Cruise - Day 28 - Pago Pago, American Samoa
Saturday, October 10th, 2009Unlike the independent western Samoan islands, the eastern islands are a territory of the US. Despite very similar ancestry and culture, the two countries are quite different. The US presence is obvious, from the cars to the Army barracks to the fast food stores. Where Western Samoa is laid back and traditional, American Samoa is busier, dirtier and more “western”. It’s not all negative though - public school is completely free in American Samoa, including transport and breakfast. The children seem to take real pride in their schools and are interested in learning. In Western Samoa parents must pay for public school, and the attitude towards education was much more lax. Our tour guide, and 15 year old school girl, moved with her family from Apia to Pago Pago so that she and her older sister could go to school.
The two Samoan days were an interesting juxtaposition between a traditional, laid back but limited lifestyle and a modern and option-filled, but more chaotic existence. American Samoa seemed to be so much less in touch with its traditional culture, but offered its residents the option of being something other than a farmer, tour operator or rugby player.
Despite not being as scenic or cultural as its neighbour, we had a great day in American Samoa. Our tour guide was great, giving us a different perspective from that of our other more seasoned guides. Will fell asleep in Ange’s arms on the bus, and when we stopped she found a shady spot under a tree. After a little while all of the bus drivers from the tour buses got together nearby and started singing. I managed to lose my 2 day old sunglasses in a church, and we were all pretty sore from the wooden seats by the time it was over.