Jamie and Carolyn Take Samoa!: Flag Day!!

Oh sweet flag day! I've only been here a year and 4 months and I've already learned to love flag day!! It's like another Holiday added to the academic calendar. Schools are canceled, work is on a freeze, and the entire island goes into a frenzie! April 17th is the official date in which America signed the deed to Samoa, officially making this island (Tutuila) an American Territory in the 1900's. Every year on April 17, Tutuila AKA: American Samoa, celebrates this monumental day! You can think of it as another Fourth of July weekend. ;) Everything is painted red, white, and blue and there are American/Samoan flags hung up all over the place. My favorite decorations involve car tires cut in half and then painted red, white, and blue. Haha. Classy to say the least.

Amongst all the celebration, Samoa also participates in Fautasi boat races. Fautasi boats are long boats with large oar paddles attached to the sides. These boats aren't just any boats, they are large canoe like structures with 40+men on board! Typically, 20 paddling on each side. Each village has their own Fautasi team. These races are taken very seriously. The team actually sleeps together the week following the race. They train, eat, sleep together as a team. It is a great honor to row for your village. Last year, our village, Nu'uuli, won!! Woot woot! We are hoping for a returning victory, but we will see! I will be sporting my village colors of red and white tomorrow for good luck! ❤❤

Red, white, and blue!!!