September 3, 2024
Family Fun, Labor Day Weekend in OCNJ!
The weather turned out to be one of the best I remember for a Labor Day Weekend in a long time. Had great beach time with my brother Michael's family, pictured above. Especially enjoyed my time with the littlest members of the family. Catching them standing still or together was a challenge! Had lots of fun with Jack teaching him a new rhyme. The giggle melts my heart every time!
Also got to hear some Chris and Leah's wedding details and honeymoon plans, two weeks - a Safari in Kenya then a Beach Resort in Mauritius (Stacy from the ship spa gave me a must do list for them in Mauritius)! I even got to help with a craft DIY for the weekend !
Making coconut cream is such a big part of the Samoan culture I feel compelled to share the 4 step process we were so nicely shown. Every Samoan young and old takes part in this tradition, it is an intrigue part of their everyday lives.
The tour today was focused on the National Park but we also got a lot of insight into American Samoa's history and current day life. Our guide was Nini and she is a college student studying accounting and finance and works as a part-time guide.
Today we took the National Park of American Samoa Tour. It's a unique park - the only one south of the equator and where the U.S. Government doesn't own the land. Efforts to establish the Park go back to mid 1980 over concern about the decline of fruit bats and wanting to protect the tropical rainforests. On October 31, 1988 Congress established the NP of American Samoa. In 1993, a complex arrangement for a 50 year land lease years with seven villages and the Samoa government was signed. We got lucky with our tour - we were expecting an open air bus, but because we were a small group, we got a plush air conditioned van!