America + Samoa= American Samoa

Approximately half way through our trip we were lucky enough to go to American Samoa. As a US territory, we weren't sure what to expect from the island. Our flight there was one of my favorite parts. It's a half hour flight and you go in a 15 person plane.Since the distribution of weight is so important you are weighed with your carry on before you get assigned a seat. We all thought this was hilarious. The cockpit is in open sight and I was in the front row so I got to see outside of the windshield the whole time. I also experienced turbulence in a small plane for the first time.When we got to Pago Pago we were instantly wowed by how beautiful it was. The geography was a little bit different than Independent Samoa and the runway was right between a mountain and the water. it was also a little bit cooler.

My Back yard :)

Sista Sista!

We immediately went to the Community College of American Samoa and got a snack. You've never seen 12 college students more excited to eat Dorritos in your life. Immediately we were paired up with our hosts and sent home. My host sister's name was Puna. She's 19 and graduated high school the same year as me. She lives with her mom and dad and 4 other siblings.her dad is actually from Lotofaga, the village I lived in early in the semester. Her mom was a primary school teacher for over 20 years and is now a counselor. She answered so many of my questions about school in American Samoa and just teaching in general. I think I got paired with the most perfect family for me. Right away I hit it off with Puna. She's super girly and full of sass. The first night we baked a cake for a bake sale at school. This seems like a small deal until you remember I haven't really been able to cook in months and this was the first time I saw an oven since I left Dayton. It made my night. I went to bed early in preparation for our trip to the gym the next morning at 4:30...... that's true dedication. I got to use a treadmill and even lift weights. It was like Christmas! It was a little disheartening to realize I'm not in the shape I would be if I were home but that was to be expected and only gives me more motivation.

Iphotos fun no matter where you are

1 of the 3 beaches in my backyard. Seriously unreal

My lovely room! The mats on the floor are the traditional woven mats like the ones from Lotofaga

That day we attended a few lectures and had organized discussions with a few of the students who had been informed of our research and covered the topics for us regarding American Samoa. It was fun to get one on one time with these students. I really enjoyed getting to know them and getting a better understanding of their perceptions of America and being American vs. being Samoan. One of the guys I talked to is getting ready to join the US military in June. He's excited about what this will do for his future but sent chills up my spine.

 (get ready for the rant)
There's a lot of debate about the fact that  American Samoans join our military. It's an astounding number in relation to the size of their population. There have been more American Samoan casualties than any other state in the US. (I'm not sure if that's percentage or actual number). Although it's honorable for them to join this cause this is a battle we shouldn't put them in. This war would have never reached the Pacific and doesn't need to concern them. They don't receive all the rights of being an American so they shouldn't have to hold this responsibility. I'm thankful that they choose to express their American identity this way but feel horrible that they are put in that position. People join mostly for the opportunity at greater education or a chance to move to the states.


anyway.....

We also got to go to a lecture on international business. All the groups were assigned different countries and had to preform a presentation, dance and prepare a traditional food. We forced our teacher to let us stay until the end and for the first time in 2 months WE GOT TO EAT TACOS!!!!!!! God bless the group who did Mexico. We also got to eat flan, Persian food, chinese food and sushi. It was a dream come true for this group of 12 struggling with the Samoan way of eating.

The moment called for a Taco selfie.... no shame

That night I went to church choir with my mom (Nelda) and my cousin. I was excited to sing and thought some of it might be in English...... I was wrong. I had a great time trying to keep up with the choir! But i definitely struggled a little bit. The choir was beautiful though. Religion is a huge part of life in American Samoa. There's just as many churches as there are in Independent Samoa (as in one on every block..... )

Most of the group minus Sanaa and Rina

The next day we went on a great hike! It was a grueling 7 miles but the view from the top was amazing! we could see both sides of the ocean and got to sit on an amazing lookout. I was actually an idiot and didn't have any water so i think I almost died but other than that it was great! it also gave wicked bad blisters but all was well! It was a great physical challenge and a fun change of pace for us. Sadly we did have two pretty bad injuries. There was a lot of rain the night before so it was super muddy but the terrain is pretty rocky so it's understandable that two girls fell. Rina had to get 9 stitches but Mel managed to only have a lot of blood everywhere! We rewarded our efforts by having amazing American Style food and enjoying and air conditioned restaurant. We went back to school and made our own lava lava's which was cool. Those are the wrap skirt things you've probably seen pictures of. Both boys and girls wear them and I've grown to really enjoy all of mine.

