A Conversation for Independent Samoa: Its Culture and Atmosphere
Peer Review: A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
frenchbean Started conversation Oct 30, 2003
Entry: Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere - A1936361
Author: Frenchbean - the picky vegetable - U236943
Here it is! The long awaited Samoa entry. 
I've been struggling with the atmosphere - to get the feeling of being there in the words. Did it work? 
Please peer and comment.
F/b
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Oct 30, 2003
Wonderful entry, F/b. If I had the money, I'd pack my bags and go visit!
Did you say what 'pandanas' were? Or did I miss that bit?
Also 'lavalava' - what's that?
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Cyzaki Posted Oct 30, 2003
"Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere" - am I going to have to send bob the angry flower after you for misuse of an apostrophe? It should be 'its' not 'it's'.
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Oct 30, 2003
I didn't spot that! As a Virgo, I'm normally the first to spot such things. Still, the entry made me want to go there, if only to listen to the singing.
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Florida Sailor All is well with the world Posted Oct 30, 2003
Excellent read. 
The only thing I would like to see is a small mention where you mention Independent Samoa was formerly known as Western Samoa would be a mention that American Samoa lies to the east.
Many people ( particularly in the US ) have only heard about the territory part and I kept hoping the difference would be mentioned so I could just enjoy the rest.
I also agree with ZSF that some definition of 'pandas' would help.
F 
S
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Wildman - I'm not really mad, I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years! Posted Oct 30, 2003
Beautiful article! I want to retire there, right now would be good!
Wildman
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Eusebio - squad number 11 Posted Oct 30, 2003
A`great article and, as everyone else says, makes me want to pack a rucksack right now 
One thing, isn't Samoa known as Manu Samoa?
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
The Professor Posted Oct 31, 2003
The title should be 'Its Culture and Atmosphere'
The apostrophe makes it a contraction as opposed to possessive (It's vs. Its)
The Professor
Societas Eruditorum
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Cyzaki Posted Oct 31, 2003
Is there an echo in here? 
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Oct 31, 2003
Let us know when you've made the amendments, F/b. You've got some great feedback here. 
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
frenchbean Posted Oct 31, 2003
I submitted this, went to bed 
, woke up this morning and found this plethora of comment. Fantastic! Thank you.
Right: 
Apostrophe sorted (I can't believe that this pedant missed that one). Sorry, Cyzaki.
Lavalavas are explained in a footnote, ZSF - they're sarongs
I'll get back to you on a good definition of pandanas - they're long leaves (like flax to look at) which are harvested, dried, pounded in sea water, dried again, then shredded longways and made into amazingly complicated and delicate mats, walls etc. I need to do better than that explaination in the entry I think!
I've added a bit about American Samoa - thank you for pointing that out Florida Sailor. The original draft of this entry included a huge section on the history of the Samoas and why there are now 2 distinct nations. Perhaps the subject of a separate entry. Would that be of any interest to anybody?
Mickey T's Rt. Foot - I've never heard of Manu Samoa. Can you give me any more information on that?
F/b
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
frenchbean Posted Oct 31, 2003
Hey F S
I'm pretty sure there are no pandas in Samoa
F/b
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Oct 31, 2003
You *know* what he means, F.b.
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
frenchbean Posted Oct 31, 2003
Hello all
I've added a lengthy (too lengthy? 
) footnote about pandanus - and discovered I was spelling it wrong at the same time.
I'm glad you picked up on the singing ZSF. It really is stunning. You don't need to go to Samoa for it either - Tonga, the Cooks, even Auckland (the biggest Polynesian city in the world) all have fabulous choirs. There's something about joined voices in the sunshine...
F/b
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Oct 31, 2003
I'll go and look at the amendments, F/b. 
Have you heard David Fanshawe's 'Musical Mariner' album, btw. It was recorded in the South Pacific and there's some really lovely stuff in there. There was a TV mini-series showing the making of it - he's a musicologist and was making field recordings. Great stuff!
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Oct 31, 2003
Yes, much better now, F/b.
Btw, 'Kirikiti' has echoes of h2g2's krikkit. Have you read the books?
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
frenchbean Posted Oct 31, 2003
Hi ZSF
Yes, I did wonder if Krikkit had any links to Kirikiti. Did DNA go to Samoa? It's a wild game. I walked past a group of kids playing on their local patch of grass one day, and got konked on the shoulder by the ball. The bruise 
was most impressive the next day! The kids just laughed and carried on They laugh a lot in Samoa - mind you, who wouldn't, living there?
F/b
I'll look out for David Fanshawe's music. It sounds good.
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Zarquon's Singing Fish! Posted Oct 31, 2003
I've no idea whether DNA ever went to Samoa. Wouldn't surprise me if he did.
David Fanshawe also composed 'African Sanctus', which is one of my favourite things to sing in - it's also good to listen to. I think the 'Musical Mariner' album came out in the late 80s.
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
Eusebio - squad number 11 Posted Oct 31, 2003
RE: Manu Samoa
I have done some research and found that it's just the rugby team which calls itself Manu Samoa
FROM BBC Online
"Coach [Bryan] Williams was instrumental in the change of name from Western Samoa to Manu Samoa.
It is the name of a famous Samoan chief some 10 generations ago.
The nickname, like the All Blacks or Wallabies, has been adopted by the national team."
A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
frenchbean Posted Oct 31, 2003
Thank you MT'sRF: do you think I should refer to that in the text? I don't actually talk about the national team, so I'm not sure about it.
I was surprised not to find an edited entry on rugby. There's a gap for somebody to fill - not me 
I'm going to look up Musical Mariner in Amazon right now ZSF. How lovely to have Samoa in my sitting room!
F/b
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Peer Review: A1936361 - Independent Samoa: It's Culture and Atmosphere
- 1: frenchbean (Oct 30, 2003)
- 2: Zarquon's Singing Fish! (Oct 30, 2003)
- 3: Cyzaki (Oct 30, 2003)
- 4: Zarquon's Singing Fish! (Oct 30, 2003)
- 5: Florida Sailor All is well with the world (Oct 30, 2003)
- 6: Wildman - I'm not really mad, I've just been in a very bad mood for 40 years! (Oct 30, 2003)
- 7: Eusebio - squad number 11 (Oct 30, 2003)
- 8: The Professor (Oct 31, 2003)
- 9: Cyzaki (Oct 31, 2003)
- 10: Zarquon's Singing Fish! (Oct 31, 2003)
- 11: frenchbean (Oct 31, 2003)
- 12: frenchbean (Oct 31, 2003)
- 13: Zarquon's Singing Fish! (Oct 31, 2003)
- 14: frenchbean (Oct 31, 2003)
- 15: Zarquon's Singing Fish! (Oct 31, 2003)
- 16: Zarquon's Singing Fish! (Oct 31, 2003)
- 17: frenchbean (Oct 31, 2003)
- 18: Zarquon's Singing Fish! (Oct 31, 2003)
- 19: Eusebio - squad number 11 (Oct 31, 2003)
- 20: frenchbean (Oct 31, 2003)
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