Our first week in Samoa has been busy and adventurous enough to last the whole month. When we first arrived, we all received leis as a welcome and ate a traditional Sammoan breakfast with bananas, breadfruit, bread with peanuts, coconuts, and a local orange juice. I met my roommate for the semester, Ashauna, a indo-Fijian studying agriculture and management.
Within the next few days we were “dropped off”, essentially kicked out of our Director’s car somewhere near Apia and our task was to find our way to our meeting spot. The bus systems near Apia do not have a schedule nor any real bus stops so figuring out how to avoid walking on the side of the whole time was a task itself. The purpose of this task was to get ourselves out there with the locals and to try out our language. We stumbled upon the flea market and bought a lava lava, the traditional sarong that Samoans wear tied around their waist made of brightly colored fabric designs. One of the biggest surprises for me here in Apia is how friendly everyone is and that Samoans find it strange for anyone to be alone, whether eating, walking, or just hanging out. I found this to be true when everyone in town was curious to know who we were and where we came from.
We will be on the campus for the next two weeks before traveling to one of the local villages, Lotofaga for a ten day stay with a family.
That breakfast sounds delicious! What’s your favorite food you’ve had so far?
-Becky, International Programs