Mickey and I enjoying the view but mostly the fact that we could sit down

That night the whole group and their siblings were going to meet up and watch GI Joe and then head to Carl Jrs. A true American night. My sister and I ended up not getting a ticket because it was sold out but either did my roommate Mickey and her sister Baby. We spent the night above the theater at the arcade and had a blast... until we broke the candy machine :( but it was hilarious. They had Dance Dance Revolution Japan. It was honestly impossible but provided a good laugh. I also learned that teaching Puna to drive on a racing game may not be best considering she took out a few deer and a cop car. We met up at Carl Jrs. with the group and had a really fun night. We all felt super close with this group and are so happy we got to get to know them so well. We're also thankful we got to eat tacos and burgers......

a few of my new friends!

The final day brought us more lectures and then a farewell dance where we preformed our traditional Samoan Siva for them and they showed us the dance and Sasa they had been working on. These kids are so talented at what they do. They showed just how awesome Samoan dance is.


 YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS LINK! im obsessed. it's so cute

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1vEJx1Wiws

It was a tearful goodbye which just shows how close we were able to get with them in such a short time.

So much love!

A Lady GaGa Moment.... obvi

As we left we stopped at "Cost You Less" which is like the COSTCO or Sam's Club of the Pacific. We had limited space available but we all grabbed our necessary snacks for surviving the rest of Samoa. I grabbed a GIANT box of gold fish and Hidden Valley ranch...... so no worries! I'm going to make it! We ration the goldfish but so far I'm not even 1/3 of the way through. I'm not sure why I find it necessary to tell you all this.... but I do.


30 days as of today! So crazy that this trip is starting to wind down! Today marks the beginning of my independent study as well. So basically that means we're all taking a long weekend and getting started on Monday...... yay independence!

See you all soon!!!!!


xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Emi

So Paradise Really Does Exist?! Savai'i 2013

Our first group excursion off of Upolu (the main island of Independent Samoa) was too Savaii, the countries main tourist attraction. This is the place that ends up on screensavers and calenders across the world. It's literally perfection

My Favorite Stop In Savaii! The most beautiful waterfall and fresh water pool I've ever been to! Waterfall looks small here but It's about 4 stories high 

 

Thats mee to the left about to dive into the gloriousness of the water

The first two nights were just a break for us. We packed our bags and took the bus to the ferry. We stayed at Tanu Beach for the first 3 nights, the first two being completely by ourselves and having no school to worry about. We slept in small fales (lifted houses with no side walls) right on the beach. It is family owned and every member of the family takes part in running the hotel. It was really fun to get to know them. I even was proposed to! We made friends with guests from all around the world and enjoyed the traditional Samoan meals prepared for us by the family.

 My Tanu Beah Fiance ;)

 Our fale, appropriately named if you ask me

 The view from our fale 

 Timo, one of the cousins in the family, and our Favorite New Zealand Export

Our Tanu Beach grandpa, he drove his pimp truck around the property all day... even though it was 1/8 of a mile long. needless to say we enjoyed eachothers company

 the group at the entrance of the cave

The first day we were there half of the group went to hike in the dwarf's cave. We hiked up a small mountain and through some of the prettiest cococut, banana and taro plantations I've seen and our guide pointed into a small hole at the top. I was the only one who hesitated but everyone proceeded to climb into the hole and down to the dwarfs cave. This isn't your average American tourist attraction. There are no stairs or lights provided. At first being in complete darkness was strange but the few flashlights we brought managed to help a little. We started walking down across the rocks and followed a river that essentially went all the way down the cave. after about 10 minutes I hear a waterfall and assume thats the end. Our guide, 16 year old Junior, points down and says jump. I swear to you, I thought I was going to get stuck and die in this cave. Again I was last but managed my way down. we swam through a pool and proceeded. After two more waterfall climbs and a 15 jump into a pitch black cave pool, we reached the point of the cave that created it's name. Dwarfs cave comes in on itself and turns into small cave rooms connected by tunnels to crawl through. At each waterfall we lost more and more of our stuff and clothing so by this point we were in shorts and sports bras crawling through these tunnels into dark rooms. This was by far one of the craziest and most surreal things I have ever done. It was exhausting but well worth every challenge. Never would I have imagined that I would swim in a dark cave pool but I'm glad I did!

