Samoa: Pacific Communities and Social Change Fall 2014

Transcription

1 Samoa: Pacific Communities and Social Change Fall 2014 Table of Contents General Information... 1 Climate and Geography... 1 Diet... 2 Homestays... 2 Other Accommodations... 3 Transportation... 3 Money... 3 Communication... 4 Phones and Mailings... 5 Visitors and Free Time... 5 Alumni Contact... 6 General Information The peoples of the Pacific originated in Southeast Asia and migrated eastward over thousands of years reaching Fiji, Tonga and Samoa by 1,000 B.C. Migrations continued from Samoa to the Eastern Pacific, north to Hawai i and finally southwest to New Zealand. Jacob Roggewein, a Dutch explorer who first sighted the Samoan Islands in 1772, called them the Navigator Islands. Explorers were followed by beachcombers, traders, missionaries and finally colonists. Germany ruled what was then Western Samoa until 1914, and New Zealand governed Samoa until its independence in The country s name was changed to the Independent State of Samoa in 1997.Samoa celebrated its 50 th year of independence in June Samoa is a parliamentary democracy, headed by a Prime Minister elected by members of Parliament. A Head of State is the official head of government. Malieatoa Tanumalefili II, Samoa s first Head of State served as one of the world s longest serving head of states until his death in Tui Atua Tamasese Tupuola Efi is now serving his second five year term. Samoa s economy is based on agriculture. Life in rural Samoa continues to be based largely on subsistence, but efforts are being made to provide more incomegenerating projects at the family and village level. Remittances from abroad continue to contribute significantly to the economy and are the major source of cash for many village families. Taro, a starchy root vegetable, continues as a main staple in the domestic economy, and fishing is a major export industry. Tourism is rapidly becoming a mainstay of the economy and now equals remittances in terms of contributions to GDP. Samoa will graduate from the list of Least Developed Countries in Development projects continue to be funded by major donors including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, China and the European Union. Climate and Geography Samoa, a Polynesian Island group in the Pacific, is south of the equator, about halfway between Hawai i and New Zealand. In December 2011, Samoa changed to the western side of the International Date Line, so now operates on the same calendar as Australia and New Zealand and is one day ahead of the United States. The country consists of four inhabited islands; the larger two being Upolu and Savai'i. The islands are volcanic in origin with the most recent eruption from Temperatures range around F most of the year, but humidity is often above 90% so it feels like the tropics. Late evenings or early mornings in some parts of the year can be a bit chilly. SIT Study Abroad - 1

