before they blow away, or another car drives over them. Everyone's happy.
We didn't figure this out until we actually made the team clean the car, while Matt and Taine squirted each other with the hose. The funniest thing about this car wash was the complete lack of safety. On the busiest (only) road to Pago, the team had an extension cord running from inside the house, over the road, to get the stereo going on the other side of the road.
After the car wash, we went over the hill from Pago to Fagasa, a little bay over the hill. Nothing else there except for a little village, and you really do just go up the hill and down the hill. Nice views.
Sunday we all went to the walking track in the morning, Matt and I walking, Taine on his bike. All was going well until Taine tried to go up the hill. We were watching him from 100m away, wondering if his little legs could carry him, and if he had enough momentum. He didn't. In slow motion, the bike went up, then came down, Taine screaming at the top of his lungs as his bike slowly skiided right and he ended up down a bank, bike on top of boy. Poor boy was quite traumatised and sat under a tree for the next 3 laps. In the afternoon, Taine and I went to see Monsters vs Aliens, along with most of the palagi on the island. Tickets were only $13 for the two of us, but the candy counter was ridiculously expensive. Mind you, the size of those popcorns and sodas could feed a family of 4 for a week. Movie ok, nothing special at all. Kids laughed.
I went to Painting on Thursday. A group of 50-something ladies gossiping, talking about their children and grandchildren, having a lovely time doing their own artistic thing. Felt very Altrusa-y. I'm going back next week. Might even do something this time.
Matt's soccer team got in to the semifinals, which we went to watch on Thursday evening. They lost, and Matt injured himself as goalie diving for a ball. He said the instinct was still there, but the body couldn't quite do it. I'm not sure what the next sport will be.
Must be end of term soon. Hope everyone, teacher and students, have had good terms, and aren't getting scratchy yet.
S