….where outsiders to Samoa will wonder what is going on when they see men with staff and swish talking in loud voices.
Some are without shirts with just some kind of decorative wear around the neck and shoulders that they would easily put down to part of the culture.
But what is all this money giving with people holding the notes to the head with a slight bow? Well… it is also part of the culture, a very important one.
To put it in simple terms it is called the ‘bus fare culture.’
One side gives the money to the other as ‘bus fare’ to return home and the other holds it up in a show of appreciation. Normal.
Sometimes it can be tricky depending on the timing. In an election period you can be charged for treating if you do that.
But in this particular case one group is protesting against new law changes they fear will be bad for them.
The money giving group are members of the special Parliament committee looking into the worrisome new law changes.
With the Committee members giving money to the protesters, strangers would think they are trying to silence the protesters. Grudgingly it does but it is not.
It’s ‘ Bus Fare Culture’
