A speech of gratitude

This time around last year I had the privilege to be chosen out of all 100+ Westminster scholars to speak at the GOATS alumni reunion.  This was also where I would speak for those who reviewed the 2000+ applicants from all over the world for a place in the most diverse city in the world-London! When Peter Anwyl, the CEO of the International Student House,  a great believer in traveling and seeing the world and a love for old cars asked me to speak I was excited.  I also knew that most of the people who will be present included those of influence,position and a giving heart.  There were previous students who, like me received a scholarship after the establishment of International Student's House ISH right up to the present.  This was also a group of people who directly contributed generously to the ISH scholarship fund to enable students like me from unknown places to study in London.

As I stood there in a ballroom full of people, dressed for an audience with the queen I thought of my Samoa.  I thought of my grandfather who fasted and prayed so that I can get this scholarship, my father who smiled when I told him I was chosen and my mother who dislikes long flights to be at a great place.  I thought of my sister, Joanne who sacrifices much of her life to help my parents so that her other siblings can do well in university.  I thought of my 5 siblings who were still at university and making a way for themselves.  I thought of how my speech will be received and then I squeezed my nerves, said a small prayer in my head and watched as the room slowly silenced. I present my unaltered speech .

 

Good evening everyone. When I was asked to speak tonight, I thought perhaps it's because I have probably traveled the furthest out of all the scholars or maybe because I come from a tropical island in the South Pacific and London needed some sunshine!

Well, before I came to London all I heard about was the depressing weather, the Queen, brilliant shopping and tea sessions. Since coming to UK, I have been here-every week has had some sun, rain and wind. It has been a great experience.

I come from Samoa (formerly known as Western Samoa) the first independent island of the South Pacific. It is mostly known for its smallness (dot on the map) and our big rugby players. To go there from the UK, I have to take 3 flights and about a total of 29-32 hours excluding transit times. It costs around $1,200 to $2,000 pounds!! (there was a gasp from the audience) I came to the UK last September on a “FULL International Students Scholarship” for small islands to study the Masters of Science in Air Transport Planning and Management at the University of Westminster.

Before that I studied in New Zealand flying planes hoping to be a commercial pilot and graduated with an “aviation management degree”.  Aviation is still very much a male dominated industry and I figured ‘Why would I want to be another driver when I can be the boss of the drivers”!(Numerous people laughed at this one) As far as I know, I am the only person from my country with this degree. After completing that in 2008, I was offered a job to stay on in New Zealand but I refused because I really wanted to work for my people and to really learn about aviation. Sure the salaries are low but the reward is great!

At the time I didn’t even know if we had an aviation department apart from the airport and airlines. I worked at the International Airport as their first Research & Training Officer providing training advice and research for over 200 employees. Then I shifted to the Civil Aviation Authority working as the Aviation licensing and Certification officer. I worked there for about 3 months when I won a full scholarship for postgrad studies at the Singapore Aviation Academy, considered one of the top aviation schools in Asia. A program which usually takes one year but with hard work, faith and perseverance I completed it within 3 months, receiving the Distinction award. When I returned home, I was instantly promoted to become the youngest head of the licensing Unit overlooking all certification and licenses in aviation operations.

Most of you might wonder that Samoa probably has 2 flights a month and therefore doesn’t have much going on. We should be basking in the sunshine, on the beach in our grass skirts and leave development to the bigger countries. This is a popular perception but as a small island with a population of only 180,000 people receiving more than 100,000 visitors a year that is quite an achievement considering our remoteness and our economic status.  Tourism is one of our leading industries but it cannot grow in the absence of air services.  This is why I am here, to learn more about aviation and how to develop it. Although our operations are nothing compared to the numbers in UK, we are a member to the International Civil Aviation Organisation and therefore have exactly the same governing regulations and compliances as the rest of the world. Our resources are few, our people are not qualified, the education systems are flawed but that is why we seek greater opportunities like these scholarships because without them I would not be here. The UK qualifications are regarded as having the highest standards in the Pacific, before NZ and Australian as well as US degrees. I can count on one hand the number of people I know from my country who have studied in the UK.

