Great Expectations for Samoa

In less than 30 hours I will begin 12 months as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development (AYAD) in Apia, the capital of Samoa. On Friday, March 14, I'll be flying out to work as a hydrology engineer in the Water Resources division of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Meteorology.

To begin the Samoan version of my blog/journal, I though it'd be best to start with some expectations for the coming year. Then, when I finish my final post, I'll compare these expectations with what actually eventuated 12 months down the track.

So... will it be an extended summer holiday in a Pacific Island paradise or a hellish ride of misplaced hopes and derailed plans??

Hopefully neither. I wouldn't be satisfied with either a self-indulgent life of luxury or a mistake-ridden car crash in slow motion. My expectations for life in Samoa are...

1. Personal challenge. Having being forced to be a decision-maker while adapting to life in Scotland in recent years, I imagine that Fa'a Samoa ("the Samoan way") will have its own set of unique personal challenges. The things I'm most likely to find difficult are:

(i) the slower pace of life;

(ii) cultural Christianity (especially any unrepentant hypocrisy);

(iii) the humidity;

(iv) learning the language;

(v) balancing work, study, relationships (in Samoa & overseas), church, sport and relaxation.

2. Work goals. To be honest, I have very modest expectations about what can be achieved in 12 months. I imagine this to be the best I could hope for:

(i) improved coverage of flow gauges in rivers near major towns/villages;

(ii) slightly better trained young employees in yield assessment and water resource monitoring;

(iii) improved staff capacity, in quality and/or quantity;

(iv) greater protection of water catchment areas through public awareness.

3. Relationships

I have increasingly realised the importance of a strong network of relationships, and this will be particularly evident in Samoa. I hope to:

(i) develop the respect and trust of locals in all the social circles within which I am engaged;

(ii) minimise the cultural barriers to communication while being strong in my own identity;

(iii) prioritise key friendships in Samoa, without neglecting important relationships overseas.

4. Spiritual. Faith in God is on the agenda in Samoa, and I hope my own journey will be challenged and strengthened by being immersed in this culture. Specifically:

(i) compare what is being spoken and practised by Samoan Christians to my own expectations/ traditions and enable that to transform my expression of faith;

(ii) understand God's heart in the Samoan context and speaking out boldly but gently;

(iii) be engaged in positive social action, especially within the activity of the churches.

Since 2001, I have been hoping to work in a developing world context. This Samoan experience will have a large bearing on whether to continue on this trajectory. Hopefully there will be growing clarity on whether this is a path best suited to my skills, desires and priorities. Through the process of journalling, these factors may very well be revealed...