Richard Rieckenberg Biography

Sent on 11 October: Today is White Sunday which is a very important holiday in Samoa. All of the children are given new clothes which are all white. They wear these to church. Today is the only day when children are served first by their parents and they are honored on this day as if they were elders.

We are only working a partial day today in observance of this holiday so I was invited to a Samoan breakfast. Since I was an elder guest the food was prepared and served to me. The size of the breakfast was enormous! The breakfast consisted of corned beef, Samoan sausages (picture a Jimmy Dean link on steroids), shredded beef in coconut, lamb ribs, scrambled eggs, a baked tarot (about the size of a large potato), a half of a baked breadfruit (about the size of a cantelope), beef stew with a type of fruit that tasted like squash, and a bowl of cucumbers. Desert was custard and peach pie with orange and chocolate ice cream. During the meal a young man took a large breadfruit leaf and fanned it to keep the bugs away and to provide me with napkins, water, etc. It was quite something and the food was pretty tasty although I don't see myself developing an tremendous fondness for tarot or breadfruit any time soon. I told our server that this was enough food for my wife and me for about a week. He wasn't very impressed and kept piling it on. They all think I am too small and skinny. I told them I am a fairly large person where I live in northern New Mexico. That didn't impress them too much either. They did mention, though, that at least I wasn't too short.

It has been difficult to see the results of the devastation from the tsunami. The hardest hit were the small villages and many of them were right on the water. The homes are modest but well-kept and clean. Now many of them will simply be bulldozed. Even so, many of the families are living in them until better accomodations can be arranged. FEMA is supplying tents, camping supplies and portable toilets. The Red Cross is giving water, ice chests, snacks, gloves, tarps, cots, comfort kits, flashlights, etc. among other things. Later we will receive and deliver a much larger bulk shipment from the mainland with more diverse supplies.

The Red Cross is enormously popular here. Many people call out "Red Cross" and wave as we drive past. Whenever we go to eat the other restaurant patrons will often come to shake our hands and thank us. This chapter has worked hard to win the respect of the people and it makes a big difference. The clients we serve are very appreciative. Two days ago I received my first Samoan hug which entails being enveloped by the hugger and kind of beaten on the back in great enthusiasm until the huggee (me) is only semi-conscious. It is a bruising but rewarding experience.

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