The "Big" Island of Savaii

Today (Thursday 26th March) I went to Savaii on a mission to deliver 10 boxes of children’s books to a needy school. After having got up at 5.30am I was eventually picked up by the USP van and a couple of other colleagues who were coming to Savaii with me. They were late! But the drama unfolded. Someone left behind the tickets to get the van onto the ferry across to the “Big” island of Savaii. A mercy dash had to be made back to campus where they apparently proceeded to break into the administrator’s office using, in lieu of the keys, a kitchen knife! I’m glad I wasn’t an accomplice to that!

We drove out near the airport where the ferry goes from and pulled the van up at quarantine where we were meant to get the wheels washed to ensure no African Snails (a big pest) were imported into Savaii. We promptly got waved through, no washing took place, so, so much for quarantine regulations! What a hard job that guy has.

The 2 story ferry as an old but purposeful boat. All cars were parked underneath and passengers had to make their way upstairs to the seating area. We got going right on the dot of 8.00am (Palagi timing - impressive!) with the sun shining and the sea looking like glass (well almost). After pulling out of the shallow waters of Upolu we passed Manono Island and Apolima Island before cruising past the Tafua Peninsula and into the port of Salelologa, Savaii. Even though the water was glassy the boat had a distinctive sway about it so I spent the 1 ½ hour journey standing outside by the rail with the wind in my face.

Upon arriving at Salelologa we jumped back in the van and headed for the Public Library where I met the Librarian who shares her time between public and USP library services. Along the way we stopped at a bakery for some fresh loaves of bread, tinned spaghetti and spam and the essentials for a nice cup of tea. I was introduced to the USP Centre Office which is the main enrolments and support office for any USP students from Savaii. Ruby (my colleague who arranged and made this whole trip happen) has worked very hard to set up the Centre with furniture and computers of which one is connected to dial up internet. Don’t groan - it actually works better than my satellite broadband connection back on the main campus!!

After morning tea, where they tried to tell me I had to eat everything on the table in front of me (Samoan custom!), we headed off to the Sasa’ai Primary School with our 10 boxes of books to help them start up their school library. I met the principal and was delighted to see the children willing and eager to help carry the boxes of books upstairs to their library room. Upon entering the ‘library’ I noticed it was not much more than a small room with 2 shelving units, 1 of which was empty. There were piles of books on the floor but these were donated adult titles and not very appropriate for a primary school. I was pleased the books we were bringing were going to make a difference, help to start up a new school library and were suited to the ages of the children in the school.

Thankfully no one had given prior warning of our visit. I say thankfully as Samoan tradition also dictates that when gifts are received, you give something in return. This can be food or other presents. I would have been extremely embarrassed to have had an official ceremony and been presented with anything. I had to assure the principal not to feel bad that she didn’t know I was coming but to allow me to make the gift this time!

The children were great. Dressed in their bright orange shirts and cobat blue dresses and shorts they looked very smart. When invited to, they pounced on the books and promptly started to read them aloud. After the formalities, I had to make a speech (so I just told them where the books came from) the children sang their thank you (faafetai) song which had me grinning from ear to ear.

All in all it was a brilliant day. Savaii seemed fresher, newer and cleaner than Upolu. We drove by the newly opened food and craft market which looked very swish and I was shown where the new town centre is meant to be built, one day soon when someone has the money and the inkling to do it! The trip home on the boat was a bit rougher than in the morning but survived that OK propped up again by the railing with the wind in my face. I spotted some flying fish. I’m serious. I was not hallucinating! They would pop up out of the water and fly just above the surface for a fair distance before diving back under. I also thought I had spotted a turtle and proceeded to announce this to the strangers in the near vicinity, while frantically reaching for my camera, only to find it was just a bit of seaweed or something. I wondered why it kept its head up for so long.

So looking forward to taking Mum and Dad back to Savaii with more time to explore in 2 weeks time when they are over on holiday - providing Air New Zealand do not mess up our plans with their current scheduled strike action.

PS books were also donated to St Mary’s College and Solosolo Study Centre in Upolu. There were not enough to go round. I need more!