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Thanks for the reply! I actually have never heard about non-samoans adopting samoan children (until recently of course) that are actually from Samoa. It is tradition in the culture that children that are not kept by the biological parents are given to family members (cousins, parents, brothers, sisters, etc.) Most children are not raised within just one family anyways, they are raised by the whole village. This is not just in the Islands, it is generally how it is in the states also. It is the culture. My husband, for example, was raised by his mother, but lived with his sister, his mother's cousins who he considered his grandparents, about 10 cousins around his age, and other people that moved in and out while he was growing up. I just think that Samoan children that are not exposed to this are at such a disadvantage in understanding their culture. I know that Samoan (in general) people do not accept white (or palagi) people raising "their" children. In some ways I agree, in some I do not. I understand their want for keeping children within their own culture. I do not blame them for that. ANYWAYS.... I encourage you to submerge yourself in learning about the Samoan culture.... there are so many things to learn and understand. There are many great books (some fiction) that will help you on your journey. There is even a children's book that helps kids learn basic words in Samoan. I will email you the names of them if you would like.
I have been struggling with the decision to adopt from Samoa because I hate to take children away from their country. However, my husband and I do have the opportunity to raise our children within the Samoan culture with Samoan cousins, grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc. They will better identify with their culture than a child that has been raised with a different race, no matter how much they learn or read about it. I believe the culture has to be lived to actually understand it.
I hope in no way does this come across rudely, rather just an opportunity for you to learn more about the culture. I would love to continue this conversation in email. I have the names of some books and other websites that might interest you. Let me know and thanks for reading!!
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