I've been to Samoa twice before - in 2000, on the way home from 6 months in New Zealand and again in 2003 when my wife Lynda taught at the National University. The impact on me was profound: the most powerful revelation being the love of the extended family.
There's a lot to tell about this, so for now you will have to take my word.
When the tsunami hit I was in Nebraska with Eddy Weiss, my storm chaser, educator friend. (Eddy created this blog for me - hats off). I was shooting with Eddy and could not simply drop everything and come running, which would have been my inclination, otherwise. I will tell you though, Eddy cares more about other people than anyone else I think I've ever met. The man's life is dedicated to helping other people save their own lives in natural disasters, amongst other things. As a documentary maker, I viewed his behaviour (NOT normal) with admiration and some level of detachment - I wondered to myself, how can his care for the American people be so intense? When the storms come Eddy watches every means available to him to forecast what's going to happen, so lives can be saved.
I read the New Zealand Herald and the Samoa Observer online most days. On the day of the tsunami, I was sitting at Eddy's computer. I was shocked to see the damage. I've been to the very places that were hardest hit. The simultaneous feelings of wanting to do something and of helplessness to act were overwhelming. Ironically, I think in those moments I came closer to understanding Eddy.
Carolyn Shiau is a Samoan pathologist living in Toronto. Immediately after the tsunami she and her mother flew to Samoa to help a cousin, living at Lalomanu - where the full force of the wave was felt. In that moment, her cousin was missing. The cousin survived - but lost two babies and her inlaws. Carolyn helped with funeral arrangements and then volunteered the rest of her time to help run the clinic at Lalomanu. Shortly after returning to Toronto I spent two days talking with Carolyn. I had requested an interview, but day one was soon over, so Carolyn offered to come back the next day. We talked at length in my back yard. I cut the interview and included Carloyn's photographs and video. By the time I was done, it was pretty resolved in my mind that I would come to Samoa.
Lynda could see how important it was to me and urged me to book the flight - even though I really didn't have a plan. We call this, "Living the Adventure". Once it was booked I began contacting people to find out how I could be most useful. The New Zealand high commission in Ottawa was the closest diplomatic connection I could find in Canada. They connected me with NZAID who in turn connected me to SUNGO - the Samoan Umbrella for NGO's.
By this time my plan is two-fold: help the local agencies, as a doc maker and initiate a self-gerenated project, on the resilience of the Samoan people.
Immediately following the disaster, the Aid pros, mostly from Australasia could not believe that there was no refugee camp here. They estimated that there were 3-5000 people displaced - all were absorbed by extended family and community: this kind of community behaviour deserves to be highlighted if you ask me.
Helping the local agencies involves identifying their needs and then producing work with them to help achieve those ends. Ideally the projects for local agencies will be complete by the time I come home. I am also making myself available to mentor people here, so my contribution lasts longer than my time here.
So, with the above intentions I pulled the trip together in less than a week and took the leap of faith that I could and would make a difference to the people of Samoa, in my own way.
The Sunday before I left I hosted a fundraiser. Over $1800 was raised to help bring me here. I make sure to tell the people here that it's not just me...this is a community thing - from us to them. The Samoans are truly grateful for the outpouring of love and generosity and authentic help from people, the world over. My friends - people who supported my desire to do something - we are part of a larger, much needed effort.
I've been introduced to a local business leader through a mutual connection. He greets me warmly and brings me into his office. I explain what I'm up to and he suggests I meet his brother, another leader, in the spiritual community. He promises to arrange an introduction. I excuse myself and head to the Gourmet restaurant to meet with the President of SUNGO's daughter.
The daughter is a journalist. She affirms the significance of documenting children's stories and urges me to "drop in" on the head of one of the broadcasters, which I do. She's out - just departed for the airport. I schedule a meeting for the following day and cab it over to the Tourism Authority office.
My contact here is wonderful. We click instantly on aesthetics - I show her one of my short PSA type videos and she just loves it. We discuss ways to promote tourism (one of the key objectives for the nation right now).
Later in the day I am visited by the brother (see above). We talk at length about my purpose for being here. There is a significant overlap with our work - it seems a perfect fit for me to come and shoot footage in the communities they are working with. I am invited to come tomorrow and camp with them. I counter with a visit the day after. I'll go scope it out. Looks like a perfect match. I am totally convinced that this will be a key part of my own self-initiated project.
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