4/12/13

O Nai Mafaufauga ma Manatunatuga ...

... i le olaga i Samoa


O le mea moni, ua ‘ese, ma ua tele suiga, i nu’u i tua ae maise pe a faatusatusa i aso ua tuana’i - pe a ma le luasefulu tausaga, poo le sili atu fo’i. O le umi lea o le taimi talu ona ‘ou tu’ua lo matou nu’u ae malaga ‘ese mai i Amerika. Talu ai 'oute alu ‘ese mai ua o’o lo’u matua i tausaga o tupulaga talavou, o lea sa ou matua iloaina ma masani lelei ai lava i le olaga o aso uma i totonu o se nu’u i Samoa, ae maise lava i nu’u i tua. E leai se fe’au faa-Samoa o aso fai pea oute le’i faia e aofia ai le fai ma’umaga (faiga o le lafo ma le totoina o tiapula), faipopo, pusaina ma le faatinoina o le faiga o le umu, e aofia ai le faiga o le fa’ausi, taufolo ma mea ‘ai masani faapena. E faapea fo’i le vaaia o le togafa’i faatasi ai ma le fagaina o tumoa i le fagafa’i ma le tele o nisi o feau masani. E ui oute le’i fai ‘aumaga, talu ai ona o le a’oga ma le faigaluega ai i Apia, ae sa iai taimi sa ou faatasi atu ai i nisi o a latou galuega faale-nu’u i aso o tu’uaga o a’oga poo le malolo fo’i mai galuega. I aso ua ‘ou a’oga ma faigaluega i le taulaga, e usu i le pasi i le Aso Gafua, nofo ai i le vaiaso atoa faato’a fo’i i tua i le aso Faraile. O se mea fiafia ia te a’u pe a o’o i le Aso Faraile, aua o le a toe fo’i i tua i le nu’u i tafaoga ma masaniga a uo ma tupulaga. Oute le’i maua i Apia lea lagona talu ai o nisi o a’u uo mamae o la’u tupulaga, sa gata a latou a’oga i le itumalo, toe fo’i loa i le faiga o le fatuaiga ma le tautua faatasi ma le fai ‘aumaga.
I aso fai pea i totonu o se nu’u e amata mai i le taeao se’ia o’o ina po, e foliga o se aiga e tasi le nu’u atoa i o latou tiute ma fe’au e fai. I le taeao po lava, o tane ma tama talavou ua va’aia o latou ataata ua gasolo aga’i i uta i le taloloa e galulue i ma’umaga ma nisi ituaiga faato’aga ma faa’ele’eleaga, ia po’o se toganiu fo’i mo le faaputuina o popo ma le faia o se salimata. O sina tupe e maua i fuaga popo, e faapolopolo mo mea mana’omia e iai le fasimoli, suka, masima, penisini o moli ma isi mea faapena.

E ui la ina peiseai e faamata faigata le olaga i totonu o le nu’u, ae e leai, o se olaga faigofie ma le fiafia - ia te a’u lava ia. (Ae maise ai i nei vaitaimi pe a toe taula’i lata vaai ma toe tomanatu i na aso.) E moni fo’i sa iai nisi o lu’itau masani, e pei o le mativa i mea tau tupe ma tamaoaiga e pei ona iai olaga i atunu’u o papalagi, ae sa le’i matua mana’omia pe mo’omia tele nei mea i le faagasologa o le olaga i totonu o se nu’u. Se’i vagana lava ua ola matanana se aiga ma fia tausami i taumafa papalagi e iai pisupo, mamoe, fasipovi ma isi mea faapena, ae sa mafai lava ona maua se suai’a poo figota mai le sami (tuitui, faisua, alili, ali’ao, sea, ma isi) ia poo sina sua eleni fo’i. Ma sa ola lelei ma soifua maloloina lava le tele o tagata i na aso - e le gata i le tino, ae faapea fo’i le itu i lagona atoa ma le mafaufau, e leai se oi, e pei ona tau alia’e mai i lenei vaitaimi i nisi o alalafaga.

