Pese Performance

Our big pese performance was last Friday. We had a midday practice (with last minute changes still being made to the songs we were going to be performing...grrr). At the end our rehearsal the AG told everyone to go home and relax for the rest of the afternoon. That sounded great, but with looming appeal deadline and motion deadlines, most of us attorneys were back in the office for the rest of the day. Once 4 o'clock rolled around we rallied up at Sadie's-by-the-Sea for some pre-performance libations and a bite of food. Our department was scheduled to be the second group to go on the third and last night of pese. After some grub and socializing it was time for us to get in uniform and head over to the field where we perform. I was worried about parking, as this was a big festival that I'd heard people discussing all year. Much to my surprise parking was easy and close and we were over and waiting as the first group of performers go on stage and started in with their singing.

Several large tents occupied the area in front of the stage. This played into the lack of crowds in front of the stage, most views outside of the VIP tent would be blocked. Most Samoans stay home and watch the performances on television. Only the VIPs who are invited by the governor are expected to be at the live performances. We gathered with the rest of the Department of Legal Affairs staff and watched the first group of performers take their turn in the spot light.

Eventually towards the end of the first performance we lined up in the back of the stage and prepared to go on-stage. We filed out, I ended up near the rear of the group (one of the advantages of being tall). Our performance started out with a speech by the Attorney General and the head of immigration, both in Samoan.

We then launched into our songs. We'd settled on an order and how they would be performed and it felt like a good performance. We received several compliments in the following days and people also told us they were impressed we were singing in Samoan. Looks like the broadcasts did focus in on us for our pese. We've also heard that there's video out there of us, we're working on getting a copy and will update accordingly.