SAMOA AND AMERICAN SAMOA

We left the Independent State of Samoa, once known as Western Samoa until 1997, yesterday, crossed the international dateline at 10PM last night, and are now in American Samoa.  At one time they were like Hawaii.  Then came the Germans, British and USA.  Around the same time that the U.S. annexed Hawaii in 1898, wars broke out in the greater Samoa islands, and in 1900 those three countries split up the islands.  The result was the U.S. gaining the eastern islands and Germany the western ones, with the UK getting the rights to Tonga and some other sites from Germany.

In World War I New Zealand seized control of Upolu from Germany, at the request of Great Britain.  Came the Spanish flu in 1918, killing 20% of the total population, including 30% of all adult men. What remained were 38,000 Samoans and 1500 Europeans.

Samoa has two main islands, Upolu and Savaii.  They make up 99% of the 201,000 population,  I made a short visit to the capital city of Apia on Upolu.

Samoa is a member of the Commonwealth Nations, which, of course, is the 56 member states, most formerly territories of the British Empire.  

• In 1962 it became the first Pacific island country to achieve independence.  
• It is a unitary parliamentary democracy.  
• Was admitted to the United Nations in 1976.
• At the end of 2011 changed time zone, effectively jumping forward by one day, omitting December 30 from the local calendar.  This helped them doing business with New Zealand and Australia.
• Two years ago I reported on the politics of the country.  Surely sounded like another Donald Trump coup.
• Today, Fiamē Naomi Mata'afa is prime minister, the first female in that role.

American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the U.S.  The total land area is slightly larger than Washington, D.C.  It is the southernmost territory of the U.S. and one of only two south of the equator.  No knows the other.  At least I did not, until I just learned that it is the uninhabited Jarvis Island.

• There are five main islands, the largest and most populous is Tutuila, where Pago Pago (pronounced Pango Pango) is located, and where I am as I compose this posting.  Here are two noted bits of info:
• The modern history is similar to Samoa, including annexation around 1900 and the Spanish Flu, although authorities there did a good job of minimizing deaths.
• 
  Of historic note is that in 1921 English writer Willer Somerset Maugham arrived in Pago Pago, allegedly accompanied by a missionary and Miss Sadie Thompson, inspiring his short story Rain, which was made into three films.
• In 1924, Margaret Mead arrived to begin fieldwork for her doctoral dissertation in anthropology at Columbia University.  In 1928 she published Coming of Age in Samoa.  Very controversial, and the sense is that she was misled.

• 
  During World War II, U.S.Marines stationed in Samoa outnumbered the local population and had a huge cultural influence.
• This is why American Samoa has the highest rate of military enlistment of any state or territory.
• An ethnic Samoan is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American, although many of the good athletes also emigrate to New Zealand to play rugby and cricket.

• 
  But back in 1959 an attempt was made to incorporate the country, but was defeated, mainly because Samoan chiefs wanted to remain independent.
• Had a historic role in the Apollo Program, as astronaut crews of several launches were retrieved close to here.
• The 58th and current governor is Lemanu Peleti  (in my absence the computer changed this to Lemon Pellet) Mauga.

We have an extended Easter weekend with two April 8s.  As you know Friday was the Crucifixion,  called Good Friday, Saturday is Easter Vigil, but nothing much happens--except that Lent ends, although some observe Thursday evening, so if the serious fasted on the day before, Saturday begins an opportunity to eat anything--and Sunday is when Christ was resurrected and called Easter.  In short, you can begin celebrating on Saturday, preferably from the evening, but marriages are not permitted.  Remember that on Saturday Jesus descended into Hell, so this was still not a good religious day.

So on to our cruise, we spent yesterday in Apia, Samoa.  The view from our veranda.  Note two buildings, that short white one to the left, and church-looking structure in the middle.  I took a short visit to Apia.

But first, lunch.

Had a Fiji beer.

In the mid-afternoon, took a shuttle to mid-town.  The first photo is the Sheraton Hotel (the white one explained earlier) with a casino.

Next to the tourist center is this sign, with the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Also took this photo of our ship from this location.

Came back shortly before the ship was scheduled to depart, so took a chance and brought my pipe bag to the smoking area.  Success, no one there, with no no smoking sign.  Brought a Pina Colada.

The Seabourn Odyssey began departing, so I just sat there, smoked, and watched the sunset.

Some days are good, and some not so.  Still in an outbreak mentality, but today was exceptionally enjoyable.  First, finally got to use my pipe.  Second, we had a superb dinner at The Grill, with the best two seats in the restaurant, but also, the best two seats for the Let's Dance Party on The Patio.  This was our first actual inside meal, but were nicely separated from the others.

Two soups and two salads.

We then stopped by the Patio for the party, and fashioned a pod into a seating area where you can just about fall asleep.

Warm Camembert cheese and a baked apple.

Can you find the Full Moon?  There was a sprinkle, but our pod protected us.  However, bad weather was approaching, so the event was moved to the Club.  We have largely avoided inside activities so went home.  I walked 3851 steps.  Not bad.

-