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BarkellWH -> Samoa (Nov. 2 2014 20:55:38)
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Arrived in Samoa, where I will be covering for the Charge' d'Affaires of the American Embassy who is in the States on R&R. This is a beautiful island-nation, with verdant valleys and waterfalls, and hills covered with tropical vegetation. I spent three months in Samoa in 2011, and it is my good fortune to have been able to return.
One of the more interesting sights in Samoa is the home built by Robert Louis Stevenson, who spent the last four years of his life on the island. He and his wife are interred in the hill overlooking his home. The home has many of the original furnishings and artifacts that Stevenson brought with him.
Another striking thing is the relationship of Polynesian languages, including Samoan, to Malay. The Malays originally migrated from Taiwan to the Philippines and Borneo, on to Java, the East Coast of Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula. From there they continued their migratory patterns throughout the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Malayo-Polynesian languages (also known as Austronesian) are found from Madagascar to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and Samoa, as well as many others. As examples, the number "five" is "lima" in both Malay and Samoan. The number "ten" is "sepulu" in Malay and "sefulu" in Samoan.
Musically, the Samoans sing many of their traditional songs accompanied by acoustic guitars. In this, they differ from the Marshall Islanders who, while they occasionally play guitar, sing most of their traditional songs accompanied by ukeleles. It is safe to say that there are no flamenco guitarists on Samoa. Nevertheless, their traditional songs are beautiful, mainly about the sea and the old seafaring life.
Bill
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