Two weeks ago my family and I were celebrating my 40th birthday with dinner at the Ohana. It was our "once in a lifetime" trip to Disney with our two young daughters and it just happened to fall over my special day. My husband made reservations for the Ohana, which was very special as I had spent two years living and teaching as a volunteer on the Pacific Island of Samoa. Not often do I get the pleasure of feeling as though I'm back in the Pacific Islands again, so that was so special. He even called the Polynesian several times before we arrived, trying to find someone that might be from Samoa working there, just to chat with us etc....He knows how lonesome I am for the time I spent there, and the students that I taught so many years ago.
Anyway, somehow he was able to get in touch with a CM working at the Polynesia who wasn't Samoan herself, but was from Hawaii and whose husband had grown up in American Samoa. She came over to our table and spoke with me and gave me a beautiful (lei) or Samoan ula with fresh flowers to wear. Just talking to her for those few brief moments about the islands brought tears to my eyes. I never got her name, as I was so surprised by it all....but she made my night! I still have the ula, as I was able to smuggle it home on the plane, to remind me of the night. I would love to thank her. once again...fa'afetai...fa'afetai lava!!!!
Anyway, somehow he was able to get in touch with a CM working at the Polynesia who wasn't Samoan herself, but was from Hawaii and whose husband had grown up in American Samoa. She came over to our table and spoke with me and gave me a beautiful (lei) or Samoan ula with fresh flowers to wear. Just talking to her for those few brief moments about the islands brought tears to my eyes. I never got her name, as I was so surprised by it all....but she made my night! I still have the ula, as I was able to smuggle it home on the plane, to remind me of the night. I would love to thank her. once again...fa'afetai...fa'afetai lava!!!!