I am thankful that I was not overlooked because of where I am from but rather it is the smallness of my island that has allowed me to be selected. Even within Samoa there is corruption, a lot of politics and I am so grateful that the selection process is solely in the hands of UK University boards and communities such as you: International Students house. I can guarantee, if it was left up to my government, the people who really deserve these scholarships will be overlooked and they will go to people with political connections or those affiliated in similar groups. So Thank you.

This scholarship has been a stepping-stone to greater things as I aim to be instrumental in the development of the aviation industry in Samoa. We are allowed to dream, to overcome great challenges in life and ultimately to help each other . I hope there will be more scholarships for more people to study in the UK especially for very specialized studies like mine. Together, we may be ordinary individuals but cooperation between ordinary people can achieve extraordinary feats. As you go home this evening and wonder about the nice night we’ve had, please remember those like me..who will never be able to  further our accomplishments without your support. As I end my studies next month, I leave knowing that UK does have something great to offer, apart from cultures and sights, the people who I have connected to here make the experience memorable. So thank you.

When I said the last words, a large applause went around the room. I did not expect that at all.  I expected a few nods and perhaps one of the Lords/Earls nodding off.  Afterwards they commended me on my speech and some of the alumni family came up and said they were inspired to donate more to the scholarship funds.  There were moments in that speech where I was emotional and my voice fluctuated but my hands were steady.  As I re-read this speech, I am happy to say that I set out what I promised to do.  I promised to study hard and came home with honours, to enjoy London with several trips to Belgium and Paris. I also vowed to make friends and to return home upon completion of the scholarship and above all to be instrumental in the aviation industry. I am currently the Oceania/Pacific GOATS ambassador and will be happy to provide information about how to study in London.

Breeze me away!!!!!!!!

ETB news photo

Tourism is our biggest earner

Tourism is one of the main focus of government

There is a lot of money to be made in tourism

Our tourists number is rising each year

These are some of the sayings that are associated with our tourism industry and I don't care much for the negative discussions in the past year revolving around tourism.  This is not what this post is about. I do want to bask in the glow that came to Samoa about 2 weeks ago. Working at the airport and heading the Business Development Unit has its perks, one is being contacted about some spectacular events happening at our Terminal.

Two weeks ago, I received a call from Wendy Booth, owner of Seabreeze resort requesting approval for a number of her staff to be present at the airport awaiting the arrival of her husband Chris Booth.  This arrival was special because Chris had gone to Dubai to receive 2013 World Travel Awards for being Samoa's Leading Hotel.  'The red-carpet event is considered the Oscars of the tourism industry and this accolade, voted by travel and tourism professionals worldwide, recognizes the commitment to excellence which Seabreeze has demonstrated in the last twelve months' (EBT news,2013). 

Samoa Airport Authority of course said yes to accommodating the staff and key people in the Tourism industry to await this exciting award.  Yikes, I think I was as excited as Wendy!maybe more excited. It did have something to do with having first knowledge from Wendy about the award. Apart from aviation, tourism is the next best thing, when these two industry marry, they produce amazing babies that will sustain themselves!

Back to the issue at hand, although I have never been to Seabreeze, never dipped my toes in their sands or enjoyed a nice pinacolada in the honeymoon suite...I felt like I was a part of it all.  There has been too much negativity around tourism lately and this was just a great icing on the cake.  This was  to remind everyone involved in the industries that five star resorts did not win us awards, BULA did not win us awards, not even a state of the art 100+ room with infinity pools won us an award. It was simplicity at its best.  It is a group of people who love what they do, who are committed to pleasing their customers, who do the little things so well,right down to having the right toilet roll, batteries in a TV remote,fast, reliable and friendly service. I am indeed proud because Seabreeze made the little dot that is Samoa a little bit bigger on the map.  I have read all their reviews on Tripadvisor and boy is Wendy a good host from what I have read.  

