Saaaaamoa!

Wow - I've met several Samoans in my life- and I have such a better appreciation of their strong, proud, family based culture after this incredible trip! It has really been one of my favorite stops. (I think I say that every stop...but still) American Samoa's got a bad rap...because of the stinky stinky fish canneries on the bay. Starfish Tuna ships out 1000 containers of tuna every month...  They really stink.  We decided it was like mixing Alpo with Goldfish Food and leaving it in the sun for several days - then putting a hot fan on it and sticking your face in it -

BUT - forget about that- because the people were so wonderful, we meet up with great boats, and the kids had a blast playing with Isaac from Paddy Wests. We hope to see them in Fiji!! Best of all...we could SHOP.  I can't tell you girlfriends back home the absolute horrid shopping conditions I have faced for four months.  We're talking tiny shacks that sell flour, rice, baguettes - and canned food.  So to get to a Cost-less (take off of Cost-co) was exhilarating.  I literally had Goosebumps.  It was worth the smell....I think.

In American Samoa we rode these buses, made from small trucks and plywood. They were decorated with lively materials, feather boas, whatever they could buy at the craft store and than rigged with big speakers that would BLAST Samoa music.  It was so much fun we bought a cd and have been trying the learn the words....Kai's favorite is a hard drum beating rap (ish) song that goes..."Ouuea ouee i um u saaamooin fire fitta "  We can't wait to see the fire dancers in action!! They are too cool - I"m still working on Jim wearing the Lava Lava-s although after three months I did get him a pair of flip flops - can you believe he's been wearing his "Top Siders" the whole trip!

OK- back on subject...American Samoa - we watched two movies, ate out EVERY meal - Mom's Place was awesome breakfast (NO breakfasts in French Polynesia!!) We shopped, rode the busses, went bowling, went to McDonalds, Pizza Hut, had a dose of America...a bit. I felt like an ugly American and it was great - McDonalds is like Crack for children- they were in heaven!!

Western Saaaaamoa

I see why everyone says Western Samoa is nicer than American.  We have seen at least five waterfalls, went sliding waterslide style down the "Sliding Rocks" toured the Pacific Games facilities which will take place in three weeks, toured the Robert Stevenson Museum, the local soap factory, and the markets have been so much fun! We have bought all sorts of goodies, Every morning we get a parade out on the bay- (It's how they start the day! ) I have had a hard time with the clothes though - supposedly women are to wear long skirts...you all know how many I have of those! I'm making due with the wonderful wraps they sell everywhere (lava lava's) We had an incredible evening watching the fire dancers on Kai's birthday and were so so happy to have Southern Star and Soul's Calling, Gato Go and Paddy West there at port....what a nice neighborhood!