2 Samoa has a tropical climate that varies very little throughout the year. The seasons are wet and dry, or perhaps more accurately, rainy and less rainy. The southeast trade winds bring rain, and the northerly winds can bring cyclones, usually between December and March. You might bring an umbrella for both rain and sun, or a sun hat. Given the high temperatures, students should be familiar with the warning signs of dehydration and heat stroke. It is important to drink enough water every day. The tropical sun is extremely hot, and hottest from 11am 2pm. The weather is similar in Hawai i, Fiji and American Samoa, though the nights often get a bit cooler in Hawai i and Fiji. Diet Participating in the local food culture is a central aspect of daily life in Samoa. You should be willing to try the local cuisine and share in your host family s mealtimes. Special or restricted diets may not be fully understood by your host family although they may have previously hosted a student with similar dietary restrictions. By trying to replicate your diet at home you will miss out on an important part of your host culture. Cooked taro in coconut cream (photo from polynesiankitchen.blogspot.com) The traditional Samoan diet is bland and starchy. Taro, breadfruit and green bananas are the main staples. Imported rice has also become a mainstay of the diet. Fish both canned and fresh and local vegetables are available. Papaya and ripe bananas are available year round. Other fruits, including oranges, pineapples, mangos and guava are seasonal. There are few grains, beans or sprouts, but many leafy greens. Samoans are meat eaters. Vegetarians can be accommodated, but Samoan hosts are proud to serve guests chicken and pork. Dairy products are available in Apia but not as readily in village situations. Food is definitely a big part of Samoan culture, so if you really want to experience the culture, leave your food preferences at home and come prepared to try some new foods. You will be staying and taking meals at USP with other Pacific Islanders. The fare is Pacific with staples of meat or fish and vegetables. The range of choices and idea of a salad bar have not crossed the ocean to USP, but meal time is a good time to interact with Pacific Island students and to share what they eat and enjoy. Note: If you have special dietary needs, including allergies, please inform our office prior to the start of your program. We will advise you on realistic expectations about avoiding or incorporating certain foods within the program context. In some locations, we cannot guarantee zero exposure to certain foods or a given allergen. Homestays As many SIT Study Abroad alumni will tell you, the homestay experience can be one of the most rewarding and most challenging aspects of the program. You will learn firsthand the joys and responsibilities of being a guest, a family member, and a friend. You will also have the opportunity to share your culture and to learn from another s culture. We hope you will come prepared for the experience and committed to moving beyond cultural immersion as you begin to question, distinguish, and analyze the host culture vis-à-vis your own culture and come to a deeper understanding of both. Family structures vary in every culture, and SIT Study Abroad values the diversity of homestay families. For example, your family may include a single mother of two small children or a large extended family with many people coming and going all the time. They may be quite familiar with your hometown or with international students, or your homestay family may not know much about where you come from. Additionally, please bear in mind that, in many countries, the idea of what constitutes a home (i.e., the physical nature of the house) may be different from what you expect. You will need to be prepared to adapt to a new life with a new diet, a new schedule, new people, and possibly new priorities and expectations. Each program s homestay coordinator will be responsible for placing students in homestays. These placements are made first based on health concerns, SIT Study Abroad - 2

3 including any allergies or dietary needs, to the greatest extent possible. Please note: SIT will not have information about your homestay family before you depart for the program. SIT Study Abroad in Samoa has a series of homestays, including a ten-day village stay, a four-day stay with an American Samoa student, a two-night stay in an traditional eco-tourist village in Fiji and a night or two with Indo Fijian families. Families and accommodations include open Samoan fales or closed Fijian bures with outdoor toilets and showers, houses where the family eats and sleeps in one large room, and houses with bedrooms. Each homestay has varied accommodations, which gives students a more realistic view of Pacific life. The villages in Samoa and Fiji have hosted SIT students in the past and students have found the stays challenging but rewarding. Other Accommodations The Alafua campus of the University of the South Pacific will be your base for the semester. You will live in hostels with other Pacific Islad students. Housing in the lower campus consists of houses with six individual bedrooms, a common room and shared toilet/shower facilities. Housemates will probably include another SIT student, and Pacific Islanders from Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu or another Pacific country. Other students may live in a more linear building, opening to a veranda with shower facilities at the end or middle of the building. Furnishings are basic: bed, desk, chair and an open closet. Rooms should be kept locked and care should be given to leaving belongings around. Pacific Islands are communal cultures, so if you don t want to share something, be sure to safeguard it carefully. You will be able to keep your room at USP for the entire semester, but you are encouraged to venture out during ISP. You may live with a family or choose to stay in eco-tourist venues or beach fales. Transportation Getting around is easy in Samoa and buses are not only a mode of transport but also a great venue for cultural learning. One can learn much about Samoans sense of personal space on the colorful buses, which run only during daylight hours. Taxis are more expensive and more precaution needs to be taken in terms of agreeing upon equitable fares and going places at night alone; USP security can assist with choosing reputable taxis. Since September 2009 Samoans drive on the left side of the road, so extra care should be taken when crossing the street. Samoan buses You will travel by small plane to American Samoa and by ferry between the islands of Samoa. The plane to Fiji is a bit larger. At other times, you will travel in vans, trucks or private vehicles. Money In addition to tuition, SIT Study Abroad program fees cover room and board throughout the program. When room and/or board are not taken with the group, students will be given a stipend to cover related expenses. SIT will cover daily commuting costs, if any, and excursions that are part of the normal program itinerary. Daily commuting costs will be determined by the program. During the ISP period, students will receive a stipend for basic room and board only based on the cost of living at the program base. Any domestic travel, interpretation services, or supplies necessary for the ISP are the students responsibility. Please plan accordingly. The tala (usually marked as WST$) is the currency for Samoa. American dollars are used in American Samoa and Fijian dollars are used in Fiji. Students may exchange U.S. currency or withdraw local currency from an ATM machine inside the international airport upon arrival and at banks, money transfers and ATMs in Apia. ATMs in Samoa accept American credit and debit cards but most are located in the Apia area. The nearest ATM to campus is about a10-minute walk. U.S. cash and/or traveler s checks may be exchanged at banks or some hotels, but they cannot be used in shops. Samoan banks have recently initiated a charge of approximately US$7.00. for debit/credit card withdrawals. A lock for luggage or backpacks is advisable and it is wise to keep money in a locked bag. Some beach fales or hostels have security boxes you can use. Opening bank accounts for a short time is not feasible. SIT Study Abroad - 3