The best part was, Wendy's energetic chatting away on the phone and the sound of her voice, she is genuine. She loves working with our people and her staff love her back for that.  They put on a whole other level of celebration at the airport for the event and of course all the big names in Tourism and hospitality were there to bask in the glow and that's okay.  

I have always wanted to say that I abhor the decades of Tourism studies that compare us to Fiji. We are NOT Fiji.  Fiji has a much bigger population. more British influence,their resources are plentiful as so are their islands and oh guess what, they have almost 5 times more population than us. So why is our tourism industry compared to Fiji? Why are we smaller?Because they have 500,000+ more reasons compared to our measly 180,000 people!! Oh and the secret (not), Fiji was built up by the Pacific in the 1970s to be an Air hub, they have air bridges!haha...They are closer to all our main markets, more air services, more air services agreements and oh they have more investors for their 5 star hotels..need I say more.  While I was scrambling around to find one decent paper on Samoa aviation/tourism for my thesis,all I could find were brilliant articles about Fiji this, Fiji that...

Samoa is Samoa

1. Fiji a bigger population and more islands
2. 1 hour aviation gas fuel and 2 hours extra flight to Samoa might seem small but not to the airlines
3. The cost versus services in Samoa compared to Fiji are of vast gaps
4. ALL pacific islands are trying to sell the same sun,sand,beach, mermaid products to the same markets.

Seabreeze winning this award proves that not all tourists come for 5 start resorts and Gucci  shopping, they come to see whether Samoa is indeed real.  If we are people of the sun and if we are as friendly as they say we are.  As the name suggests, we are different and set apart because we ARE SAMOA! We are set apart in our political stability, in our tattoo designs (and no I won't get into the Nike fiasco), our people, our virginity (yes we are still untouched) and for crying out loud-OUR SAMOANNESS...sell that, put that in a bottle and let the world catch our frangipani smell. They will come and sleep under our stars.

I take my hat off to Seabreeze, for all those who strive to do the best with what they have, for those around and in tourism, for the supporting services because without them there is no tourism and did I mention our people is the pulse and heartbeat of our tourism?? I have tried my best to not sound like a bloody academic and I think I have succeeded.  An award may be just an award, however with the backing and the big media platform around it, people will think again before booking their flights. With that in mind, I conclude that the complex machine that is tourism is not that complex at all! People need to work together to achieve the impossible.   

I leave you now with the saying of Seabreeze..."Seabreeze Resort, The Soul of Samoa in The Heart of Paradise"

Yes you can!

It's that time of the year again, when our high school and university students stress and find the motivation to study for their exams.  Samoan students are different in that they have family,church,community and village obligations on top of their school work.  Time management is a big part of being a Samoan student.  Unlike our overseas counterparts, who have 'extracurricular' activities such as watching TV,learning how to play an instrument, playtime, social outlets, shopping malls and other entertaining mediums, we have feaus and more feaus to do. We struggle fro balance  from high school to university especially when all these other obligations are pulling us each way.

In university a lot of Pacific Islanders struggle with academia, it’s not because we are lazy or stupid.  It’s because we are interconnected to our family, church and community.  These are our lifelines and so we are part of them as much as they are a part of us. All these factors play a big role in our everyday lives. It is a psychological battlefield because institutions tell us that we are no good and that we are just not good enough to be more than average.  Most alarmingly, we are our worst enemies for BELIEVING THIS lie! We tend to sway towards negative thoughts and we forget to stir each other up and motivate ourselves to do better. Instead, we have more negative spears looking at us on the streets, laughing at us in the library and jumping on our backs on the way to class.

