A few weeks? months? ago, we loosely “planned” a trip to Ofu with our friend Alison (a previous WT field director who now works at a university on the main island). Since air and sea transportation have been particularly unreliable lately, we didn’t really cement anything for this weekend. We just sort of held it in the back of our minds that we might have a nice weekend trip if the plane started flying anytime soon. Then Alison found out on Thursday that she had a seat on Friday’s flight. She got to our island around lunch time and then we spent an hour or two calling around to get a boat (alia) over to Ofu.

The Beard got in touch with a guy in Ofu who could pick us up in Ta’u around 3. We left just as the sun was beginning to sink behind the islands. It was the first late evening trip we’ve taken between the islands and it was beautiful. The sea was incredibly rough and we sloshed our way across the ocean for a little over an hour, but it was worth it. (Plus I took a motion sickness pill so I didn’t feel like I was going to die every time we hit a swell.) There was one point, though, when we had to steer hard into the crest of a wave and I caught a glimpse shared between the two Samoan guys working the boat that seemed to suggest “that was a close one” or something to that end. It was a rough ride for sure, but still not the worst I’ve experienced (like that one time the Beard had to help bail water from the alia?).

The owner of the boat took us on a short fishing detour after a flock of hungry birds–we only caught one fish, a skipjack, which he gave us as a gift after we got to the wharf. It was already pretty dark by the time we arrived in Ofu, the last little bit of sunlight lingering just long enough for us to climb out of the alia. Beautiful and still and perfect.

The weather hasn’t been great–windy and cold (it’s currently 82 degrees F) with intermittent rain and rough seas–but the company is wonderful. We are staying at Vaoto Lodge with Alison and Karla (another former WorldTeacher-turned-contract-teacher who lives alone on the tiny island of Olosega). Alison has been a great friend to us over the years; she is moving back to the US this year, too, after four years in Tutuila. It’s already been a great trip, just the four of us reflecting on our experiences here and sharing a little about what we will and will not miss.

This is our last trip to Ofu-Olosega (at least for a few years, I’m sure) so we’re trying to soak it all in. I’m sure I’ll have more photos and words in the next day or so. Until then, enjoy: