I walked out to the weather decks mid afternoon, I could tell I was near Samoa. I looked at the navigational charts and we were 885 nautical miles northeast of Apia. The temperature was 88 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity in the lower 70’s. Off to the starboard side of the ship was land! A small atoll called Tongareva or Pernhyn Atoll in the Cook Islands. I looked through the binoculars and saw coconut trees and plenty of shrubs. One island was a tall mountain thrusting out of the sea. To see land on this ship is a rarity when you are deployed. I mentioned that before and if you look at some of the articles in the archive when I was on the Hi’ialakai you would see why. Despite the fact I was here (Ka’imimoana) for four years. Looking out at the weather decks, you know you are south and away from the equator when sunset is a little before seven in the evening.
A feeling swept over me that I was finally getting closer to Samoa, unlike several weeks ago in Seattle where the sentiment appeared as idle chatter and a rebuff of leaving again. I know that after this entire trip, including the months on the Hi’ialakai is finished; I will look back and wonder why the enthusiasm did not began at day one. In the past, my wife waited for me from cruises that lasted 60-days. This one is over 125 days and it seems as if we (me and “L”) are being tested all the time. I know I evoke very little sympathy from my wage mariner shipmates.
Back home, people have this romantic image of the South Pacific that transpired from movies, novels, plays or actual incidences such as “Mutiny on the Bounty.” The Polynesia I am exposed to is different. It still is beautiful and I cannot wait until leave starts so I can hit the beach again. But I see and experience the day to day life of the people. If most of the people from my part of the world were ever exposed to what I come across, I think they would have a different view of island paradise. They would either learn and adopt some of the values of surviving in an austere environment or be too busy patting themselves in the back thanking that they were not born here. I take the former viewpoint and I took my son down there twice in one year to show him how other people live. He lived with me and “L”s family for five weeks and went back for the holidays later that year. He and “L” are going back for a month this summer.
The women are beautiful throughout these islands. An unfortunate stereotype evolved on the continent that island women were overweight and not attractive. Or the images mainland tourists envision of Hawaii with olive skinned women with straight black hair and a flower placed over the ear. Some of the most beautiful women outside of Asia come from these islands. Of course, it depends on personal tastes and it is obvious of what mine are.
When “L” first came to America, everyone kept asking us if we were from Hawaii. After so many no’s and explaining that she was not from American Samoa but the other Samoa, we finally nod our head yes just to avoid conversation. Then it turns into a story of their Hawaiian vacation. People are being friendly and letting you know their ties to us, though we are not Hawaiian. In the warm months “L” will wear the traditional lava lava to stores and malls.
Good night from the South Pacific about 800 nautical miles northeast of Apia, Samoa.
A feeling swept over me that I was finally getting closer to Samoa, unlike several weeks ago in Seattle where the sentiment appeared as idle chatter and a rebuff of leaving again. I know that after this entire trip, including the months on the Hi’ialakai is finished; I will look back and wonder why the enthusiasm did not began at day one. In the past, my wife waited for me from cruises that lasted 60-days. This one is over 125 days and it seems as if we (me and “L”) are being tested all the time. I know I evoke very little sympathy from my wage mariner shipmates.
Back home, people have this romantic image of the South Pacific that transpired from movies, novels, plays or actual incidences such as “Mutiny on the Bounty.” The Polynesia I am exposed to is different. It still is beautiful and I cannot wait until leave starts so I can hit the beach again. But I see and experience the day to day life of the people. If most of the people from my part of the world were ever exposed to what I come across, I think they would have a different view of island paradise. They would either learn and adopt some of the values of surviving in an austere environment or be too busy patting themselves in the back thanking that they were not born here. I take the former viewpoint and I took my son down there twice in one year to show him how other people live. He lived with me and “L”s family for five weeks and went back for the holidays later that year. He and “L” are going back for a month this summer.
The women are beautiful throughout these islands. An unfortunate stereotype evolved on the continent that island women were overweight and not attractive. Or the images mainland tourists envision of Hawaii with olive skinned women with straight black hair and a flower placed over the ear. Some of the most beautiful women outside of Asia come from these islands. Of course, it depends on personal tastes and it is obvious of what mine are.
When “L” first came to America, everyone kept asking us if we were from Hawaii. After so many no’s and explaining that she was not from American Samoa but the other Samoa, we finally nod our head yes just to avoid conversation. Then it turns into a story of their Hawaiian vacation. People are being friendly and letting you know their ties to us, though we are not Hawaiian. In the warm months “L” will wear the traditional lava lava to stores and malls.
Good night from the South Pacific about 800 nautical miles northeast of Apia, Samoa.
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