Universities in New Zealand are trying to solve this currently as more academics learn that Pacific Islanders' learning behavior and techniques are quite different. In my 2^nd and 3 rd year of university, I had the privilege or working closely with younger Pacific students (Mostly Samoan and Tongan) to help them achieve and reach their academic goals.  It was rather interesting discovering several reasons why we are set up to fail in University:

1.   Most lecturers read from their notes and leave it up to the student to find their own way in the dark.  I had some of the most brilliant professors who were the complete opposite of cliché teachers.  They were intelligent, humorous and they actually made me look forward to going to class! Pacific Islanders are part of the Victorian “we”, we live, we use,we are, we become.  Our first teachers are our parents, some people might call it spoon-feeding but that is how we first learn.  We learn through examples and explanations. We learn by going outside and looking at the world around us.  Our ancestors learn through mouth to  ear, telling stories passed from generation to generation.  The medium in which modern teaching is carried out hinders our learning senses. This is not to blame the old traditional teaching methods, it's just the way it is.
2.  The worst part for Pacific Island students is that their time management sucks! I know this because usually for proofreading and research, we allowed students to hand in their essays or reports two weeks before the due date. Guess what time they come to me for help? A day before the paper is due!Some even come a week after the due date (on the verge of tears with a sob story and a convincing face to go with it)
3.     Most students are scared to ask questions in class for fear of embarrassment, shyness and sometimes pride.  They mostly fear talking to their lecturers one on one. We come from islands where we respect our elders, teachers and our betters and some cultures we are taught to listen and do, not listen and ask questions)
4. Devil mentality. Essays are the biggest evil in the world and reports were created by the devil to endanger the lives of us mentally.  Therefore, leave everything to the last minute with the hope that a natural disaster or a snow storm will hit campus so that we can get another 2 weeks extension (usually never happens)
5.  Students are not confident in what they write and instead of asking for help, they form groups that will help comfort them.  They complain about how stupid the lecturer is or how hard the essay question was, and how smart mouth one Chinese is in the class (there’s one in every course)
6. Pacific Island students have no idea where to find the right information! They stick to out of date books from the library, get loads of information from ‘google, Wikipedia, online dictionary’ which will not help please lecturers at all.  Hence the perception we are all brown lazy coconuts. Journals are from an alien word to most students and trying to find this information  online is like finding a needle in the haystack.
7. Other super smart, talented Pacific Islanders are just that—too smart and not willing to listen or help their fellow brothers in arms.     If we have one in every ten Pacific Island helping their fellow student out, even with just some encouraging words and motivating atmopshere..imagine the difference that would make! Imagine what ten more people can achieve!
8. My parents are too busy to take notice. Some parents are too busy working to invest and share in the development of their child.  While working many hours put food on the table and help keep a roof over our heads, being present at parent teacher day and just supporting students will make an enormous difference. 
9. Too much social media and socializing, too much clubbing and competing for ’99 bottles of beer on the wall’
10. Priorities are all over the place-games,outing,youth group, parents then school
11. Cs Get Degrees (don’t know who came up with this dumb quote that is now some students mottos).   Once someone said this to me and I retorted..”well let me ask you ask you something, If I was the boss and 2 graduates come to be—one with All Cs and took 8 years to graduate vs a bright kid who graduate top of his class..Who do you think I will choose? Fast learner? Innovative.

 There are many more ways that discourage our students and prevent them from succeeding, I do hope they see their parents toiling away for a better future and get the courage to succeed. Failure is never an option and we were meant for so much more.  So, rise up from your sleep, study, sweat, cry if you must but do not ever give up the good fight!

Because I said so

My mother is the kind of woman who will either put the fear of God in you, set you straight or simply scare you. Some people (maybe most) are actually scared of her the first time they meet her and sometimes well after  the first encounter.  She is vocal, straight forward and assertive, all of which I have no problem with. Many of these traits have been passed down to me and my many siblings, it seems to be a more common trait in the girls. This  is not a new thing with the women in my family (me included).  My grandmother (mother dearest’s mother) was a kindred spirit, she was the softer side of the matriarchs.   However my great-grand mother  was a tyrant (or so I’ve heard).  Mother dearest loved her grandmother, adored her, perhaps because she was the pele (favourite) out of all the grandchildren. I grew up hearing stories of how my great-grand mother single handedly raised her children as well as building up the family business. Her motto,  if she had one, would have been-

 “If you don’t work, don’t eat”. This is my interpretation.

