Yearbook 2002

Samoa. In June, Samoa celebrated the 40th anniversary of the country’s independence. According to Countryaah website, national day of Samoa is every June 1. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Helen Clark attended a ceremony in the capital, Apia, and made an official apology for abuses committed under New Zealand’s colonial rule. This included failure to stop a severe disease epidemic, which killed more than one in five residents in 1918. Another incident was when unarmed protesters were shot dead in 1928.

During the year, the government announced cuts in the public sector, which would cause about 1,200 of the country’s approximately 4,000 government employees to lose their jobs.

Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele’s plans to build a new city attracted attention in Sweden. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation has paid for a new school in Samoa against a promise from the country’s chiefs that the rainforest on Savaii’s peninsula Tafua should be left untouched for 50 years. The planned city threatens 1,200 hectares of rainforest there.

Samoa Country Overview

Visas and admission
Finnish citizen does not need a visa for a 90-day trip to Samoa. The passport must be valid for 6 months after leaving the country.

• According to ABBREVIATIONFINDER.ORG, ASM stands for Samoa.

Insurance
Every person participating in the trip must have a valid travel insurance that covers medical expenses in the event of illness or other similar need. Please check the validity of your own insurance and the terms and conditions of the insurance cancellation cover.

Please pay attention to the special nature of your trip and check the coverage of the insurance in that respect as well.

Many dive trips require more extensive insurance. Please check the contents of your insurance with your insurance company.

Currency: Tala (WST). € 1 = about 2.95 WST. Currency is not available from Finland.

Vaccinations
Check that your basic vaccinations are valid (tetanus, polio and diphtheria and MPR). Hepatitis A and B vaccinations are recommended for the trip.

Always check the vaccination requirements at the health center or the Vaccination Advice of the Tourist Clinic

Time difference
12 hours

Electric current
The electric current is 230 V / 50 Hz. Sockets are similar to, for example, in Australia.

Safety
We stay in safe areas during our trip, but general caution within common sense is desirable throughout the trip.

Ethnology. – The natives of Samoa are still today outspoken and particularly sympathetic representatives of the Polynesian race, although they have not remained completely free from foreign admixtures (see Polynesians). The long contact with the European or American civilization has naturally modified its uses and customs to a notable extent and has had a disadvantageous effect especially on various indigenous arts and industries, such as the construction of boats, the manufacture of tapa, the processing of magnificent mats. ietonga and the art of tattooing.

However, most Samoans still live on the products of modest agriculture: taro, yam, tobacco, sugar cane, bananas, coconut palms and seafood, among which, in addition to shrimp and shells, it is worth mentioning the Palolo worm, whose capture in the period of the last quarter after the full moon of October or November respectively gives rise to a feast. Less important is the feeding of pork, chickens and pigeons. The preparation and use of the national cava drink(v.) have retained some of their ancient ceremonial meaning. For clothing, bark fabrics and plant fibers are increasingly replaced by imported cotton and women, under the influence of the missions, increasingly hide the torso, which they previously kept uncovered, with the long Tahitian garment shaped of sack; yet the ancient picturesque costume has not completely disappeared and floral ornaments are still in use.

The manufacture of mats, fans, baskets, combs, etc also persists; the oval houses covered with leaves are gradually filling up with mirrors, clocks, lamps, sewing machines and other foreign objects.

The Samoans are all Christians today, mainly Methodist Wesleyans and Catholics, but Mormons have also worked there successfully. However, in some regions a large part of the ancient beliefs still existed.

The characteristic qualities of the Samoans are amiability, pride, hospitality at least among them, and exemplary family life: the woman occupies a good position. A certain laziness, which is explained by the happy conditions of their lives, has led to the employment of foreign workers, including Chinese, in large plantations, ports and warehouses. On the other hand, the Samoan is a born trader, and his mental level is very high; in schools he easily learns to read and write and demonstrates surprising intelligence; it has preserved in the present times the ancient pleasure of music, parties and games (eg, Iurfriding “riding on the waves”).