Uh, so where IS American Samoa, anyway?

The first time American Samoa comes up and there's a job offer or similar attached to the conversation, you might do a Google Map search that comes up with something like this:



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and you'll get a little worried. And then you'll zoom in:


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And you'll feel some excitement. Fiji! Tonga! Yes! Yes! Look how close they are!" And you'll think to yourself, "I can travel to these fabulous places. No matter what it's like I can always travel. And hey, look! There's Australia and New Zealand!"
So this keeps you still considering the job and you zoom in.



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That doesn't look too bad! Look at those giant islands just right across the water! I'm sure there's a ferry or boat, cheap too, that crosses there every day. I could just go over there when I needed to get away!
So you keep zooming in.

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And you think to yourself that doesn't look so bad! A lovely tropical island in the middle of the South Pacific. So you don't dismiss the idea and you keep looking for more info!


The Facts:

It is extremely hard to get to Fiji and Tonga (you will fly to Apia in Western Samoa ($149-179 RT)) and then you will fly to Fiji/Tonga on the rare days that there is a flight there.

There IS a ferry between American Samoa and Western Samoa. It leaves once a week. It's an 8 hour trip and there's limited seating.

New Zealand is in tomorrow. It's not too expensive to get there. I think people can get flights for around $500. You do have to go to Apia first though and as connections are tricky you usually have to go the day before your flight from Western leaves so you can be sure to make your connection. Flights to Australia are somewhat more expensive but not as bad as flying from the states.