Thursday, March 31, 2011

Desks and chairs - Pupitres y sillas - Pupitres i cadires

More encouraging news from Western Samoa. A local food wholesale business, Frankies Wholesale, has donated desks and chairs for five primary schools affected by the 29 September 2009 tsunami. The schools are in the Aleipata district: Ti’avea, Uafato, Saleapaga, Samusu and Lepa.


De Samoa Occidental llegan más noticias alentadoras. Una cadena alimentaria local, Frankies Wholesale, ha hecho donación de pupitres y sillas a cinco escuelas primarias que fueron gravemente afectadas por el tsunami del 29 de septiembre de 2009. Son escuelas del distrito de Aleipata: Ti’avea, Uafato, Saleapaga, Samusu y Lepa.


Arriben des de Samoa Occidental notícies encoratjadores. Una cadena de tendes local, Frankies Wholesale, ha donat pupitres i cadires a cinc escoles primàries que van estar afectades greument pel tsunami del 29 de setembre de 2009. Són escoles del districte d’Aleipata: Ti’avea, Uafato, Saleapaga, Samusu i Lepa.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

A little poem on Clea’s Library – Un pequeño poema sobre la Biblioteca de Clea – Un senzill poema sobre la Biblioteca de Clea



Now the Clea Salavert Library proudly stands on the hillside of Lalomanu. Sometimes there seems to be very little left to do, but writing helps us pass the time. I hope you like this little poem.

La Biblioteca Clea Salavert se erige ya con orgullo en las faldas de la colina que preside Lalomanu. En ocasiones parece quedar bien poco que hacer, pero escribir nos ayuda a pasar el tiempo. Espero que te guste este poemilla.

La Biblioteca Clea Salavert s'erigeix ja amb orgull en les faldilles del muntijol que està per sobre Lalomanu. De vegades sembla que queda molt poc per fer, però escriure ens ajuda a a passar el temps. Espere que t’agrade aquest senzill poema.


Halfway up a stately green hill,

not far from these silky soft sands

where she had her very last swim,

a lovely library now stands.

With love and sorrow it was built,

and we all hope one day it will

bring joyful smiles, and better lives

to all the Lalomanu kids.

A schoolgirl with dark hazel eyes –

a very young tourist who’d dream

mermaids, dolphins, whales and lots more

than this great picture-perfect beach:

she relished the gentle sea breeze,

splashed about near the ocean shores,

marvelled at the slender palm trees,

curiously gazed at Samoan land.

The library will be lasting

tribute to her, who loved to read:

our terribly missed daughter,

the big sister who bossed our twins,

a good student, lively buddy;

a great life that shall not unfold

drowned by the murderous water.

(Canberra, March 2011)