I was extremely happy to experience a typical Easter in Samoa because it was an opportunity I never would have had anywhere else! I love learning about new religions, so studying abroad in Samoa has been the perfect opportunity for me to learn more about the Christian faith.
Another cultural difference between Americans and Samoans is the ideal size of a typical family. Most Samoans strive to have big, happy families. It is very common for households to have five or more children, whereas in the United States, the average household has two children. Of course, since the United States is so large, it's common in many regions for value to be placed on having a large family thetre as well. At first, I was very surprised by the size of my host family. However, I quickly adapted to having friends and family around all the time and found I really enjoyed having so many smiling faces surrounding me!
In the United States, women tend to have their first child when they are in their mid to late 20s, and it's not uncommon for women in their 30s or 40s to become new moms. The average age for a woman in the United States to have her first child is at around 26 years old, although the United States actually has the highest teenage birthrate among what we think of as the industrialized Western countries. In Samoa, though, it isn't uncommon to see mothers who have their firstborn child when they are in their teenage years, even as young as 16 or 17. I believe this has to do with the Samoan ideal of having a large family versus the spreading American emphasis on education and financial stability before starting a family.
Despite all the differences I have encountered in Samoa, I also found some surprising similarities.
