L E A R N I N G
YEAR 11 STUDENT WRITING HITS THE DOM POST
Plastic By Tia Pavihi You’re not Samoan enough: you don’t speak Samoan, you’re fiapalagi, you’re afakasi (halfcaste), you don’t go to church, you’re plastic!
The writing of two Year 11 Students, Tia Pavihi and Sarah Caddis, was published in the Dominion Post in Term 3. Their messages are inspirational, powerful and were also delivered orally in the Senior School Speech Competition to an audience of judges and their peers.
Despite my dad being of Samoan descent, many Samoans only focus on my palagi (NZ European) heritage from my mum. I am constantly told I am not Samoan enough due to things I have no control over. It’s true that I don’t speak Samoan, I don’t regularly go to church, and I am not often found in a puletasi (traditional dress). However, I still have a strong passion and connection for my Samoan culture. Yet I am continually called plastic. So… what does plastic mean? The derogatory term “plastic” refers to a person who is out of touch with their culture and perhaps doesn’t understand or speak the language. What does plastic mean to me? Barbie dolls, pollution and waste. I reject the term plastic and challenge this one-dimensional view of culture. Growing up I struggled to fit in I’ve either been “too white” for the brown kids but then “too brown” for the white kids. I live in these two different worlds. I’ve found it hard to be able to express my passion for my Samoan culture because when I do, I am put down, shamed and called plastic by people of my own culture for merely being myself. Since a young age I’ve always been told “You’re ONLY half” like half isn’t enough, like it doesn’t make me worthy of being a Samoan. What our own people don’t understand is the impact the use of this word has on OUR development, OUR people and the future of OUR culture. The poet John Agard ridicules the concept of being half-caste by joking
“when you mix a black key with a white key, it’s a half-caste symphony”. Well, I’ll tell you one thing, I am not a fraction. I’ve grown up identifying as a Kiwi/Samoan. I am 15 years old now and not fluent in Samoan, but I know some words from speaking with my dad and being out in the wider community. There was a time when I was questioned if I knew how to speak Samoan and received a judgemental look after my response which left me feeling embarrassed like I was less than. Why do my own people do this to me? Why am I different? Am I not Samoan enough? The stereotype of a “real Samoan” in NZ is they are Christians who attend Church, immersed in the language at home and always provide for their family. My upbringing as a 24
QM Calling
ISS UE 68
