Roots......

The weather here today is cold, freezing rain,teens tonight. We have booked our flights to Samoa for April 22 with Air New Zealand. Flights from LA to Apia (Western Samoa) occur only once a week. After a bit of confusion with my passport, we seem to be on our way. Since my mother was not a US citizen, I had to prove that my father was, therefore that I am a citizen by the citizenship of one parent. Ironic in a way since I've lived my whole life in the states and my father was in the US Navy for 30 years. I found my original birth certificate (from 1947) in his old papers fortunately. Would have been a task to obtain one from American Samoa since I know nothing about the details of my birth. I was able to obtain a certified copy of his birth certificate (1908) from the state so Samoa here I come!! We still have to book our flight to LA. Total flight time is around 14 hours one way.



We could have flown into Pago Pago, American Samoa on Hawaiian Air but had a layover in Hawaii for a few hours. We plan to spend some time in American Samoa since that is my actual birthplace, and I want to visit the Naval station, or what is left of it. What buildings remain are on the historical register and serve as government buildings or museums. I was born in the village of Leone, so I want to go there too.



The Samoan Islands are unique in that American Samoa and Western Samoa are governed differently although customs and cultures are the same. I'll have more on that later. People of American Samoa are not US citizens but rather, US nationals. They can serve in our armed forces but cannot vote in national elections. Perhaps recently, the Samoan claim to fame is supplying US college and pro football teams with linemen!!! (they are BIG boys!)




This blog is meant to journal my visit back to the islands and not to serve as legally documented info or even entertainment. It will be available to whoever wants to view it as a means of sharing my experience. I tend to be blah, blah, blah on occassion so I'm sorry in advance if you get bored. Parts might be interesting.