Bringing it into the spotlight is the Samoan strength in rugby, especially the team’s recent trip to Cardiff to play Wales at the Millenium Stadium. The passion they bring to the sport is inspiring. As one of the few teams who still perform a war dance, or huka before a match, their patriotism can be felt and appreciated as they fire themselves up through this powerful tradition. In addition to this, is the recent attention drawn to the island since the devastating event of the tsunami earlier this year; a natural disaster that killed hundreds and destroyed entire villages.
Staying in the beautiful village of Apia for a week was a unique and wonderful experience. The beauty lay in the coastal views, palm trees and dazzling blue sea surrounding the island. Beyond the beaches, the mountains and waterfalls were the hidden natural wonders of the island, located in areas entirely untouched by human hands.
Samoa is a country so far removed from the rest of the world that I found it difficult to fathom such a lifestyle in a permanent form. I spent a day touring the island with a Samoan man called Pete (he had American roots). The insight he provided into the history and culture of the island was priceless. He took us literally into the depths of the island, very much off the beaten track and introduced us to farmers and local people who had lived on the island their whole lives.
The skills of these people are incredible. A quote from my diary actually reads “I never realised a coconut can be used for so much. It’s mind blowing!” We stood and watched as he demonstrated how the outer layer is used as a building material in itself, how the coconut milk is extracted, cream is made and fibres off the shell are used for a number of things. The attitude is: you utilise what God has given you, in as many ways as is possible. They certainly follow this through.
Many local people still live in fales, small wooden huts set up to provide basically just a roof and walls, and there could be up to five or six children living in one fale at one time. The norm is to wake early but not to rush anywhere. The man of the family works on his land at the crack of dawn, as his only source of food for his family is the crops he grows with his bare hands. Life does not present the rush and pace of our working lives and boredom does not seem to exist for Samoans.
Of course, slowly, Samoa is building a tourism industry for itself and moving into a more modern way of life. However it is indeed a world away from the environment we are used to and, for just a week, it was refreshing to move into such a raw existence and consider their priorities in comparison to ours.
The Samoan rugby players show off their talent and sportsmanship
I went along to a 7s tournament on the Saturday to experience the local support for rugby. It was immense; the entire day was professional, jovial and entertaining.
