10 Things We WISH We Knew BEFORE Moving To AMERICAN SAMOA
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- Опубликовано: 23 июл 2024
- Before moving here, we had some skewed ideas of what life would be like in the territory. Three years later, we're sharing the top 10 things that we WISH we knew BEFORE moving to AMERICAN SAMOA.
We're sharing everything from food to shopping to healthcare to traditions and so much more.
We always do our best to get the facts right, but if we got anything wrong, please let us know. We're ready to learn.
Let us know if we missed anything that you wished you had known before coming to AMERICAN SAMOA or, if you're still working on making it here, let us know what questions you still have.
Thanks again for watching and for all the love. You guys are the best!
For More AMSAMFAM Adventures:
BLOG: amsamfam.com/
INSTAGRAM: / amsamfam
FACEBOOK: https: / amsamfam
HADLEY'S RUclips: / channel
In 1976 I was in the U.S. Army 84th Engineers from Schofield Barracks Hawaii - our platoon Earthmoving platoon went to American Samoa to build a road to the top of Mt. Alava - the time I spent there was so rewarding and what beauty the island was to me being a 19 yr. old from JERSEY - THE PEOPLE OF SAMOA were so nice to us - at times I felt I was in a dream - so many times the Chiefs would invite the platoon to gatherings - the people treated us like we were royalty - we were a bunch of young G.I.'s serving our country - I will never forget the Samoan people - there kindness was true - Thank You for a wonderful experience .
Awesome! Have you seen our video about hiking to Mt. Alava? It should look familiar. We hike on the road that you helped to build.
Aloha from Kona, Hawaii - I saw your video on Mt.Alava - I was surprised how over-grown the road was - when we left there the road was clear and opened and we could not see any villages or housing below - how time fly's and things change - I remember the panoramic view of the ocean from the road - it was so beautiful and blue. Aloha to my friends in Samoa and to my buddies from Bravo company 84th Engineers earthmoving platoon - Long ago and far away - it was truly a wonderful experience. Aloha From Frank.
nice memory.
@@franknemeth7430 aloha from Hilo! I’m here for 4 months with a travel nurse. We are headed to Kona this week! We have been a few times in the last month but always looking for new places to check out! There seems to be lots of tourists in Kona and we have had a hard time getting “away”. With valentines coming up, during this time, I’d love to take her to see an unforgettable sunset or something. Any recommendations? Thank you for your service, sir! Mahalo
I was a Palangi 15 year old in Samoana High school at that same time, I lived there for 2 years. 90 % of the people treated me for what I was, a high school kid. 5-10% hated me for my the color of my skin, Wasn't always as pretty as you describe.
Graves are in the Yard because Aiga is everything. So when someone passes away, we still want the person close so we can care for the grave (that person) through the generations. Hence family members are buried on your property which is rarely sold, if ever plus land is precious in Samoa and only a Samoan can buy land. It is also a form of Love and Respect.
What a great way to explain it. Thanks for that!
You guys are good embassadors for American Samoa and I’d hangout with you guys if I lived there. Are you guys Island hopping or do you live in American Samoa?
You guys are cool in finding your way around...and when i first watch this video, i swear i knew exactly where you're at! I couldn't help thinking of the many times I'd go up to that spot of hilltop & just enjoyed the view...
I enjoyed watching your videos.
Matthew Atuatasi thank you. We’ve been living here for over three years now, but definitely doing some island hopping from this home base 😊
Elisapeta NI Sunia thank you. I love that you recognized the spot. Many people haven’t been up there, which is a shame because it’s so easy to get to and the views are great! Thanks for watching.
In 1992, I was hired by a municipal bond company in Houston to go to American Samoa and build a competitive financing structure to the Hawaii based existing structure. I stayed about a month. The most hospitable experience imaginable!
One of the things I really miss about Am Samoa that some people take for granted is the Stars. I remember growing up in Am Samoa there were always alot of stars in the night sky and I never gave it much thought but now that I been living in the US I really miss it. I'm a stargazer lover but where I live in the US it's hard to see stars because of the light pollution.
Amen brudda
I use to lay on my grandpas grave and look at the full sky. Amazing.
The stars await..drive out if town , drive to a national park , or empty farm land , no jobs no money no people , no lights to guide people...30-50 miles out,,,into the sticks...and walk away 1000 feet from the last light bulb..then down in a gully or stream bed , this blocks out stray light , get red flash lights , or sit in the dark for 15-20 mins. No lights in your eyeballs - the muscle has to relax to open - flash and it cringes..20 mins getting adjusted ,have some tea..or hot cocoa..avoid clouds! Deserts have good veiwing , no water vapors ,
That’s one of the many things I love about living in Guam!!
My wife is from Colombia, and she says the same thing. When she first moved to the the New York area, she couldn’t believe how half the stars seemed to disappear.
