Filemū

Americans are known throughout the world for their hustle and bustle lifestyle. They work 80-hour work weeks and practically run from one place to the next. They are known for a work, work, work lifestyle. Even when they go out, they tend to go hard. It tends to be a life of all go, go, go with very little rest.

Yes, I am generalizing, but I was even guilty of this lifestyle when I lived in the USA. Especially living in New York City, my life was all about constantly going and doing. I did not often have rest time or time to just chill. Even on days when I could relax, I typically spent them going to the gym, doing lesson plans, or going on walks with my dog. It was very rare that I spent a day actually just "chilling" and that typically was only when I was sick.

Samoan lifestyle is quite different. They describe their lifestyle as filemū (peaceful) and it is reflected every day in their actions and attitudes. As I approach living in Samoa for 2 years, I find that I have adopted that lifestyle and enjoy it as much as I can.

Unlike the States, there are not a lot of places to go and things to do in Samoa, especially in the village. I remember when my mom came to visit and she was sitting outside my house one morning. My host aunt sat with her and said, "Yes, we sit out here and watch the road and the ocean." This may sound crazy, but it is very typically of what you can find Samoans doing on a day-to-day basis. 

When I first moved to my village, I found it so odd when my host mom would sit in the house and just stare at the road. This was before we had a television and was basically the only thing we could do at home. Even if we go out to do something, it is typically to drive to the market and pick up food or to go to the beach for the day. Sometimes, we may even go for a walk to get some ice cream. There are not really events to go to in Samoa except for in the capital (although the Miss Samoa pageant is coming to my village soon and I am so excited!!).

Samoans have learned to thrive with very little. I find my students creating games with just string or even nothing. Adults spend a lot of time talking with each other about anything and everything. And they all nap, often and anywhere. They find ways to spend their time that are simply different than those of Americans. 

This is not to say that I am bored in Samoa. I simply get creative with my time. I read a lot and it is so nice to finally have time to read! Check out all the books I have read here. I exercise a lot, which Samoans found funny at first, but the people in my village have gotten used to it. I also have just learned to enjoy sitting and staring at the road sometimes.

I sometimes think to myself what do people even do at night or on the weekends in the States anyway??  Having "down-time" has become a part of my peace here. I am able to ponder life, think through my future, reflect on my past, and even just think of nothing in particular, letting my mind wander aimlessly. 

I think it is easy to get caught up in always having somewhere to go and something to do that we often forget how nice it is to truly relax and have nothing to do. Samoa has allowed me to reconnect with that side of me. On Sundays especially, when I cannot go out and everywhere is closed, I have found that naps, reading, and just watching movies can make a great day. I embrace the idea of doing nothing and having nowhere to be. It is a release that I did not get in the states.