The women who gave life to me are/were hard working, business headed, entrepreneur –ing, family oriented ,traditional,strong, iron-fist ruling women.  When I was a child, I remember spending a lot of time with nannies not because my parents were rich (I’m blessed) but because mother dearest had to work hard.  My mother never went to university, she finished education in highschool and she married young. I have many siblings (a separate blog) and so mother dearest had to sell vegetables at the market everyday to put us through school.  She is still doing this to the present day eventhough she has grown children working and the farm is doing well enough for her to retire soon. My papa (father dearest) is the scholar and the farmer (certified civil engineer) but mother dearest is the brains, marketing, sales manager, transporter and many other roles not defined on the internet.

I remember when I had chores and homework to do (tried my best to avoid), I would ask why I had to do them…
Mother dearest’s usual reply

 “Enid, because I said so”

This phrase was the answer to a lot of things in my life.  It’s not a bad phrase either. It simply means, do what I say or your life will not be pleasant. I find myself saying that to my 3 year old niece, Arabella, these days whenever she gets smart with me. She is quite smart for a 3 year old, she started walking at 8 months and started talking at 11 months . I kid you not; this child might be the death of me. Do not let her blond curls and cute complexion deceive you.  I wonder now  if the women  in my family passed this phrase down from generation to generation.  It has worked so far and I am sure its value will not be lost on the young. Do it because I said so, no argument just obedience. Perhaps this is where Nike's "Just do it" jingle comes from.  When I moved out of my parents house at the age of 16 to pursue higher education overseas, this phrase wrung in my ears.  I heard mother dearest’s voice whenever it rained (more like a resounding yell), when I felt homesick and discouraged
 I heard her say the following:

Do your assignment,

wash your clothes,

clean this messy house,

don’t go to that party,

stay away from that crowd,

go to church,

get up
go to class!

do better next time

….because I said so’.

The one phrase that irritated me as a youngster became my driving phrase when I left home. It was the voice of conscience, my helper, comforter when in time of need. Jesus of course was there every step of the way sometimes  in the form of my mother’s voice. Somehow mother dearest’s voice seemed much softer in my head, nevertheless it has brought me thus far. 
 I am sure most Samoans/Pacific islanders will relate to this blog.

What about you? What is your mother like? Does she have a proverbial phrase she usually answers your woes with?

Arabella when she was a year  and a few months old, she chose these shoes and refused to take them off.  Taken in front of ACB building Samoa-hating the cigarette butts at the back!

Samoa loss

Samoa loss

 
We no longer eat with our fingers or
Hear the calm silence
No longer sit around the table
Eating, talking, laughing
We no longer laugh at the
Silly nothings of life
Walking five miles to
School replaced by free bus
to Massey University
We no longer tie mosquito
nets to keep them out at
night
we no longer sing in the
church choir but in front of
cameras
for NZ idol
no longer swim at Mulinuu
or sink feet in the sands of
Vaiala
now and then we wear
lavalavas
reminding us of island bonds
tied to make umu in the
stomach of the Earth
no longer rest
in the shades of
the tamaligi trees
and walk bare feet,
embracing the Fa'asamoa

Pasifika Arts & Literary Series

Copyright ©2009 Juliet Enid Westerlund

A view of Samoa from the top, I took this photo from a RNAF helicopter

The Sweetest Revenge

School for me as a youngster was my second home.  I loved it! I had great friends (who I'm still friends with to this day, regardless of where they are running off to, living their adult lives).  School was not only my playground, it was where my thoughts were nurtured and where ideas came to life.  It was my childhood haven..I looked forward to school everyday (mostly) from primary school right up to high school.  

My eagerness for school started to wane when I was in University.  The decline of interest did not occur due to studies, no it had nothing to do with that.  I still enjoyed my studies.  Being one of five females at flight school for that intake, we had to work twice as hard as the boys.  We had to study hard and had minimum time for socialising.  When you fly planes and take seven to eight papers a semester (the normal students take 4 papers) with two weeks of flying every month depending on the weather, there is little room for socializing. That Avgas owns you once you take a sniff!

