2013 PIPA Graduates. Photo - Letti Wickman. A Keynote Address given at the 2013 Graduation ceremony for the Pacific Institute of Performing Arts, Auckland. I’m delighted to be here with you young and restless graduates, and with your families and friends, as we celebrate your achievements. I stand in awe of you. Not just because… Continue reading Be Worthy
Tag: Samoa
I want to stab someone.
So if you've read any of my books, or more than one of my blogs, or you have the misfortune to be friends with me on Facebook - then you know I have a soul-wedded affinity with Diet Coke. As in I drink too much of it and write too much about it. As in,… Continue reading I want to stab someone.
“Your sexual abuse is disgusting and has brought shame on our family.”
Three weeks ago I wrote an article about rape and sexual abuse in Samoa which was printed in the Samoa Observer, posted here on my blog and shared on various online sites. It was written in response to a national religious leader in Samoa and his comments on rape/abuse but it addressed widespread views held by many. In… Continue reading “Your sexual abuse is disgusting and has brought shame on our family.”
When your Six Yr old Wants a Boyfriend.
Some conversations with a six year old just NEED to be preserved for posterity. This morning, Bella was feeling wistful. "I want a boyfriend." I was horrified. "What!? Why? You're too little. You don't need a boyfriend." "You have Dad. I want my own boyfriend," she replied indignantly. I tried to be understanding. "But why?… Continue reading When your Six Yr old Wants a Boyfriend.
Righteous Rape
The Samoa Observer interviewed the Chairman of the National Council of Churches and asked for his thoughts on the 'epidemic of rape and sexual abuse' in Samoa. His response was printed in the Sunday newspaper and can be read here: http://www.samoaobserver.ws/other/women/8044-bite-them-hard-church-chairman-urges-women While I think there was truth and helpful insight in some of his remarks, any… Continue reading Righteous Rape
Deep, Dark Secrets.
There's a number-tagging game happening on Facebook where you must reveal mysterious details about yourself. I got the #18 from Theresa Schubert (another superwoman mom of her own #Fab5) but because nobody cares about 18 deeply scintillating secrets about me, I’m going to do 18 #ThingsYouMayNotKnowAboutTheTelesaBooks instead. Nafanua had six children in her lifetime. One boy… Continue reading Deep, Dark Secrets.
“You can’t be happy when you’re fat. No-one can.”
A while back, Bella was getting dressed for school when she uttered words that broke my heart. "Mama, I'm fat. But I want to be skinny like Kelly. See my tummy?" She pulled up her shirt to show me a beautiful belly that loves tickles. And I looked at my five year old daughter - really… Continue reading “You can’t be happy when you’re fat. No-one can.”
Sexilicious Men (and houses) – When Fantasy meets Reality
The nice thing about being married to a man who owns his own construction company, is he can design AND build your house for you. The Hot Man is freakishly clever like that. How lucky am I??? I went out with him for his sexilicious self and had no clue he actually had like...skills...talents...housebuilding moneymaking potential... But then that's… Continue reading Sexilicious Men (and houses) – When Fantasy meets Reality
Sex-Breasts VS Milk-Making Ones
In this week's Samoa Observer column, I get to talk about breasts. Yay fun! "if breastfeeding is so good for everyone involved, then why is there sometimes an air of indelicate shame and discomfort about it in the ‘modern’ palagi country I currently live in?...The reaction to a woman feeding her baby in public as opposed to… Continue reading Sex-Breasts VS Milk-Making Ones
Children are Dream-Killers
One woman. Running over 104km of scorching road...over jagged mountains and through expansive rainforest...can she endure? Can she summon the strength and will to battle onward? (cue kickbutt powerful theme music here) Can you see it? Can you hear it? Wouldn't it be awesome?! Last weekend, I went to support a friend of ours as… Continue reading Children are Dream-Killers
Lani Wendt Young 