4 If using a debit and/or credit card, you should contact your bank and/or credit card companies regarding your travel plans. This is very important; if you don t inform these companies that you will be away, when they see charges from another country, they will often assume the card has been lost or stolen and will put an immediate hold on the card. You should also check on costs of withdrawal, as these costs vary and can sometimes be very expensive. Renewing and receiving reissued credit and debit cards while on the program will be an expensive and highly inconvenient process. Before you leave for your program, please check the expiration dates on your cards to ensure that they will not expire while you are abroad. If they will expire while you are overseas, please contact your bank and/or credit card companies for early renewal. It is also very important that you make photocopies of all your debit/credit card information and leave them with someone you trust just in case your card(s) is/are lost or stolen. Following are suggestions for spending money during the program, including estimates for textbooks, ISPrelated expenses, medical expenses, personal spending, and gifts. Figures are based on recent student evaluations, though individual spending habits vary widely and these costs are averages. A suggested total amount of money to budget ranges from US$ , although some students spend much less and others more. To determine where you might fall in this range, please examine your spending habits during a typical semester at your home school and consider any exceptional expenditures you may have on the program, including travel costs for your planned ISP or a specific personal expense. Check current exchange rates: Please budget approximately: Books, printing, supplies: Up-front medical costs: Typical Internet café usage: Potential ISP/Practicum travel expenses: $80 book fee Doctor visit US$25-40; Hospital stays $ About US$3.50 per hour Bus fares: US$1-5; ferry to Savaii US$10 Communication While you may want to be in regular communication with friends and family from home during the term abroad, please bear in mind that different time zones, unreliable phone lines, and changing program activities can complicate communication. We have a few suggestions regarding communication during the term, based upon our experience. It s important to be clear with family and friends about your availability during the term. Many students recommend making an appointment to call home or to receive a call, thereby avoiding frustration and making connections more meaningful. You should also consider the impact of constant communication with friends and family at home on your cultural immersion. While you are encouraged to share with those close to you and use them for support whenever necessary, it is also important to remember that you are on the program for just one term, and that you get out of the program what you put into it. Phones and All students are required to have a working cell phone while on SIT Study Abroad programs. This policy is part of our commitment to student safety and will facilitate communication in case of an emergency. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are reachable by phone at all times. This means keeping the phone charged and stocked with airtime/minutes as well as notifying staff of, and replacing, lost or stolen phones. Please note that students who do not comply with the cell phone policy may be subject to disciplinary action. Relatively inexpensive cell phones with pre-paid service are available for less than $50 USD. Phone communication and rates in Samoa are changing for the better and international rates are becoming more competitive. American phone cards and 800 numbers cannot be used in Samoa. Collect calls are very expensive, so arranging a time for people to call is a better option. You may receive calls at the SIT office or choose to use your cell phone. However, cell phone use and calls to the US are not allowed during program hours, or on certain excursions, unless there is an emergency. Please bear in mind that a basic cell phone with simple call and text messaging is the best option for all programs. Expensive or flashy phones (including iphones) are not recommended as these may attract SIT Study Abroad - 4

