No One's Special

04/17/08

Living in the land of Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, everyone is special and above average. Praise is almost a mantra to be given for even the most mundane activities. Stickers, ribbons, medals, trophies, and plaques festoon a person’s room from the cradle onward. Fear of permanent psychological scaring or even a lawsuit may result if a person’s self-esteem is not elevated to stratospheric levels. In Samoa it is just the opposite.

Samoans are the most self-effacing people I have ever met. The common description of their fellow countrymen is that they are lazy. The only time I have heard anything resembling praise is for academic awards at the end of the school year where Bibles are given for high achievement. Yet, the people seem very happy and well adjusted.

It is strange to watch a rugby match without cheerleaders or even cheers from the bleachers. One of the boys in our host family kicked the winning goal against the arch rival team as time expired to win the match. He just unassumingly joined his team, only to return home to feed the pigs. Unimaginable in the U.S.