Living Life in American Samoa
There are many different people living in this world with different culture diversity, and ways of making a living. American Samoans are one of these countries with different
cultures and different ways of living. Living life in American Samoa is more unique from other countries. First of all, living life in American Samoa is easier then any other countries as far as I know. In American Samoa we get food free because the Samoans mainly live off the land. There is no house or rent payment. The people of Samoa grow their own plantation, go fishing and help out others. Everyone works together and helps out one another. When family is going through times of hardships the other families will step in to help, until they can survive and stand on their own feet. The cost of living is fair enough for people to live and survive. We buy many products from the store, such as our toiletries, canned good, paper goods and our clothes. But in other ways, families have no money to purchase things from the store so they borrow the money or the item from another family. Often times the storeowners will allow a family to write an I.O.U and pay it later when they have money. This is where the word "Fa'amolemole" comes in. This word simply means, "please" but it is one of the most powerful words in the Samoan language. With the word fa'amolemole a person can obtain or acquire anything that they wish. The Samoans use this word to borrow things from their neighbors, and returning it or merely replacing it when they are finished. The second most powerful word in the Samoan language is "Fa'afetai". This word means, "thank you". Because the Samoan people are of high respect a simple please or thank you can ...
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... to struggle for and live with more pride as a Samoan. But here in Hawaii, I have to live with not how I see things but as to how things are suppose to be. And if I want things I have no choice to but to strive and earn it. Even if means going through struggles. This brings me to a saying that goes "struggle for good comes life in heaven". No matter what happens we have to live with it. So it seems to me Samoa is a good place to live. This statement refers to those who never lived and visited American Samoa. But as far those who live and visited American Samoa it is a good place to live and have nice living in life. Samoa was named by one of the historians the "Island of Paradise". Why? Because people were so good and have as good ways of making a living. We love our own island the way we live and I respect it with great honor in life as a human being.
Jean Giddens (2013) defines culture as “a pattern of shared attitudes, beliefs, self-definitions, norms, roles, and values that can occur among those who speak a particular language, or live in a defined geographical region.” (Giddens, 2013). A person’s culture influences every aspect that person’s life. Beliefs affected by culture include how someone interacts within the family, how to raise children, the types of foods eaten, the style of clothes chosen, which religion is practiced, and the style of communication (including verbal, and body language, slang used etc.) (Giddens, 2013). In addition to these beliefs, health care practices are also affected by culture. The cause
People of Filipino decent have a rich culture that emphasizes tradition and family; as well as allows for a political and sociocultural movement for Filipino immigrants in their new countries. Theme one focuses on the concept of culture and how Filipinos present themselves as a race. Although they reside in the United States, it was rare for most informants to identify themselves as Americans. Rather, they viewed their culture as being morally correct and righteous and American culture as deviant or aberrant. Explicitly, the issue with Filipinos in terms of American culture was their concept of family and the U.S. families’ lac k thereof. They argue that in their culture family is a dominant aspect that preaches assistance and care for one another. Additionally, they disagree with the ideology that American families have in terms they raise their children. Filipinos take care of their children and continue to offer them resources and shelter regardless of their age. Conversely, they believe that American parents lack in care for their children and ultimately get the same from them in return. Filipino culture also emphasizes gender roles and restrictions, particularly female gender. Females are expected to take on the role of the
“If all of this seems long ago and far away, it is worth remembering that the past is never past.” (Faulkner cited in Ellison, P.274)
Most of the Hmong populations in America now reside in California, Minnesota and Wisconsin. They have now adapted to a society and culture that looked down upon them. Even though they have adapted, they still possess the traditions and rituals that their ancestors practiced in Southeast Asia. These traditions are held very sacred in the Hmong home. This is understood because every culture likes to keep a little piece of the past with them.
The Fijians diets are mostly fresh since all of their meats and fruit is grown on their islands. For breakfast they eat eggs which they get from their chickens and fresh fruit such as pineapple, papaya, and coconut which they receive from plants they grow. Next, their lunches consist of sandwiches and vegetables and their dinners are full of fish that they caught that day. While the Fijians eat fresh and from food not processed in factories, Americans constantly eat food they purchase in a supermarket that is processed and full of chemicals and dyes. Americans buy their eggs, fruit , and meat from a supermarket which they do not fully know where it comes from. The United States is a first-world country and due to this that is why Americans buy their food in a supermarket. As a country develops some of the fundamental aspects of the country develop as well and that is why the food situation is the way it is in the United States. Daily lives also vary due to two reasons; Fiji is an island country where the United States is not and that Fiji is a third-world country where the United States in a first-world country. In the United States most people wake up to a blaring alarm on their cellphones. However, the loud obnoxious sounds of chickens at five a.m. is the Fijians wake up call. Also, in the Fijians culture women are viewed
Hawai'i's rich culture and history started with the arrival of the Polynesians to the islands between 300-500 A.D. After settling they adapted to the islands and began to create a society. But hundreds of years later in 1778, the western world came to put a stop to the Hawaiians lives. Captain James Cook and his crew were the first to arrive, setting off a chain of events that rid the Hawaiians of their lifestyles. Christian missionaries banned tattoos and hula dancing, getting rid of the people's culture. Diseases brought from the west killed hundreds of civilians. Hunters, whalers, fur traders began ravishing the islands of its animals. In the nineteenth century sugar plantations were created, and the U.S. overthrew their queen and her kingdom, making Hawaii American territory. A naval base was soon set up in Honolulu, only to have it attacked, launching the U.S. into WWII. Years after the attack, Haw...