5 unwanted attention in some economically depressed areas. Keep in mind the time difference when making or receiving an international call. In January, Samoa is eighteen hours ahead (one day ahead and six hours behind) of EST, seventeen hours ahead (one day ahead and seven hours behind) during US Daylight Savings Time (April - October) and only sixteen hours ahead during Samoa s Daylight Savings time from April to September, so be aware of changing times. Internet access is available at USP but not all the time, so staying in frequent touch means a fair amount of time and money spent at Internet cafes. YOU SHOULD NOT EXPECT EASY ACCESS TO WIFI. Samoan author Sia Figiel encourages you to own your experiences and experience them to the fullest. The AD and many former students agree with Sia. The semester is a time to step away from your usual routine and live your life in the present moment. Many former students agree that stepping outside the digital age and choosing not to share your experiences on a daily basis with the world beyond Samoa is the most rewarding way to go. The program officially begins in Hawai i so say your goodbyes before you get on the plane, and keep phone calls to a minimum or for special occasions. Mailings Throughout the semester, posted letters should be sent to the following address: Student Name c/o Jackie Fa asisila P.O. Box 9268 Apia, SAMOA South Pacific Be sure that all mail comes to Independent Samoa, not American Samoa. Samoa does not have a zip code and is still listed by the US Postal System as Western Samoa Sending and receiving packages is another matter, however. Packages can take several months to arrive. Customs agents do inspect all packages and you may sometimes pay duty. In addition, there are cases of items being lost in the mail or taking so long to reach the Remember, shipping recipient (due to customs can be VERY delays) that the recipient is expensive! nearly back in the US by the time the items are received. Packages are fun to receive, but they do not always arrive. For these reasons, unless it is an emergency, sending packages should be done on a needs basis. Additionally, sending valuables is highly discouraged. (This certainly includes laptops! For this reason, make sure you bring your laptop with you on the plane if you think you ll want it in country). If you will be celebrating a birthday during the program, please inform parents, grandparents, significant others, and anyone else who might think of sending you packages, of the above. For this program, DHL services are available in country. When given the option, it s always a good idea to send packages certified and with a number that allows the sender to track the package. There are no street addresses in Samoa. Packages are not delivered, so please include the AD s name, Jackie Faasisila and a local phone number on the parcel. Visitors and Free Time SIT occasionally sends visitors from the home office or from home institutions to program sites during the term in order to monitor progress and evaluate program components. Aside from these special cases, SIT does not permit any visitors during the term, due to the rigorous nature of the programs and the disruption that such visits cause in program flow and group dynamics. Students should be sure that friends and relatives are aware of this policy. All plans for visits are to be scheduled for dates after the formal conclusion of the program. SIT may grant or refuse permission for any visits during the program in its sole discretion. During the program, students follow an intense schedule of classes and field-based learning assignments, even during the ISP. Free time for pursuing an independent interest or hobby during the program will be limited. Your admissions counselor can advise you about particular interests you may have. For example, if you must keep in shape for your next athletic season, or if you play a musical instrument and want to know whether to bring it, we can help you to understand your schedule and any concerns or limitations that may exist. Please note that you will not have a long break during the program, such as for Thanksgiving Break. Students typically have four weeks to conduct research, gather and analyze data, write, and prepare for the ISP presentation. There is a lot to cover, and students find the ISP period a very busy time. For this reason, please plan to use your time wisely. With the exception of the educational excursions, you may not travel outside of Samoa during the program. SIT Study Abroad - 5

6 Former students have recommended arriving a few days early to see a little of Hawai i on your own, staying an extra week in Samoa or doing more traveling in the Pacific after the program. Alumni Contact If you have further questions, please contact your admissions counselor or ask an alumni contact: SIT Study Abroad - 6