At the Crossroads of Island Living & Global Flows
2008 Exploration Seminar in Samoa

Program Director: Miriam Kahn - Anthropology, & Rochelle Fonoti
Dates of Instruction: August 20 to September 12

Students will travel to the Pacific Islands of Samoa to learn – through cultural immersion, intellectual inquiry, and collaborative discovery – about the islands and their people. Students will gain an appreciation for Samoans, and especially Samoan youth, as they form their contemporary identities at the crossroads of island life and global flows. Two service learning field sites are included – Fagaitua High School on Tutuila and Lauli’i Village School on ‘Upolu – where students will make repeated visits to help in the schools. Throughout the Exploration Seminar, students will learn in Samoan style, which is based on observation, listening, helping, adapting, and doing, rather than through classroom lectures. Both prior to and during the trip, students will have basic Samoan language training. During the trip, they will meet in discussion groups and eat together every day. They will also keep journals and choose individualized study projects (in groups of 2-4). Accommodations will be mainly communal housing in villages.

There will be ample opportunity for students to explore and learn about many important aspects of Samoa, including its colonial history and contemporary legacy; Samoan language; the importance of kinship, genealogy, and respect for elders; the hierarchical political structure; island economies; gender issues; religion and the role of the church; the significance of reciprocity; educational styles and systems; rural/urban dynamics; media, television, and radio; and Samoan identity in a global world.

Students will spend time in both parts of Samoa: American Samoa (which is an unincorporated territory of the United States) and Samoa (the Independent State of Samoa). The first few days will be spent in American Samoa on Tutuila to give students an opportunity to learn about government structure, visit the fish canneries, learn about the current proposal to set up call centers in American Samoa, visit with several local government officials, scholars, and educators with whom they will have extended discussions, and engage in service learning at Fagaitua High School.

Next, the students will fly to the island of ‘Upolu in Samoa for one week, where they will visit Lauli’i Village for an ‘ava welcome ceremony, visit the capital of Apia, have a luncheon with the Minister of Education, spend a day at the National University of Samoa, visit Vailima Brewery, visit Yasaki Samoa, work on a coffee plantation, meet with women from a business cooperative, visit the radio or television station, and engage in service learning at Lauli’i Village School.

From ‘Upolu, the students will take a short ferry ride for a week-end visit to the island of Savai’i in Samoa, where they will stay in small fales (local round houses) in the village of Salelologa. There they will accompany families during their weekend activities, including going to church. Students will also go on the Falealupo canopy walk in the rainforest. The students will return to ‘Upolu, where they will host a farewell/thank-you feast for their hosts, before flying back to Seattle.

Participants will receive 5 credits of ANTH 469, or Comparative History of Ideas (CHID) 476 South Pacific Study Abroad (I&S). Participants should check with their academic advisors to determine how these credits may apply to major requirements.

Student Costs:
$ 2,975 Program fee
$ 200 IPE Fee
Additional costs include round trip travel to Samoa, health insurance and vaccines, some meals, and personal expenses.

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