SAMOA (Commonwealth Union)_I had the impression that I have entered the set of a Samoan reality TV show modelled like Fawlty Towers. I receive a welcome letter that was allegedly edited by a local woman named Aunty Pisupo when I check into the Return to Paradise Resort, which was named after the 1953 Gary Cooper movie of the same name that was filmed there.
Pisupo, who is described as “a bit odd” but well-intentioned in the letter’s preface, is clearly quite a character. She tells customers to “go hard” in the beachfront bar because “cocktails are so much healthier” than water because, according to her, fish don’t pee in pina coladas, and she suggests that former US President Donald Trump could use “a jolly good spanking on his little orange bottom.”
She believes “that would mend him and spare all this indictment palaver.” Disagree? Don’t bother talking to her about it. The preamble states that Pisupo will receive complaints, but she will utterly disregard them.
Pisupo invites guests to have patience with employees after welcome the cast and crew of the most recent Australian Survivor season to the resort. It has only recently emerged from a Covid-caused two-and-a-half-year hibernation phase and is terribly understaffed, according to her writing. New hires are as inexperienced as possible, and many previous employees relocated to New Zealand and Australia in pursuit of employment.
“Remember that for many, not only is this their first ever job, but many have never had the money to have even eaten in a restaurant, let alone had any experience in working in one.”
Having said that, they promise to “move heaven and Earth” to make amends for any errors and welcome visitors. “Because that’s how our family is,” the speaker said.
When our group of five is shown to rooms that shock both the staff and us with their unmade mattresses, we begin to worry that we’re in for a less-than-impressive encounter. Any annoyance, though, quickly dissipates as you gorge on incredibly sweet papaya and pineapple and a native breakfast dish that resembles a rice- and coconut-based version of cocoa pops.
The employees’ contagious smiles and good spirits. When you step onto the set of a Hollywood film that scoured the Pacific for what it imagined to be a classic South Sea paradise, it’s difficult not to feel love for your fellow humans, especially those who have suffered as much during the pandemic as the people of tourism-dependent Samoa.
Photo Credit: lonleyplanet.com
