G'day !

As you know, this is a new blog that I, Mel Afoa, have used to tell many blog readers what goes on in my life. You might have visited my other serious blogsite
As I speak of siblings, I want to walk into a certain issue I think is not expressed enough, and this shall be my topic of the day. Most I mentioned in my welcome note, I happen to come from a respected Samoan/Australian family. There are those in the world who will read this blog and ponder what Samoan means. Samoa is one of the many beautiful pacific islands, situated in the Pacific Islands. On the right eastern side of Australia, if my geography skills are acurate. A very spectacular island, with it's picturesque nature and friendly habitants.

Most people living in the same areas as me will know the exact reaction when someone says 'Samoan Writer'. Most people will be stunned, others will laugh jokingly. Its the reaction some Samoans go through, as if offensive enough. To break it down easier, many people have never thought of Samoans, or any Islander, ever doing an educational or advanced position in life. Like, being a writer, or a doctor. I don't think any documentary has ever explored what we feel, so I thought to use this blog to show people out there what Islanders like me really feel deep down.

In my area, where it is multiculturally diverse, Islanders are known as the 'fobs'. There are many people out there who are 'frightened' or 'intimidated' by the looks of some islanders. 'Rough & Tough' is what many people say when I ask them what they think of us Islanders. In most schools, the bullies are known to be the fobs, as in most gangs as well in surburban areas. If you question yourself, how many Islanders do you know that are famous? The Rock. Paulini. J Williams. Stan Walker, to name a few. But like I said, a few. There's not one fob that is nationally famous, like Justin Bieber. There is the occasional new zealander movie that will come out, and most fobs will be all over it. Give it two months, and it'll be back to the American celebrities. There will also be the occasional Youtube sensation hit, where an islander, or a group of islanders, will either imitate a song, or sing like Aretha Franklin, holding a cheap guitar.

You might have heard of Islander singers, actors and dancers. How about more serious jobs, say...University Lecturers? Dentists? Archaeologogists? That is the issue most fobs ponder over throughout life. How come people don't take fobs seriously? It's something I find difficult talking about at times. Sometimes, and I'll be straight out honest, Islanders are valued less than others.

Picture this. There is a room full of Year 7 students at a particular school. In the room, there is a Tongan girl who, unknown to others, is bright and intelligent beneath. The kids were asked to do their first ever assignment, and today, they are about to recieve their marks. Everyone gets what the teacher thinks is most suitable to their grade. The Tongan gets hers back, and it is an A+.
The Teacher is suprised. The students ask her what she has gotten, and when she tells them, they are silent. They glance at each other, before going back on their business. Some laugh and shake their heads. Others raise their eyesbrows.

What I'm getting at, is truly serious. Because people think low of the intelligence of Islanders, Islanders themselves will conform into believing it themselves. Many fobs will believe that expressing their smartness will decrease their popularity status, and ten years from thinkig that? They are on the streets, singing with three babies on their arms. People in society think fobs don't have intelligence because of the way they were raised.

To set that straight, I'll write this once, and only once. Just because the pacific Islands does not have that many technological resources, it does not mean intelligence is not in the genes of all Islanders. For goodness sake, we, like the native Aboriginies, have grown up living off natural resources, and so I think we know not only how to survive, but how to count two and two, and ponder about the exitence of life on Earth.
My elder sister in fact, the greatest Islander I can use as an example. Look at her, and you'll think she is just like any ordinary islander. Meet her, and shock will settle in your veins when you will see her personality through her speech and vibrant aura. Know her, and your in for one adventure.
In my area, it's not really Islanders who win the special awards. I'm not saying all fobs, of course there will be many fobs who actual do, but it is most uncommon. Only speaking for my area, but we only get the normal kind of awards, like sporting, choir, first in Art, first in Languages,etc. It's those kinds of awards that some fobs usually get. Most fobs, including myself.

My sister has had the honour of winning more than 3 Dux Awards. Dux Awards are the rare awards given every year to one student of each year the school thinks is most intelligent. My sister was actually the first Islander of our school to every win the prestigous award, and her record of 5 has made her a legend throughout our neighbourhood. There are probably others that win good awards like that, and I hope there is. But Islanders, as well as other culturals, need to be shown the real appreciation hidden. It's funny really, as my sister is also one of the rare students in her University that are from a Pacific Island.

It just hurts to see many Islanders, working as cleaners and rubbish collectors. Many young teens work at factories, dropping out of education to raise money for drug use and smoking. I guess, being an Islander, it's a significant issue I think needs looking into from soctiety. Many people think Islanders are not suitable for high jobs, and high positions. I could not laugh at how ridiculous that thought is.
My points may not have been quite emotional, something I was aiming at. I guess listening to happy Justin Beiber songs makes it unrealistic. But, to my Islanders out there? It's never too late to do the impossible. Education is what gives you a happy future. And most importantly? F# what other people say. If you want to be a doctor, and your friends think it's stupid, then F# your friends, as they aren't the true ones God has blessed you with. If your mum wants you to work in a factory in the future, stuff it. Be who you want to be, and not what others want to see. Be the person God wants you to be, as He can see that is your aim. Aim for higher things, aim for things that'll put a smile on your face, not a fake one.
I myself conformed before. I once followed the crowd, and because people thought Islanders were not full of brightness and potential, I soon believed it. You'll be suprised now. I'm the first fob in my school to ever be named Captain this year. I'm in Advanced English and is currently coming in top tens and fives in my ranks. I write blogs and short stories that have captured hundreds of other bloggers and authors and emails have been increasing in my inbox. I am loving life, and loving the idea of wanting to become successful. And I can be that dedicated to being who I want to be, any islander, no matter the shape, size, age or gender, deserves to be treated as intelligent, both inside the heart, and outside the mind.
Until Next Time,
Mel Afoa.www.melisarh.blogspot.com, in which I write short stories, poems, any type of piece, pieces that are formed by my own creations. So, you guessed it. I am a writer, and I love writing. I guess you can say it runs in the family. My elder sister writes many advanced stories that have interested high positions. Even my youngest sibling draws and writes, even on holidays.