The drive to Leone is one we had done numerous times together, just me and Emma. We had a post office box there for over two years and I have many fond memories of the two of us driving out there with excitement to collect our packages. The drive to Leone seemed to take forever this time. We drove down the last hill into Leone to complete devastation.
The post office was still standing and compared to other houses, standing strong, just without the actual mail boxes. The gapping hole in the side is where my box was and the second picture is the inside. Mail was strewn everywhere.
The bridge that connected the many villages on the west side washed away in the tsunami. Crews (directed by our friend at McConnell Dowell construction) thankfully temporarily repaired the bridge by evening time on the day of the tsunami. I can't imagine what people went through that day without having access to the hospital and the rest of the island.We didn't travel the whole west side, but we did see a couple of the villages beyond Leone. The village of Asili was hit very hard. More houses were gone than standing and those standing did not look livable.
This foundation was a shop in Asili run by a Korean family who lived in the upstairs. The family had two daughters, one was my student when I taught school. Tragically, she and her mother were inside when the tsunami hit. She was an amazing student with a bright future. She was Emma's age.
Another empty foundation...
It was hard to see so many homes destroyed. I witnessed more stores and other buildings damaged in Pago Pago, but on the west side of the island there were so many people living right on the ocean.
The force of the water to move vehicles, shipping containers, concrete is unbelievable.
Emma said she felt better seeing the tsunami aftermath. I know she worries and reality is sometimes better than our imaginations. Now she is more eager than ever to assist. She is donating just about everything she owns and I couldn't be prouder. It hasn't always been easy for Emma living here for nearly four years, especially at the present time, but I know she is going to shine wherever life takes her.
