Preferred pronouns: she/her

Hi, I'm Sam and I'm studying abroad in Samoa during the fall of my junior year. My program (SIT Samoa) focuses on social and environmental change in the pacific islands, so we will be visiting Hawai'i and Fiji as well. I am very passionate about the environment and sustainability and I'm interested to see up close the effects that climate change has on the pacific islands. I love nature and being outside, so I am very excited to be studying in such beautiful places. I am also very interested in learning about the cultures in different pacific island communities as their identity is often tied to their location. As a military kid who moved around a lot, that is such an interesting view to me. I've always wanted to know what it's like to be truly from somewhere. Samoa is a conservative country that does not really accept LGBTQ individuals, so I want to look into what it is like for LGBTQ Samoans and if there's anyone who is open about it. I am so excited about what Samoa has in store for me!