 Massey University provided great support for Pacific Island students.  There was a Pasifika space for students and Learning Advisers to ensure that  students had the support to realise their  academic aspirations.This was one of the spaces where I met great people, who inspired me to do well but also there were students who were just the opposite, including one Learning Consultant. They did not like people who were different from them, who did not go with the flow, who did not want to 'hang out' and socialise with them.  They enjoyed gossip, backstabbing, making up false stories about other students, recruiting other people to side with them in their ways.  If you were not part of their 'in group', you were crucified socially.  I remember one bright girl who I met for the first time on my way to the library, she said to me 

 ' So, you are Enid, the half caste. I've heard a lot of things about you, they say you don't want to be in the same group as us because you are half caste, your family is well off and will not socialise with full blooded Samoans, you are famous'.  

At first, I smiled but inside I was seething. It is true that I have a Swedish last name but I've never seen myself as  half caste.  I have many full-blooded Samoan friends among other nationalities.  In Samoa, I was never bullied or the subject of such mindless gossip.  I also knew the group of girls who were spreading these rumors.  Sadly, some of the girls who did this were some of the same girls from Samoa who went over to New Zealand on scholarships. I thought 'What did I ever do to these girls to make them so nasty? They must have a lot of time on their hands to enjoy passing false stories around about other people? Just because I'm half caste, doesn't mean I will overlook my own people.  I don't have time to socialise, I have too much to do".

This was not the only encounter which surprised me.  I met many more Pacific students who told me the same thing and after I became friends with them, they confirmed that I'm not this snobbish half-caste these people made me out to be. I tried my best to ignore the gossip and stuck to my studies as well as making many friends along the way.  During my second year at univeristy,  I became the Pasifika fellowship president, I also was a member of the Student Council.  I held many leadership roles and took part in many projects.  I hardly saw the gossip group around.  Last I heard, one of them became pregnant and did not finish school while the other moved back home. While I do not enjoy hearing the demise or downfall of others, it does remind us to better ourselves. My first year might have been unpleasant especially since I did not have family nearby but I was never alone.  Thankfully, I had a group of great Godly women who helped me.  I have one lady in particular who helped me see the better side of life and reinstated my eagerness in school again.  Janeen Mills was my biggest supporter, she helped me overcome many obstacles that I faced with similar people throughout my university days.

I graduated and have gone on to do many great things in my life.  I've held many leadership roles and still enjoy studying.  I have a friend who's motto is 'The sweetest revenge is success'.  When I think about it, this is very true.  Being successful and reaching your goals regardless of what people say or do to you is indeed the sweetest revenge.

Today, I look back and I'm glad for that experience.  It taught me that no matter where I am in the world, there will always be people who will personally attack you without reason.  In addition, there are far more people who are willing to help you if you let them. As a Samoan growing up in Samoa, I know that we are our biggest enemy. Some Samoans (if not most) do not like other people to better them, sadly some people who have nothing better to do will spend their time tearing others down.  The same goes for all other ethnic groups, this is common in this day and age.

I do hope you read this and have more courage to succeed rather than giving up or giving in to people who do not care for the well-being of others.  You are never alone.

He knows me ---edited by Dr Konai.Helu.Thaman

He knows me

Are we not alive?

Air in, out of lungs

Hands touching, eyes seeing

Our bleating hearts bleating?

Functioning with strings attached

To bodies cut with sharpened scissors

Ungrateful

I am sometimes un-thinking

Not reasoning well

But he goes about holding his world in his palm

As he watches

Am i not willful?

Is he not faithful?

Sometimes i cry

Deep inside

But he knows me

In the hot sun

In the cold pouring rain

He knows me

This will be included in my new collection of poems. Thank you to Konai Helu Thaman , one of the well-known Pacific poets,for taking the time to edit this.


Copyright ©2013 Juliet Enid Westerlund