Kiri Close, Phd: BLOG designed mainly for Oglala Lakota College students. Guest Posts welcome.

SAMOA 2009: On the morning of September 29, a level 8.0 submarine earthquake shook my homeland, the Samoan archipelago in the Pacific. Geologists say it was the result of a dynamic shift sequence in tectonic plate edges located several miles southwest of the islands. Minutes later, a tsunami in several waves devastated unwarned, unprepared islanders - my home village of Pago Pago on the island of Tutuila hit the worst. Here are some photos taken a month into the aftermath. People are still trying to collect themselves emotionally. Some coastal villages no longer want to relive along the seaside, where they've been for centuries. Instead, they've opted for higher ground & frequently during the week, send a few out to gather food, water, & other provisions (too afraid to come down out of the mountain themselves or in large groups!). As you can see, rubble and other objects were unnaturally mangled and shored up in locations they shouldn't be--boats especially. Restaurants, homes, & other buildings are now only memories, flattened out by the unkind precision of 'GALULOLO' (tsunami) & 'MAFU'IE' (earthquake). My aunty & uncle's house on a low, coastal hill was nearly taken out. They witnessed the quick swelling of the harbor waters, & even saw the BOTTOM of the harbor - that's how much water had risen out from the ocean, then imposed on land! Rubble is everywhere on Tutuila. However, on my mom's island of Upolu, their southern coast suffered a far more cruel fate, & more casualties. Tsunami, in its heartless ferocity, left absolutely NOTHING there in its wake--not even debris. Upolu, it seems, had almost no large scale clean up, nothing typically tangible to collect to help soothe in their sudden, overwhelming grief toward closure. Their recovery tasks have been mainly body counts, body searches. I am so grateful I was granted 'bereavement' leave to 'asi le aiga' (see/check up on/comfort/aid my family). It was a very difficult, emotional farewell on my way back to Nebraska. My family, immediate & extended, are my favorite people, & the best, most important part of me. I am totally nothing without them. How grateful I am everyday they survived this unfair ordeal.

by kclose

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 10:29 PM

add comment

add comment | ( 0 / 0 )

NORTH KOREA - DMZ 2004: Panmunjeom

by kclose

Monday, November 16, 2009, 01:28 PM

add comment

add comment | ( 0 / 0 )

XI'AN, CHINA 2005: Terracotta Warriors

by kclose

Monday, November 16, 2009, 01:26 PM

add comment

add comment | ( 0 / 0 )

TEOTIHUACAN 2009: gettin' ready to climb the temple behind me (eeks!) - Mexico.

by kclose

Monday, November 16, 2009, 01:19 PM

add comment

add comment | ( 0 / 0 )

TIJUANA 2003: hola, que paso?

by kclose

Monday, November 16, 2009, 01:18 PM

add comment

add comment | ( 0 / 0 )

Next

powered by pppBLOG v 0.3.11b