Afai fo’i e tigaina ma vaivai i se galuega ma nisi o fe’au, e vave ona te’a malie lea vaivai ma tigaina i le faia o sina miti (moe) pe malolo i le faleo’o, ala mai i le afiafi ua fetaui ma taimi o tafaoga ma taaloga, e pei o le kirikiti, volipolo, lakapi, musa, pelega mapu, ma isi. O fegalegalea’iga masani nei i totonu o le lotoifale o le nu’u lava ia, sa avea ma ni vaifofo e fo’ia ai lagona o le vaivai po’o mea faatauma’oi i olaga o tagata. E le gata i lea, e faatupula’ia fo’i lenei vaifofo e le si’osi’omaga faale-natura atoa ma le va poo le saogalemu fealoa’i o tagata. O la’au, o le sami, o le la i le ao ma le masina i le po, o se vaitafe, vaipuna, o le savili agiagi malu e feluea’i ai lala o la’au ma lau o niu, o mea uma nei e avea o ni mea e faaola totoga, tulu’i malosi ma le faafou lagona. O le ta'alaelae o fale ma le lotoifale, e faatupula’ia ai fo’i avanoa mo talanoaga ma fegalegalea’iga masani ma avea ma ni mea latou te soloia nisi o pa pupuni i le va o tagata. E vala’au ma taumanuo mai le isi aiga i le isi, e tutu ma fai si talanoa i so’o se mea e fetaui ai, e vala’au atu fo’i i se isi o savali ane e afe se’i fai le mea’ai.

O vaa’iga masani i le afiafi e aofia ai le taliu ane o e sa i faato’aga ma ni nai faafafa o ni talo, ‘ulu, popo poo fa’i, ia pe na o le sapelu fo’i o loo u’u ma le mitiafu - ua matafi pe palapala - o loo asoa i le tuaua poo taupe i le tau’au. Ua faasausau le tino o tane, ae maise le manaia o le lagona pe a taia i le savili malu mai i gatai. Ua vaaia fo’i le suia teisi o le lanu o o latou tino sa tau ma le la i uta i fa’ato’aga.

Ua amata nei ona tumu le malae i taaloga o le afiafi. O le upega volipolo e le tatalaina, e tautau i le po ma le ao, ma ua faasolo fo’i ina masaesae, lea ua amata ona gasolo ane iai le tupulaga e ta’aalo, ma avea ose mea e mapu ma toomaga iai mai i fe’au o le aso. Ua faaali fo’i le tomai ma le masau o le tu’i a se tama lea ua amata ona lauiloa ai o ia i le nu’u ma nisi o nu’u tua’oi. O le taimi fo’i lea o faamemeloga - faamemelo tama i teine, o teine fo’i i tama. Ua filifili ‘au fo’i nisi, e le fia ‘au lava i nisi tama poo teine se’i vagana ‘au lelei ma le ‘aulelei. E nofonofo isi i ‘autafa o le alatele, ia poo luga fo’i o le ala tele e faatali ai le tami o a latou ‘au. A sau se taavale, ua tau mumusu e o i tua ma le auala. A iai se teine poo tama fou mai se isi nu’u pe mai i Apia fo’i, ia ua sui fo’i aga ma amioga a tama ma teine o le nu’u, ua tele ina faa-tafai ia poo le amio masani o le faamanaia ma le faateteine.

Ua vaaia fo’i tamaiti laiti ma fagu (lanu mumu ma le meamata) o gasolo i le faleoloa e fatau karasini ma penisini o moli mo fale, ia poo se moli fo’i mo se lama (i’a). Ua faasolo ina goto le la, ma amata ona ufitia laufanua o le nu’u i le pogisa. O le faailo masani o le tauafiafi ua lata le po, o le tagi o alisi (cicadas), ma ua toe fo’i tagata i o latou fale e sauni mo faigalotu o le afiafi. Ua ili fo’i le pu e taulele’a ma matai e faailoa ai le sa (curfew) ma ua leai nisi e toe feoa’i ae ua ulufale uma mo talosaga ma faigalotu, soso’o ai ma taumafataga a aiga taitasi. A mae’a ‘aiga o le afiafi, ona toe pisa fo’i lea o le malae i tafaoga, evaga ma faasausauga a tamaiti ma tupulaga faapea foi tagata matutua ma taumafai lava e “sapo le masina”.

