It's not often you read about American Samoa in the National news. I stumbled across an article today that features AmSam. Though, it's not in a good way.

The piece is about the relative expense of internet access and the speed of internet in different rural regions in the United States. Guess who's the slowest and most expensive: American Samoa. Not the number one we're hoping for, sigh. One thing we have to look forward to when Sara and I move home is not paying $150/month for internet that rarely reaches 100 Kps and is frequently down for days at a time.

Halfway

Couldn't believe it, but Monday was my 1 year anniversary of being in American Samoa. I was a little too sick for a celebration, but I'm still in shock that I'm halfway through my 2-year contract. It hasn't felt like anything close to that long. Can't say too much as I'm buried in trial prep, but still needed to note the milestone.

Tofa and Reaping the Spoils

We said goodbye to two attorneys from our office last week. Friday was the last day of work for our immigration attorney and the other civil litigator. We did the traditional farewell, a tofa, meal for them and they were presented with the traditional parting gifts for those leaving the island.

Our immigration attorney is staying on-island, but is going to be acting as her kid's caretaker this summer. The other litigator is heading back to Utah. I'll miss him (not just since I'm taking over his case load until a new attorney is hired and arrives on island), as he was the other member of the office that arrived on the same flight as me and we both carried similar litigation case loads. Hopefully your endeavours back on the mainland treat you well.

One side benefit for when people leave our office is the reallocation of their work and office space. This time around it benefits Sara, as she was the most senior attorney without a window office. With everyone on two year contracts, it doesn't take long to move high up the seniority ladder, both Sara and I are near the top of the Civil Division ranks. As a result, Sara's now been upgraded to a view of Pago Harbor Mount Alava and Rainmaker Mountain. Not too shabby there, Mrs. Sayles.

Sometimes saying goodbye is tough, but it also means you're around to reap the spoils.