Foreign (third world?) Poverty.. Tahiti Interviews

[SoCalDem]

As most of you know, I just returned from Tahiti.. The standard of living on Moorea "seems" primitive...at first glance, but while I was there I interviewed every "local" who would submit to questions..

One interesting thing I learned was that on Moorea, they only have school up to 7th grade and then the kids who "want" to continue, must take a long bus ride to the ferry on the southeast end of the island,and a 45 minute ferry ride to Papeete..(on the big island).. Once there, they either board with a family member, or at school or they must commute every day on the ferry & bus rides.. Most choose boarding..

The main focus on their education (for the last 15 years or so) has been in the "hospitality" industry.. This means that the kids are taught how to serve tourists..maids, waitresses, maintenance people, laundry, cooking, etc..

The students who show unusual promise or who come from wealthy families will continue studies in New Zealand, Australia or even the US.. They rarely return to Moorea permanently...

I asked him what people did before the big hotels came.. He said they did not need money, since most people on the island are related in some way, and they just mostly fished,grew what they needed, and hung out..

When the big hotels came, they needed lots of workers, so the people then got jobs and the economy changed drastically.. Things that were traded before, now required "payment"..

He said that most land in Moorea is owned by the indigenous people and cannot be "sold", but must be passed down within families, and a huge percentage of the population still do not pay "rent " or have to "buy" land .. When they want a house, they just get friends together and build one.. They also pay no taxes..

Gasoline is $5 a gallon, but the island is only 39 miles around, and there is only one road.. Cars were micro mini , in most cases and people rode buses, bikes and scooters.. Ther is always a bus ..Cheap fares, bt most have very few amenities..If you miss one bus, there will be another "soon"..:)

Henry fears that as more of the elders die, the younger , greedier of the "kids" will want to change the law and start to sell the ancestral land.. The hoteliers are eagerly "advising" them , and offering them a chance at "prosperity".. He wondered aloud... "prosperity?? who needs it, we already have everything"..

A ferry employee said that the average monthly income in Moorea is around $1,200.. and since they have only to pay for electricity (usually only at night), it does not cost them very much. Most cook outdoors, and fish any time they want..There are abundant fruit trees growing everywhere, and pineapples grow wild, too.. They do not pay for water, and pay no rent.. They "seem" poor, but to us it seemed like maybe they are actually RICH, in all the ways that really count....

Every house, big or small has a dish or antenna.. They do know what is going on in the outside world.. they just choose to remain the way they are.. The locals actually DO dress in pareas.(rectangular colorful pieces of cloth)..Men, women and kids.. Most do not wear shoes..

They are a beautiful, friendly, and very laid back people.. Moorea seems like Hawaii must have been about 40 years ago.. France seems intent on keeping the place that way too..

Everything is printed/spoken three times.. FIRST..Tahitian, then French, and finally, English.. The kids are taught in Tahitian and French.. Most of them do speak enough English to get by, but they are in NO hurry to modernize..

We saw ZERO McDonalds or ANY fast food place.. No western influence at all.. There were quaint little bistros here and there, and llittle roadside shops.. The only western influence we saw at all, was behind the enclosures surrounding the hotels...

[NJCher]

1. a free people?

In many ways, an ideal situation. Made me think about how much we've bought into a way of life (home ownership) that really kind of makes us slaves.


Cher

[lumpy]

2. Moorea, perhaps the last of Paradise on earth.

Such a contrast with Papeete, so French, with it's careening traffic, fashionable ladies, and high prices. Moorea is a wonderfull reality experience and a delight. The dusty little grocery store, the pineapple factory, chickens and friendly pups, the local busride, better than anything to be found in NYC. Glad to hear the locals on Moorea are holding out for their good way of life inspite of tremendous pressure to turn that Paradise into condo-fastfood-curio shopland.

[SoCalDem]

3. Papeete reminded us of Tijuana

but.. I think that if we had had more time to explore that island beyond Papeete, we would have found a more pastoral area, like Moorea..

The people were wonderful.. I hope we can get back there someday :)

[Karenina]

4. It's difficult for Americans to relate

to those whose values differ from their own. "Poverty" is a catch-all phrase that uses an unrealistic and distorted Bild for its measure. How can someone who wakes up in the morning, picks his breakfast from the budding fruits, goes about his day relaxed, gathering food, creating artwork in fashioning utilitarian items or simply watching the yung'uns, teaching them how to care for themselves be referred to as "poor?" The VALUE SYSTEM is being co-opted to our detriment.