Anyone Lived in American Samoa?

saltsea · #1 (**permalink**) 15th January 2011, 04:21 PM

Im trying to find first hand experience in Samoa. I have the oppurtunity to live there for three years. My wife and I have a 4yr old, and a baby due in April. If we go, it would be around Sept of this year. Ive read a great deal online, but nothing compares to real experience does it?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give.

wogs · #2 (**permalink**) 16th January 2011, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltsea

Im trying to find first hand experience in Samoa. I have the oppurtunity to live there for three years. My wife and I have a 4yr old, and a baby due in April. If we go, it would be around Sept of this year. Ive read a great deal online, but nothing compares to real experience does it?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice you can give.

I have lived in Samoa (not American Samoa) for over 50 years. I know American Samoa pretty well, though it is some years since I was last there. If you have any questions I may be able to help.

wogs

busycorner · #3 (**permalink**) 16th January 2011, 09:49 AM

try this for starters.

find the Busycorner blog on Blogger. This thing doesn't allow URLs

shopping is pretty much US, expect smaller. You will be a privledged minority.

JW

saltsea · #4 (**permalink**) 16th January 2011, 04:01 PM

Lets see, I guess my main concern would be health care, we will be leaving the US about 4 or 5 months after having our second child. How are the hospitals or clinics there? My understanding is that there are no private physicians there, just a public clinic.

Its also been difficult to find any housing for rent online, any advice on finding a place to stay would be helpful.

Thanks for any insight y9ou can provide mogs

n_tagaloa · #5 (**permalink**) 16th January 2011, 05:25 PM

You can check out American Samoa Visitors Bureau, I believe they have a tab labeled 'Where to Stay' and it lists a few places.

I own the Islander Home Rental place, email me if your interested. I also have my neighbor who has rental units, email me and I can forward your email to her.

Good luck!

saltsea · #6 (**permalink**) 16th January 2011, 06:38 PM

Hello Nancy, I checked out your website. We were looking for something a little bigger, we have a 5 year old little boy and another on the way. We dont expect or need anything huge, but at least two rooms would be preferable. I noticed on your website it mentions you operate a day-care. We would be very much interested in info on that, such as cost and ages that you accept.

It would be wonderful if you could send me the email for the other property you mentioned.

I also noticed you have children, so I would be interested to hear your opinion on the medical services available on AS.

Thank you so much for your time and help, have a blessed day.

Kevin

n_tagaloa · #7 (**permalink**) 17th January 2011, 01:02 AM

Hello,

Well thanks for your reply. Hopefully my neighbor Sylvia will be able to accommodate you, she has 2 bedroom units. Email me and I can email you her contact info. Just let her know her neighbor Nancy referred you and highly recommended her place.

For Peakaboo Daycare, I accept ages newborn to 6 years of age. The costs are: newborn - 11months ($200/month) and 1 year - 6 years ($180/month). At the moment, I am fully occupied, but email me when you do arrive to see if I have availability.

Blessings,

Nancy Tagaloa

wogs · #8 (**permalink**) 17th January 2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltsea

Lets see, I guess my main concern would be health care, we will be leaving the US about 4 or 5 months after having our second child. How are the hospitals or clinics there? My understanding is that there are no private physicians there, just a public clinic.

Its also been difficult to find any housing for rent online, any advice on finding a place to stay would be helpful.

Thanks for any insight y9ou can provide mogs

Basic health care is good and cheap. The hospital is adequate, and I had thought threre were a number of doctors in private practice. There could be a problem with specialist equipment or specialist practicioners. If your second child has no problems, and you or your existing child have no demanding health problems you should be fine. American Samoa is a pretty healthy place. A great place for children to grow up.

For house rental my advice is to get temporary accommodation, for say a month or so. Don't rent for long term until you have inspected. Location is very important, and sometimes the interior finish on homes is not good. You also should be aware of the security aspect. There should be enough houses to rent but the market is not as organised as it is in the US. To be honest not much is as well organised as in the US, but treat that as part of the charm of the place.

gerrit · #9 (**permalink**) 18th January 2011, 06:30 PM

What type of job did you find there? Just curious because other than Oz and New Zealand, Oceania tends to be the hardest continent of all to find jobs in. There's not many expats in countries like Samoa, Tuvalu, Nauru, Vanuatu, ... !

saltsea · #10 (**permalink**) 18th January 2011, 10:46 PM

My Wife has been offered a job as a Marine Coordinator for a marine preserve there. She works for the US Government. From what Ive heard and read my chances of finding employment there are slim to none.