This sense of community was obvious during events such as the beautiful welcoming ceremony that was done for all of the students in my group. At the ceremony, we were welcomed as honorary guests to the village. During the ceremony, we saw how different roots and types of wood are carefully placed and associated with mantras and chants as a sign of welcoming. Mantras are words or sounds believed to have special meaning that is used during prayer or meditation. We were also fed a delicious coconut taro dessert served in hand-woven leaf baskets. Taro is a tropical root vegetable. The dessert was incredible!
The natural landscape at Amaile was absolutely breathtaking. The area was surrounded by so many colorful flowers that seemed to always be in bloom. Many of these flowers are commonly picked to make flower crowns for friends, family and visitors. My host sister and mother sat down on the floor with me one day to teach me how to thread the flowers together to create an ula, the Samoan flower lei.
I wore the ula during special occasions like the final night I was in the village. My group and I learned many Samoan songs and dances, which we performed for the entire village. The show was a fun, energetic experience, and it felt amazing to show appreciation for the community by sharing gestures from their own culture with them as a sign of mutual love and understanding.
I think that my time in Amaile truly changed my perspective on the world. I am so happy to have experienced life in the village with my host family and also that I was able to integrate into a community so unfamiliar to me at first!