I live in the west coast rain forest and I often say:- When you live in a rain forest you should expect two things. One of them is a forest.
Thank you for embracing our culture like you have. I love all your family adventures and I look forward to seeing more from you all! Tofā Soifua. Also, props on the pronunciation!
Thank you, we try our best 😊
Like how you people " embrace " our culture when you invade, I mean move here?
@@mojohinson1540 This is our Country now all you can do is cry about it😈😈😈
You guys are looking more Samoan everyday. That’s awesome!
Talofa!
I traveled from Chicago to work for ASG in 1984 on a 2 year contract. Lived on Lua street in Tafuna.
As far as shortages go, there was a store whose motto w as “If we don’t have it you don’t need it.” I still laugh when I think of that.
Memories I still treasure:
Warmth of Samoan people
Diving & snorkeling and seeing all the fish.
Amount of stars in the night sky
How quickly friends are made
FRESH seafood
Sunsets & Sunrises
My first daughter being born at LBJ
The full price for that - $2 (for the birth certificate)
Tofa
It’s funny how most of this still seems pretty similar. The thing is, that store’s slogan is true. The items that we may want, but can’t find on-island, are not that difficult to live without. It’s actually kinda nice to live without all of the creature comforts of the states. It’s a good reminder that we can live with less than we may think and still find a great deal of happiness.
"Lua street"? Do the streets have names? I got an impression that American Samoa, like the majority of Japan, and Kahnawake (reservation near Montreal, in Canada) does things the Fa'a U2....as in "Where the Streets Have No Name"
😂👍
@@raakone Hi there. Most of the streets don’t have names there. The only ones I know of that do are in the Government Housing near the Airport.
Some valuable info here, thanks!
Great video
Thank you for your information about the island
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am a born and raised Samoan in America 🇺🇸. You explained the traditions and culture so eloquently and respectfully. And all the folks that commented have also added to the things we wish we would have known. Loved it! I am a Subscriber now. Keep us informed 👍 thanks again!🏝❤🙏
Faafetai for the comment and the sub!
Great tips.
Thank you 👍 for sharing my island life ❤️
Sole! I lived for a very long time in Am. Samoa and you guys have been to more beaches then I ever knew about. Maybe I was to busy doing fe'aus 😂 but thank you for the awesome videos. I can share this with my kids. One day they can also visit my village but for now they can watch from your videos 😂. Thank you
Thanks for another great video. Take care & GB.
Thank you for sharing... I miss home so much!
Very nice presentation!
Awesome Family ❤️
Great comprehensive video with some unique info. Thanks and kudos!
Very sweet video ❤
As we say here in 423 Tennessee, If you don't like the weather just wait about 10 mins. LOL
Same in 865
I live in Tennessee, and I don't understand why folks say this. I did, however, live in Colorado for a bit, and one day I was wearing shorts at 9am cause it was pretty hot. By that afternoon the wind picked up a little, so I put on a light jacket. By the time my friend and I walked out of the movie theater that evening (9pm) there was already half an inch of snow on the ground. So, in twelve hours it went from hot and dry to cold and snowy, and we weren't even in the mountains. We were along the front range.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing! 😎🏖🌴☀️🇦🇺
Great post. Will be checking out more of your videos.
What a great and interesting video.
This was a good video. Love the feed back. Nice to know things.
Great vid!
Thanks to give the valuable informations through this video😌
Luv this video and thank you for sharing and appreciating our culture
What an awesome and informative video!!! Thank you for sharing this
This video is awesome. God bless you both and your family.
Favorite Video so far thank you as i love learning. Trying to shopping video.
I love you guys. My husband is from Texas and it's great to show him a non-Samoan point-of-view. Thank you. You guys are awesome. Manuia le vaiaso. Soifua.
Thanks! It’s always nice to see things from different perspectives.
You marry a palagi (or perhaps a "brother"), but pretend to be "close" to your Samoan culture? SMH. You're about as "traditionally Samoan" as Juju Smith Schester's mother
Sweet guys!!!
so beautiful guys...love it. just love it.
Everything on point on ur list and true love the content much respect and alofas to ur fam bam keep them coming
Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work can’t wait to visit 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲
Very informative guys. Thank you and I wish you all have a great life with health living over there.
Thank you. You've educated me a lot about American Samoa in this video.
Loved it😍😍❤️
Your videos are making me to want to come back and visit! My family is from the village of Vatia and I was so happy to see one of your vlogs where you and the kids went there..thank you for sharing! God bless and be safe! Alofa atu🙏🏼🙏🏼
Talofa lava guys! I love the content of this video! You are the man Nate!! I true followers of your channel and by fat this one is my personal favorite, because you guys are so passionate about my beautiful culture.. thank you for sharing your beautiful Journey. Keep it coming please.. Tofa.
