American Samoa

American Samoa, is an unincorporated territory of the United States consisting of the eastern part of Samoa, located in the south-central Pacific Ocean.

• The population of American Samoa is 55,641, The territory, which is part of Polynesia, includes the six Samoan islands east of Samoa formerly Western Samoa, its closest neighbor and a self-governing country, consists of the nine Samoan islands west of the meridian. American Samoa includes the inhabited islands of Tutuila, Tau, Olosega, Ofu, and Aunuu, along with an uninhabited coral atoll named Rose Atoll. Swains Island, an inhabited coral atoll, about 280 miles (450 km) northwest of Tutuila and physiographically separate from the archipelago, was made a part of American Samoa in 1925. The capital of American Samoa is Pago Pago, on Tutuila. https://www.britannica.com/place/Pago-Pago
• During a interview with two of my football teammates that are from America Samoa, the first person I interviewed was John Palita; the second person was Uhi Mikaele. My first question to both of them was to describe there upbringing, John, explained how they would go farming the first thing they would do in the morning since they were young and how they where raised and how it’s basically tough love growing up but it was a reason why they were raised like this so they would grow up to be respectful men.

Communicating with different cultures can some what be a different and difficult thing to do, During a interview with two of my football teammates I got a better understanding of how it was from there transition from America Samoa to the U.S.

The person I interviewed first was, John Polita, he’s 20 years old his first time in the U.S from America Samoa was 2016 when he was 18 to come out here to go to college and play football. My first question to him was, “Can you describe a instance when your culture became a challenge to you.” He answered by saying his first time to the U.S he was on a plane to San Franicsco, soon as he arived he was waiting for a taxi to drive him to his appartment but by him not speaking the best of english the taxi driver had a hard time understanding what he was saying and it was hard for him as well trying to learn the english languge more fluiently.

My second interviewer was, Uhi Mikaele hes 21 years old and his first time in the U.S was in 2014. I asked him the same question as John and he responded by saying that school was a difficult for him since his english wasnt up to par he was placed into “DSL” Domain Specific Language. Where he had classes to help his english as of right now hes out of DSL and is fluint in English now.

Culture tips that they would suggest U.S people to know towards Samoan People, I asked John the question first and he responded by saying that U.S people should never mistake a Samoan and a Tongan the best thing to do is ask before you assume. I asked Uhi the same question and he said that you should ask before people assume because alot of people assume that since a lot of Samoans are big that there bullies or mean people, but really we are the most kindness people you may know.

I ended my interview with John and Uhi by asking them, “how should Americans look at Samoans.” Johns answers by saying the thing he learnd by being in the U.S was treat people like equals and not by how they should look. While Uhi anwers by saying only cuz most samoans are bigger dosent mean we are not human beings.