The Polynesian peoples have a lifestyle quite different than that of any other culture, as living on an island requires a level of flexible adaptability in order to cope with such a different, sometimes difficult environment. We see the way diverse cultures build their lives around their circumstances and how they respect them in their cultural myths and stories. The Polynesian legends emphasize the physical environment that they live in. They are quite different than any other region in the world, but the beauty and individuality of the Polynesian culture is prominent as seen in their mythology.
A small archipelago off the northwest coast of Britsh Columbia is known as the “islands of the people.” This island is diverse in both land and sea environment. From the 1700’s when the first ship sailed off its coast and a captain logged about the existence, slow attentiveness was given to the island. Its abundance, in both natural resources physical environment, and its allure in the concealed Haida peoples, beckoned settlers to come to the island. Settlers would spark an era of prosperity and catastrophe for the native and environmental populations.
There really is not one uniform way of life in America. But if you look back on the past, you can definitely see some similarities. With the article, “What Is an American”, it explains what early life may have been for these new residents. “They receive ample awards for their labors ; these accumulated rewards produce them lands.” So early life here was simple and strived on working. But as the years progressed so did the people. By the nineteen-hundreds, Franklin D, Roosevelt had described life here with ease, using terms like, “ all bound together by hope of a common future.” He goes on to describe the ever-changing life with a boast about, “unity in language and speech”. Even today common life here is brought by these factors of similarities. We all share the love and pride we have for this place. Still, America has one difference, and that is cultures. “Live in a culture of multiple cultures” as briefly spoken by the article Cultural Common. Daily life here is usually different between all of us, but we still strive to make it amazing
The people and the culture make you appreciate the type of paradise tat you are in. The houses aren’t the best and the schools aren’t the biggest. But everyone seems to be happy with what they have. There seems to be a type of brotherhood that the Hawaiians have. They may not show it but you do receive that kind of vibe when you interact with them. I gathered the fact that Hawaiians, as a society, look after each other, irregardless if they know each other or not. With that attitude, you can learn to appreciate what you have.
One of the ways the story shows how the conflict between locals and tourists is through first impressions and stereotypes. “It’s not her fault she’s haole” (21). “She’s not one of us” (22). People in Hawai`i is seen as either a local and/or a haole. From a number of locals, they say that if a person is not from Hawai`i, then she or he is considered haole. Kahakauwil...
By far the most important ideal Americans possess is their idea of individualism. The belief that each person is unique and responsible for their own life is instilled in every person beginning from childhood. Rather than seeing themselves as a member of a group, Americans believe everyone is different; therefore, this causes them to believe that society has no influence over the values they themselves hold. This is one reason it is difficult to ask an American what America’s values are. Along with the concept that each individual is in control of their own being, instead of viewing the wealthy as lucky and the poor as unlucky, they are regarded as the hard working and the lazy. Since each individual is responsible for their own life, where they finish by the end of it is up to them. Lastly, with individuality comes value placed on privacy. Americans expect that everyone needs time alone in their daily lives to restore their energy. If one says they need time alone, the feeling is understood, and respected.
Growing up in American Samoa, singing was everything. You sing in church choir, Sunday school, at home in the shower, family evening prayer, in school, and mostly everywhere. Music is all about rhythm, and I’ve learned that you can always create your own music rather by rap, beat box, or in groups as well. It was a must for me and any other kid in American Samoa to be in the church choir or the Sunday school choir as an alto. We never get to choose but to be seated in the front row and be ready to sing. Back in American Samoa, family function or family celebration is a really big thing, whether a birthday party or a get together it also contains singing. Before everything, it is a tradition for us Samoans to always start anything/everything with a prayer and ends with a prayer. But before saying a prayer, we always have to sing a gospel song, and at
It is through the events in the journey of life that shapes and molds who we are as people. As for me, immigrating to America was one of those milestones that have shaped who I am. Those who have had the opportunity of moving from a different country to America know what a privilege it is. I felt the same honor to know that I would be journeying to the land of opportunity. Without hesitance, I spent the last two months packing and making the final preparations before moving to a new continent. Although it was a bittersweet time, leaving my beloved family behind, I knew that I couldn’t resist the treasure that waited for me in the new land. Coming from a developing nation the high level of sophistication that greeted me on arrival to America made feel like I was in paradise.
Maasai have responsibilities to accomplish daily and so does the US people. They both show pride in what they do. Some differences are that the United States has some different elements of society. For example, the US has information society because of the advanced technology in production of information and services. The US holds a diverse amount of subcultures. There are different people who live in the United States that are from all around the world, who each share different customs and languages but yet also practice the American culture. For instance, Hispanics from different Latin countries, black African Americans, Asians, Middle Eastern, etc. Of course there are countercultures like the Ku Klux Klan or the hipsters that go against and do not follow the American culture. The US share many different popular cultures. For instance, every year they have the super bowl for American football, the MLB World Series, and NBA championship. Another popular culture would be the television channels which are Disney channel, HBO, FX, ABC Family,