You can't bring a Kiwi culture and a Kiwi way of life to Samoa and expect it to work the same. It doesn't! It's far better to go with the flow and do it their way. Here are some of the adjustments I've had to make. . .
In New Zealand I slept under a sheet and then under a duvet or blankets. In Samoa I sleep on the sheet. There are no blankets. When she drops to 27 or on a freezing 26 degree night, I might drag a thin sheet over me early morning. Time to adjust - about 4 weeks. [Pic: The boys sleeping inside/outside Samoa-style]
In New Zealand I would buy in bulk from Polar Foods, Gilmores or any loss-leader at the local supermarket and then store around about $2,000.00 of food in the pantry, a storage cupboard and a freezer. In Samoa foods last between 1-12 hours depending on whether I am in a village, or whether I have staff that
In New Zealand I carry an umbrella or raincoat or dress for the weather. Basically my environment whereever I am is suitable for living - turn on a heater, aircon or open a window and life is comfortable. I paid little thought to "heat management". In Samoa heat management is everywhere and vital - I walk or stand only in the shade. I protect my head from the sun when I cross the road - with a fan or my arm if I don't have a fan. I am constantly using electric and hand fans to keep myself cool. I open windows deliberately find the coolest parts of the house to sit and work or talk. Time to adjust - 6 weeks.
I rise early morning - first light when it is cool so that by the time it gets to the 1.00pm heatwave, the bulk of the day's work is done. I schedule appointments for 1.00pm and onwards because that's when I can drive with aircon and enjoy other people's aircon. Time to adjust - 1 month.
In New Zealand I locked the car at night and when left in a public place. I locked the house at night time and sometimes not at all, especially in summer. I lock everything all the time here. Even the containers in a locked security yard are locked themselves and valuables are in a safe inside the locked containers inside the locked yard with six foot high fence topped with barbed wire. Jandals are left INSIDE the house now. My employees are now vetted by two others before they are allowed onto any of the properties.
In New Zealand my default setting was to trust people unless I saw a warning sign. In Samoa I have had to learn to consider every Samoan out to rob me and cheat me unless otherwise proven to the contrary and even then my advice has been to be careful. Actually my advice has been to get out but I'm not doing that for the moment! Someone at the door is a thief casing the joint and then might turn into a friend. The lawyer or real estate agent or businessman (Palagi or otherwise) is crooked until proven straight. Time to adjust - 1 month intellectually; still adjusting emotionally. Darn!
Employment in New Zealand involved placing an advert on Seek or TradeMe. Samoan style is to tell someone what you want. They'll organise it with their mates, cousins, friends, family, village or so on. You'll get what you asked for - sort of. Time to adjust - 1 month.
Taro was never on the menu in New Zealand nor coconuts to drink. Kumara, potato and pumpkin, yes. Taro and coconut drinks, No. Ten minutes in Samoa and you're into coconut milk and Taro whether you like it or not. Time to adjust - 10 minutes (or else!). Taro took me a month or more to get used to. Coconut drinks - well the jury is still debating that one at the moment. It's OK!
Give me a juice in New Zealand and I was happy. Any apple based Just Juice, or similar would do me fine. To me water was only for the greenies and health nuts that got conned by the big business of water vendors telling them all to suck up or they will die. Funny how they still live to a ripe old age in the Sahara eh? Well in Samoa it's all water baby. Water, Water, Water or you will die! Juice would cost you a mint and it's too sweet and not thirst quenching. It's got to be water over here. Time to adjust - somewhere from the time you first get off the plane and 1/2 way through customs!
Building a house in New Zealand is a serious venture requiring capital, bank loans and many weeks of hard work. Walls MUST be watertight. No walls here. They make the house too hot. Houses closed in here need aircon and that's costly. Sleeping outside under a carport thing is much nicer with a gentle breeze keeping me coolish. Think permanent camping at summer time in Coromandel and you've got it. Time to adjust - about a couple of months.
"Woe betide ye, Molly Whuppie" if anyone ventured near my food or my things in New Zealand. You've got your own camera, food, computer or whatever. I'm fighting a communal ownbership culture here that expects me to variously transport, give and share my assets and resources with others. The problem is that sharing coconuts, Taro and machetes is fine, but it doesn't work with a notebook computer, camera or video camera. If I share it and it breaks - they can't fix it with Taro, but to them it's just another "thing". "Sorry bro, I broke it, here's some coconut cream", doesn't cut the mustard when four other people can't do their work anymore! Time to adjust - For the sake of the business I won't!
It's not just me who has to adjust. Samoans too must learn to adjust to the Palagi ways of doing things.
Fa'a Samoa, the way life in Samoa is all very wonderful for those on the inside who have nothing and never really want anything. They choose that lifestyle. For many I know that it is all they have ever known but they still choose it. As with many things, it is the Palagi culture that has the work, creates the jobs, and resources new ventures. That's why so many here have up and offed to Palagi lands to better themselves.
Challenges all round.
Tagwords: culture
