Oh, He's just a liar
In general the Samoan people have a simplistic approach to life. By Palagi standards they are relatively unsophisticated. A phrase I've heard used frequently is "Oh, He's just a liar!" a fairly direct putdown of their own.
In the Palagi culture, calling someone a liar is a serious slander. It doesn't seem to be quite so here. In the Samoan culture this phrase can simply mean that the person says something but doesn't mean it - a typical Samoan trait.
I've experienced countless times how people will agree to meet at a certain time and place and don't. They want something, go about their business to get it then don't show, change their minds or do something else. This cultural trait is similar to other cultures that smile and say "Yes!" all the while maybe not understanding nor intending to do what they say they will do. Sometimes it is because they don't want to offend but not always.
I witnessed the local people of Fusi Safata become devastated when the Samoan owner of a rental car company failed to show as a visitor. A dozen people were proudly preparing food and so on all for this guest who didn't show. He had forgotten, got distracted or never intended to come. Whatever the case, the locals swore that they would never deal with a Samoan again because, in their words, "He's just a liar!"
The idea that things are not what they first seem runs deep here in Samoa. There are two sides to the big Samoan smile that we all love . . . it is a genuine desire to please. But the other side is a little more ugly - as a people deep down, they really don't seem to want to embrace the Palagi. Those that do, have left the islands, or are in the minority.
It's a little harsh to generalise, because there are always lovely genuine people in any culture, but I've met and greeted hundreds of people now in coming up to three months here. A good half of them hold anything from a careless to an aggressive demeanour toward the Palagi. Almost without exception though they will immediately flick into a big smile, greeting or a wave, and yet when you dig deeper there seems to be a resentement or an attitude that looks ready to bite you, the moment you turn your back.
This comes across as two-faced behaviour, and appears to be the norm - Samoans groomed to smile at the Palagi, then milk them for all they've got, and then go about their own business with little real regard for their Palagi guests.
It's a trait that seems to flow from the top levels of Government down. I've met Deputy Prime Minister Misa Telefoni several times (he has graciously wined and dined me, and is the recipient of a couple of books I've given him) and he has a very strong reputation amongst the locals as one who promises the earth but never delivers. Apparently he is always the first to offer a big smile and talk about things but is the last to deliver. I am told he has promised Strata Ownership Legislation for years and is still to deliver. The locals joke about his reputation and think to themselves "Oh, He's just a liar!"
I think that sometimes it is a cynical, manipulative approach to the Palagi - along the lines of "Rich Palagi is easy to milk. Smile and take his money, then fail to deliver or change the rules", or else just a consequence of a very laid-back approach to life that really doesn't care about the long term. On the surface the Samoan loves the Palagi (and his money) but underneath they'll just say "Yes" long enough that he'll deliver and then move on.
Tagwords: liar
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