17 Things about Me... 😊

It's been over a year now since this site has been up. I hope I've helped someone out there teach/learn the Samoan alphabet. 

Now, I want to connect with you on a personal level (I know, one year later right? 😄). 

Well, these connections take time but I'm ready to put myself out there.😃

I am going to stick to my blog’s mission and use the 17 letters of the Samoan alphabet to introduce myself.

Each letter will represent something about me 😏. 
The underlined words are hyperlinks meaning you can click on it and it will take you to another site.

btw - I apologize for the weird looking fonts in this post - still learning this blogsite - anyone out there have tips?

1.

→A (‘ah) ← Amerika Samoa – Ah-meh-ree-kah Sah-moh-ah

I was born and raised in Amerika Samoa. It is a tropical island located in the South Pacific. 
2.

⇻E (‘eh)⇺  Ete –Eh-teh (ma Afoa Lutu)

I am the daughter of this lovely couple. They are the best parents a girl could ask for. I L♥ve and am extremely grateful for them. 💓
3.
≫I (ee) ≪  Inilisi – Ee-nee-lee-see (English) & Initalesi ee-nee-tah-leh-see (Interests)
Inilisi (English) is my second language and undergrad major from this University.
My interests are numerous: I'm a learner, an amateur baker, a traveler, a shark, a fan and a chief.  I am very outdoorsy (hey, I am Polynesian and we are know for being excellent explorers and navigators 💮). I love everything Polynesia!

4.
⊳ O (oh) ⊲  Oveni – oh-veh-nee (Oven)

I love baking with my kids! I use baking as a means to introduce exotic flavors like moegalō (lemongrass) and ku’ava (guava) to my kids’ palette. I also like to find creative new recipes using our island ingredients.
5.
⋙ U (oo) ⋘  Uso – oo-soh (sisters) ma Tuagane – too-ah-ngah-neh (brothers)
I come from a family of 10. We are a typical Samoan family. We are mighty in numbers 😁
6.
⋟ F (f-ah) ⋞  Fa'au'uga – fah-ah-oo-oo-ngah (graduation)
Fa'au'uga means graduation 🎓 in Samoan. Fa'au'uga is also my first name. I was named after 2 aunties - Fa'au'uga is my Dad's sister (RIP 💖) and Hannacho (mom's sister)   graduated the day I was born - Yes, I'm a June baby (Yay Geminis! 😁 ). 

Samoan parents name their kids after special events and I'm relieved there was no earthquake or tsunami when I was born 😆  otherwise, I'd have a different name.
I don't use my first name - ever! In fact, I didn't know it was my legal first name until I saw my birth certificate at age 18 😄. 
I am known by my middle name - more on that later.
7. 

⟼ G (ng-ah) ⟻ Gagana – ngah-ngah-nah (language)
I love the Samoan language! I am intentional in teaching my children how to read, write and speak our language because it defines them. It is an advantage to be bilingual and literate in your language.
Being geographically distant from our culture led me to start this site. My limited resources created opportunity for growth and the rest is history 😊

8.

⤞L (lah) ⤟ Le’alā – leh-ah-lah Village

Le’alā a village in Amerika Samoa is where I grew up. Our house sat on top of a hill overlooking the ocean with a million dollar view of the most spectacular sunsets 🌅

Yes, I lived in paradise 😎

9.

⧐M- (m-oh) ⧏ Misikeni – mee-see-keh-nee (Michigan)

Michigan is where I make my home with my aiga (family). I live in a small town and experience all four seasons . My children claim their Samoan roots without hesitation, but, they are native Michiganders through and through! They love winters and snow! ⛄  

🥊 Fun fact: The great boxer Muhammad Ali lived in our town 😛...Float like a 🦋 sting like a 🐝

10.

⪫N – (n-oo) ⪪ Nu’u Ese – noo-oo-eh-seh (Foreign country)

I am a foreigner in this country (in more ways than one) in spite of this fact, I love to travel and immerse myself into cultures I come in contact with. I love meeting people of every race and color and explore every corner of the Earth  

11.

⪘P. (Pb-ee) ⪗ Pua - Pboo-ah (Plumeria)

Pua (plumeria/frangipani) is my favorite flower.  Growing up, we had many pua trees in our yard and I would climb every single one any chance I get. 

The aromatic scent of the pua flower is nostalgic and transports me back to my younger carefree days.

12.
⫸S - (sah) ⫷ Saoluafata – sah-oh-loo-ah-fah-tah Village

Saoluafata a village on the East side of Samoa is the birthplace of my fondest childhood memories 💗 My summers were spent in Saoluafata, my grandmother’s village. It is a slice of heaven on Earth. 

13.
⭇T (tee)– Tinā ⭋Tee-nah (Mother)
It is not unusual for Samoan grandparentsto raise their grandchildren. Fuea Lam Yuen was my Tinā. She nourished me spiritually, emotionally and physically.  All good things in me are attributed to her teachings. 

14.

⥅V (vee)– Va’a ⥆ vah-ah (Boat)

I love boats, I love the water – I am an island girl and boats are symbolic of who we are as a people. *cue Moana singing* - "See the line where sky meets the sea, it calls me..." 😍
We are navigators of the Pacific. According to this book, data supports how being near water makes you happier and better at what you do. I emphatically agree! 😃

15.

⤇H (h-eh) ⤆ Hanako – hah-nah-k-oh

Hanako is not a “Samoan” word but please make an exception and let me introduce myself. 😊

Talofa, O lo’u igoa o Hanako - Hello, my name is Hanako – (spelled Hannacho).
It is Japanese, meaning: Flower Child (Hana – Flower & Ko – Child).  It is a common girl name – This is what it looks like in kanji (Japanese writing): 花子.
There’s even a Japanese magazine called Hanako (click here for the link).
🏮 Fun fact: Japanese read books right to left, back to front 🔰 - I only know this because my kids love reading manga.

16.

⇸K (k-ah)⇷ Koko Samoa – koh-koh Sah-moh-ah, Kofe – koh-feh (coffee)

Koko Samoa is the Samoan equivalent of coffee.  I am an avid coffee drinker 🍵 (black please! 😉) but love anything koko samoa. We’ve experimented with koko samoa recipes such as our koko samoa brownies.  When I retire, I want to live on a koko plantation and grow koko beans.

                                        koko samoa ice cream from Apia 😛

17.
⤃R (r-oh)⤂ Ritaea – ree-tah-eh-ah (retire)

I am not of retirement age yet but my life goals point towards that direction. I pray for that day – when I will retire to my beach hut  and live the simple life.  Some place where the sunsets melt your heart and the gentle waves lapping over the sand soothe your soul…..

Now, it's your turn...tell me about you.
Leave a comment. Let's talk 😊
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