O ni vaaiga ma manatunatuga nei e faatupu ai lota mafaufau sa’afi i le olaga i Samoa. Le olaga faigofie. Atonu fo’i e faigata i nisi o taimi ma aso, ae e ui i na faigata, e le mafai lava ona te’a ai le lagona o le to’afilemu ma le fiafia, ma e maitauina nei uiga i foliga mata ‘ata’ata o tagata. Ae le gata i lea o se tasi o leo e masani ona faalogoina i totonu o se nu’u, o le leo o ni taliega (laughter) a tamaiti, tupulaga talavou, tagata matutua faapea fo’i i toeaiina ma loomatutua. Ae paga lea, ua iai ni suiga i aso nei. “Aisea?” Ia e le o se mea e taumate pe ‘alofia suiga o le olaga, e pei ona fai mai se tasi o muagagana “E pau le mea e le suia, o suiga.” (Change is the only thing that remains unchanged.) O le pogai fo’i lea o le tupu pea o mo’omo’oga ma sa’afi’afiga mo le olaga sa ola a’e ai i aso ua alu - aua fo'i e le toe maua mai.

*************
Ode to Youth and Laughter

As a child I laughed
and giggled aloud,
while you continued to tickle
and make me proud.

As a young boy I laughed
even more and more;
giggles turned to guffaws
louder than ever before.


post tsunami Lalomanu Beach
I laughed and played
in the river, sea and streams,
while friends would chase
with laughter and screams.

Then as a young adult a sudden pause
and I laughed a little,
because I had to leave you
convinced that laughter can be brittle.

And now much older in years
and far removed from you,
I can only look back and yearn
- no laughter, just a tear or two.

I still long for those days
of youth and laughter,
but alas, only memories remain
of the village long after.

~ LV Letalu 2013


4/10/13

“She speaks: O, speak again ....”

"Sweet Nothings He Needs to Hear ...[and Men Agree]"
By Brie Schwartz, REDBOOK

In a relationship, it's not only women who like to hear that they look nice, or that they're wanted. Whether it's a simple compliment to kick off his day or something deeper, these affirmations will strengthen your bond.

"You look handsome"
It may sound obvious, but men enjoy a good ego-stroking, especially when they're not trying to impress.

"Thank you"
It's easy to overlook the small gestures,... tell him how much you appreciate his efforts and, above all, be specific about what he did and how it made you feel.

"I trust you"
[Nuff said!]


"I'm on your side"
"Find a way to let your partner know, on a daily basis, that you're in his corner," "You might show your loyalty by standing up for your guy when he feels the world is against him. Let him know you support what he's passionate about. Show him that you value what he values. This adds a sense of teamwork, security, and intimacy to your relationship."

"I'm listening"
Men communicate differently than women, tending toward reticence when they're upset. When this happens, don't badger him, but do let him know that you're there for him, and when he does begin to talk through his issues, don't interrupt him or offer any unsolicited opinions. Let him feel safe and unjudged.

"Let's get frisky!"
[Hahahaaaa... sa’olele le fekalaiga ma le saugoaga!]

"I'm sorry"
When an irrational fight arises out of a silly situation, the best thing to do is to apologize before it escalates into something bigger, and a lot meaner. He's not always the enemy. Sometimes hormones, or even lack of calories are the culprits.

"You look buff"
He's finally started to make good on his New Year's resolution to hit the gym - six months later, but who's counting? - and has traded in his morning bagel for a protein shake. He may not look like an Adonis yet, but a little encouragement will make him continue to try. A bicep squeeze followed by, "you feel so strong," will fortify him in the beginning when he's most tempted to give up. Remember, he's partially bettering himself for you, so supporting him is key. Joining him on his health-kick is also a great way to show you care.

"You make me better"
He loves you and will do anything for you, so when you find yourself trapped in a routine and feeling somewhat spark-less, the biggest compliment you can give him is a reminder that he's improved your life. "We men will do anything humanly possible to impress you. You're the driving force behind why we wake up every day. We drive fancy cars because of women. We dress nice, put on cologne, get haircuts and try to look all shiny and new for you. We do all of this because the more our game is stepped up, the more of you we get."

* * * * *
Well, well, nothing’s as sweet as sweet nothings! ....and in response, I whisper to her thusly:

“She speaks:
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious . . . as is a winged messenger of heaven
Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love.”

[Cue Poula Chorus]
Ua faafetai, ua faafetai [ua faamalo le fetalai], ua tasi lava oe, ua tasi lava oe, i lo’u nei faamoemoe!!! ... LOL!