 Elsa and Sanaa- God Bless Elsa for making sure I was near a flashlight the whole time so I never got too scared.

Aly and I :) The Skidmore Girls basking in the glory of mud

The next day was a beach day through and through. I was very focused on getting a tan and being on the ocean, two things we don't really get living in Apia. There was a moment when I was sitting on the beach doing my homework for the week when I realized "I'm sitting on the Beach in Samoa doing my homework for the week" and then I felt very sure that I picked the right program.

Me and Miss Kuini (Quinn)

and agian! but this time working on our mermaid poses

Once Monday came it was back to class. Warren Joppling (A native Aussie) came to teach us all about Savai'i's geography and take us around the island. We hiked the lava fields the first day and then a volcano the next. He quickly became one of our favorite people ever with his witty humor and charming accent. It also helps that he's 84 and doing the hikes with us!

the volcano hike ->

 The buff band girls as we reached the top of the hike

 Warren in action. He was explaining how the church behind him was overflowed with lava during one of the explosions, turning it into one of the most beautiful ruins I have ever seen and creating an interesting home for new flowers and trees that manage to make their way up through the settled lava.

 Hiking the Lava fields!!

 A few of us made it all the way to the water


Can you see why we love this man? He's even become the topic for one of the independent research projects being completed. This man has more stories than I can count. In fact, it's easier for him to count which countries he hasn't been to than for him to count which ones he has.... thats just impressive.

Warren continued to take us around and we completed a few more hikes, and learned how to make Tapa. It's a paper made from bark and used for crafts or decoration. It takes a long time so it's an all day even but well worth it. you peel and stretch a small strip of bark until it's almost like cotton. When it's dry from this process, you paint it with natural die until you have the finished product.

A hike to what used to be the most westward part of the world

Mickey the mermaid in her natural habitat

Niko Suave being one with the birds upon the highest point

 The kids at Tapa Making

 The beginning of the process

The finished products! mines the one in the middle.

Our final stops in Savaii were to Lusia's Chalets. It was a luxurious ending with a glorious lagoon to swim in, a jumping deck, a natural rock pool, kayaks and the most delicious food we'd had in a long time. This was only by chance though. The hotel we were supposed to finish in ended up having a rough first night after one of the rooms was broken into and robbed. Only $80 tala went missing and no one was hurt, which was good, but after a vote we switched hotels the next morning and it ended up going so well.  By the end of the week we had driven around the entire island and seen all that there was to see. It was such an active and engaging week with great adventures.

 another reason not to stay at that hotel.... the giant cockroach eating spiders...

 class time at Lusia's discussing "Coming of Age in Samoa" by Margaret Meade

 Sunrise at Lusia's on the Lagoon. Thats one of the Fales on the right.

The fresh water  Rock pool right on the lagoon 


Other Misc. Moments in Savaii

 Brought the Awkward Smile to Samoa!

Niko Suave making tapa

 Puppy Love

Jackie reading her poems to us under the Moon at Tanu 

 A beautiful Catholic Church

 Group hugs on top of the Volcano!

The blow holes! they dont look impressive here but they were. They sent water shooting up 5 stories with enough force to launch coconuts 50 yards away and soak everyone standing too close






Thats all for now. Stay tuned for The American Samoa Report! I know I'm pretty far behind but I'm trying to catch up! Just a quick update though. In real time we just got back from Fiji and had an incredible time. On Wednesday we have our final test and that means that on Thursday our Independent research period finally begins. That also means 5 weeks until I'm home!. Love you all and miss you! Cant wait to see you soon!