Family history and heritage is important, and we want to explore our daughter's blended heritage. Chris has some indirect history with the Samoan people: his maternal grandfather was an educator in West Samoa and so, for a time, his mother and family lived across the street from the Samoa Apia temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Chris wanted to go to Samoa on his mission, which did not happen—he still wants to get there someday! The culture and attitude of the Samoan people is utterly amazing and inviting. He has always been impressed with the love they had for his grandparents and how both sides honored and loved each other.
It is important to us both that our daughter has more than just a basic understanding of an aggregate Polynesian history. Wouldn't it be ideal if she was able to be fluent in English, Samoan, and Tongan? Chris sure thinks so and Cassie says only if she wants to do that. There is so much (so much!!!) that we do not know or understand. It's safe to say that even stereotypical island imagery has deeper meaning and significance than meets the eye. These are the kinds of things that we want to better understand and appreciate. It's a part of who our daughter is and can be, and it is very important to us that we introduce this to her and make it something that she has a part in too.
One of the first things we have done to that end was to spend some time at the Polynesian Festival this past weekend. Even after reviewing the website and schedule, we had no idea the scope of this event and all that would be available. They had bouncy playgrounds, food vendors, and other vendors selling goods like clothing or books. Cassie has been following this Tongan business on Instagram, and they happened to be there! We purchased some Tiny Tongan Treasure board books to introduce (1) the Tongan alphabet and (2) a first prayer in Tongan to our daughter. It even came with audio, which is a blessing, since neither of us speak the language! Our daughter just gobbles up new books like you would not believe.
Aside from the shopping, we were able to celebrate some Polynesian artistry through music and dance. Our daughter, after we paid admission, made a beeline to the pavilion where the music was blaring. After a while, she stopped enjoying it because she said it was too loud. You can see that she was not happy that we insisted on staying—all in the name of having fun! We know ... parenting. What we can say? We had fun!
We also enjoyed a wonderful meal consisting of rice, macaroni salad, garlic chicken, beef, and a mango otai. Generally not a fan of drinks with fruit in it, it was a complete reversal here: Chris enjoyed the otai far more than Cassie or T did. A great drink and deliciously prepared and cooked meat ... there's nothing better!
With so much division and hatred in the world today, it is our strong belief that love, compassion, and awareness can bring about the same as we work and play together and value what others contribute and believe. We all have so much to give and so much in common, starting with all of us being children of God. We want to be able to celebrate this each year; as our daughter grows, it is our hope that she will participate more, learn more, and come to love and appreciate her Polynesian legacy.
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