Love it how easy it is to understand u guys. I’m practicing English and watching random videos and run it yours here on RUclips. Easy to understand and also very fun video.
Awesome video God bless
Thoroughly enjoyed your video. What an eye opening experience. Its great to see you have immersed yourselves fully into the culture. Wishing your family well 🙏 from New Zealand ❤
This is great! You both have learned the "spirit" of the Samoan culture. Especially as palagi's. Keep up the good work! Blessings!
Love your reasons! Our people are blessed to have you. Love and miss you guys! Keep it up Melinda. Love love your adventures.
Listening to this 7/2022. Truly love the content and thank you for sharing. I was simply browsing for nearby destinations to US where I can take an extended respite and came across your video. Great information. 🌷
Talofa! this is a really helpful list -- i always wanted to visit American Samoa, and some day hope to fulfill that. Good for everyone to be respectful of the culture when they visit, and when I eventually do :-)
Lush landscapes! Thanks for sharing these wonderful experiences.
The landscapes really are incredible!! 😍
Very interesting, thank you for shearing. Best regards from Norway
Thanks! Take care 🤙
You guys are so awesome n again Faafetai for the positive you put out to the world about OUR beautiful HOME!!!!!
lol..........your right......" a Living Culture" ____Respect of their Elder's and LOVE in a genuine way!.."family".....those are "rare" nowadays!........keep on keeping on!......awesome beach view!
Got off of work and came on here to check for a new video but there was none until now!!!! Love Am Sam Fam Tuesdays!!
Oh no, we almost missed you. Glad you got your AMSAMFAM fill 😊
You are so lucky 🌸..beautiful vintage point..🌺. Living the dream 😎. God bless your family 🙏😇
I have only come across your channel today and have watched a few videos, I’m very intrigued, you’re both great talkers and I enjoy watching! I just subscribed!
Thanks for subscribing!
Mālo soifua! Excellent video. Happy that you are enjoying living Samoan style!
really enjoyed your video and it appears you've really enjoy your life in Samoa I have to go back track and watch some of your older videos thank you very kindly for sure and this with me
Thank for watching, Bill!
thank you for showing coconut point. miss it bac home
You guys are great. I learnt so much.
Awesome. Thanks for watching!
I want to come and see the island! I’d love to just pack up and move there, it’s just so beautiful!!! 🏖
Quite informative and thorough, Tq guys.
🤙
very informative thanks
Malo le Soifua,
Love the videos, appreciate your respect for the culture, also you guys are more Samoan than some of us now...😆 🤣 😂 ..much alofas and blessings to you guys and the kids. Faafetai tele lava, Soifua🤙 from Hawaii
I'm glad you like our culture thanks for taking time to talk about it fa'afetai :)
I accedentally fell on your vlog. I found it to be very informative and enjoyable. I plan to sail the rest of my life, and american samoa is on my list. you have opened my eyes a bit to what to expect. I find myself more excited now to visit than before. thank you for your videos. and hope you and your families are well.
Oh good!! We love this place! While it’s not perfect and we run into frustrations sometimes, those two things are true about anywhere I’ve ever heard of. There are so many things that make American Samoa special and the place we choose to call home 🏝❤️ Hope you can make it out here someday soon 🤞
Awesome👍👍
Thanks for sharing! Love how you guys are experiencing the culture by living there and it's so awesome that you've been there for 3 years already!
Living on an island definitely opens your eyes to the things you'd take for granted overseas! Hope you guys are enjoying your time there! Much love x
Sometimes we can’t believe it’s been three years already either. Life on the island is certainly different, but we wouldn’t go back and change our decision for anything.
you guys are amazing! I enjoy your videos, a very nice palagi family enjoying my home land.
Thank you for embracing all that our small island home has to offer. I can see how you have assimilated well and you do not judge with your observations. In all, thank you for your appreciation and sharing the love that we all have for American Samoa, a very unique Paradise in the middle of nowhere. God bless and keep up the great vlogs.
We really appreciate that!
Just subscribed and now I have something to watch 😁
First time watching your video and it's great, thanks guys.
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for letting me know how much it is so valuable to me to live in the islands. I really appreciate everything you two have done to educate people
Our pleasure!
Great video guys....just one complaint....if you would've rolled the camera at the 11:26 mark...you would've filmed my GGM's grave on the other side of the LMS church. That's our place. LoL. Also....your sei went on the wrong ear. Unless thats the side you wear your wedding band. Other than that...great cut. Stay safe out there. Faafetai lava.
I just found your channel and I can say it is very refreshing! I`ve always been in love with south pacific cultures and finding a channel like yours it is just a must for subscribing! Thank you for sharing! sending my love all the way from Manchester - UK.
Awesome! We’re glad to find a kindred spirit. We love the people of culture of American Samoa ❤️
Why did you move there and what do you do for a living
I love that you loved my village of Ofu, Manu'a! That beach you were on (pictured on your T-shirt 😉), is actually on my family's land. Glad you had a great time. I'll be moving back home soon.
