Incognito in Sāmoa

Project Overview

Program—SIT Study Abroad
Theme—Samoa: Social and Environmental Change in Oceania
Region—Polynesia
Places—Duwamish, Hawai’i, Samoa, American Samoa
Dates—23 January thru 18 May, 2018

Final Field Study Project—Respect and Relationships: Towards Social Justice Dialogue in Samoan Communities (PDF). This unpublished paper is being made available in the interest of general research, scholarship and community building only.

Overview: While the Gillig Lo-Flo’s are being delivered to Metro in early 2018, I will be studying abroad in Sāmoa! In this one-semester (15-week) long program I will examine how Pacific Islander communities and identities are impacted by colonialism, globalization and climate change (sorry, no ‘bus-fanning’ this time). Particularly, I am interested in understanding how Pacific Islander cultures contribute to solidarity and social change for Pacific Islander groups abroad, taking into account implications of colonialism and global change. I hope my time in Sāmoa will deepen my understanding of, and strengthen my connection to the language, culture, and social structures in Samoan communities.

Funding: This project relied on competing for, and receiving competitive funding. My semester study abroad experience in Sāmoa was funded in part by the United States Federal and Washington State governments, as well as the School for International Training, the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, the Horatio Alger Association, and private donors to the University of Washington Achievement Scholars program.

Information: studyabroad.sit.edu