What an amazing place to live! Congrats.
I worked in American Samoa for a year in 2010-2011. I loved the people there! Great summary guys!! Thank you
My family has land in aloau I'm saving up now to go down and see it this covid threw a big wrench in that plan but I'll be down there blessings to you and your family
Oh man, what a bummer. Hopefully we’ll see you down here in 2021!
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experiences on American Samoa. This is a new interest for me and your video has ignited my new fascination in this most lovely Island and culture. Again, thank you so much.
So happy that you’ve found our videos helpful. There was very little information available when we were looking to move here back in 2017. It’s the main reason we started this channel. We’re glad to help fill that gap. Let us know if there’s anything else that you’d like to know!
Love the videos, thank you for sharing, can’t wait to see what information you’ll be providing next. I really miss home since I left in 1995 for the Air Force. Maybe you guys can check out local restaurants, maybe a good place to wine and dine for couples etc. I still remember a lot of places, but I’m not sure what’s still there and what’s new. Well thank you again for sharing your experience🤙🏽😊
Will do!
Great video makes me miss being home. I’m from Pava’ia’i 😁
Very informative! Your willingness to experience and learn about the Samoan culture is very positive. My hubby and I enjoy watching your videos together. It’s so exciting to see familiar landmarks, especially from our beautiful village of Nu’uuli❤️
Thanks for sharing your adventure! We moved from the mainland to Oahu two years ago and we have been learning alot about the culture and we still are learning things we wish we would have known before moving
There’s only so much you can learn from afar. It’s the things that you learn while actually living in a culture that tend to be the most surprising, right?
I’m from Kailua, and I live on the mainland now and it’s not so vastly different.
Well said.
So fun to see your footage and hear your experience. I lived in Tafuna from 1965-67 as a young girl. It was quite different then. This experience has continued to shape and inform my life. So many beautiful and amazing memories. Thank you for this video.
That’s so cool. I wish I could have seen AmSam back in the 60s.
Welcome back to amsam fam is my favorite 4 words on RUclips
Awww, that’s so sweet! We love sharing all that’s beautiful about this place ❤️ Thanks for sticking with us.
good video.. so many memories of my time there about 30 years before you arrived. Used to fish by the lites of the tuna boats in the harbor from 2 -7am ( until sum came up over Rainmaker mountain). Made my share of umu ovens. Lived in Utulei. i don't know if true but heard they used to swim across the harbor ( before the tuna factories arrived) with their schoolbooks in one arm above the water to get to school...how cool is that!
I’m not saying it’s not true, but it sounds an awful lot like the stories made dad used to tell about walking to school in 10 feet of snow, uphill both ways 😉 Either way, I’d like to think they did. Thanks for sharing your memories.
After watching half this video I think this applies if you are moving to any island because I live in Guam and boy o boy do this things apply thanks for the vid!!
Interesting!
Ive only been to the motherland once while i was younger and i just watch this to gain more knowledge on what ive been missing.. you guys are beautiful in my eyes for loving our little island thank you guys for these vlogs and for keeping respect in our culture and tradition🙏
Thank you! 🙏☺️ We love our island home and the people who live here ❤️Hopefully you can visit again soon.
I always look forward to your vlogs. I’m impressed with your love of American Samoa. I agree with your perspective of living life in a “living culture. They say that “when tradition gathers enough strength to go on for centuries, you don’t just turn it off one day.” This episode is very informative. Tourism office could use it for visitors..... thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Lui!
great video
Great video😊
Can you do a cost of living video?
Your family is way too cute!! Love the videos!! I miss my home so much. We moved to the States in 1996. You guys pass alot of the old stomping grounds in your videos. For me it's a nice trip down memory lane! Thank you for taking the time to make these videos! God bless!
You’ve been gone too long! I think it’s about time for a visit.
@@AmSamFam I totally agree! 🌴🌺🌊🌞☔
I love how you guys are always speaking the language. 👍🏼💪🏼👏👏👏
Faafetai lava!
Can you give us some detail, maybe make a video about the VA healthcare and medical care in general in Samoa?
I lived on a Saipan everything you mention I lived through it.
I love this couple! I’m from the Island and people like these guys makes our little island special
great video, thank you
Awesome video guys.
Originally from NZ I spent the better part of my teens to my mid 20s in American Samoa with my 2 younger brothers. So many memories and good times.We all live in Australia now but PPG 96799 will always be home away from home. 🇦🇸🇦🇸
Hopefully after Covid we make a trip back to visit again.
Thanks, McMillan! Let us know when you make it out here.
I'm looking forward to moving there and calling it my home. From Colorado, the cost of living is going up, Knowing is mostly christian friendly to close the deal, I really can't wait.