MEET Amélie
We all wonder and wander in our own little way. Everybody’s got a story to tell. If you want to have a chat, I’d love to MEET you!
Meet Amélie
A curious French girl with a passion for the sea. Amelié lived in American Samoa for the last 5 months, and she shares some of her #islandlife experience, and her favorite parts of living in American Samoa.
Tell me about yourself, where you’re from, what do you do?
I’m Amélie Tagliaferro. I come from Marseille, a city in the south of France. I just turned 22 years old. I’m still in school, studying at an agriculture and environment engineering school. I picked this internship [with the National Park of American Samoa], which was awesome because I wanted to specialize in marine biology. I also want to work in the national park but in France. I love fish, and that’s about it!
How did you find yourself in American Samoa?
I knew about [this internship] through Lydia Begue who was a previous student with my school, and she interned here also. I was looking for marine biology programs in a national park, and asked Tim Clark (the former NPS Marine Ecologist), and he was like “Ok! Come!” and then he left. And I’m still here.
Describe yourself in 3 words
Funny. Respectful. Curious.
Describe your experience in 3 words
Peaceful/Relax/Chill. I’m less stressed than before.
Adventure. I found myself here. I know I want to work in this kind of ambiance, because I was in the ocean all the time! Which I loved.
Amazing. It’s the sum up of all my experiences.
What is your favorite spot in American Samoa?
Tafeu Cove!
The coral and the fish there! It’s a nice beach with a little waterfall. And the coral is just really really cool! They have giant clams, they have fish… And you can only get there with a boat because it’s pretty isolated and remote so that’s all very cool.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Long term goals?
I wanna live on an island. In the Pacific Ocean – that’s my first choice.
I don’t know if it will be in 10 years. I may be back in France, but near the ocean or near the sea, but not like a lake. Only in an ocean or sea. And tropical, or at least temperate.
Favorite kind of music?
I like chill music. The Good Vibes playlist on Spotify. Indie music… It’s totally the mood here.
Favorite beach?
So many! Fagatele Marine Sanctuary. Sailele beach. Larson’s Cove.
Favorite place to eat in American Samoa?
I love the Turkey Deluxe from Yahweh Cafe. Maybe I was really hungry… that could explain why. But it was really really good!
What’s your spirit animal?
I love all of them! It’s pretty difficult to find just one. I mean here, with my name, they called me Malie at first… so I could say sharks. But I also love turtles, and octopus, and dolphins, and whales, and moray eels, and clown fish, pipe fish, sting rays! Basically everything.
But I don’t like barracuda! I don’t know, they have a strange angry face. I don’t like those.
Speaking of sharks, how many times have you seen a shark while swimming?
Three times while snorkeling, and two baby sharks like 2 days ago.
Name one thing that you’ve learned from your time in American Samoa
Don’t drink the water!! Haha… Don’t drink the water from the sink! I did it a bunch of times, and it’s really bad. I just keep forgetting like, when I’m showering.
Yeah, it’s really bad. I got sick. It’s not usual because in France you can totally drink [the water]. Like, you’re in the shower and you can drink all the water. You can ask for a glass of water in any restaurant and they just give it to you and it’s free because it’s just from the tap.
What is your life motto?
It’s not a slogan but I think this one is so funny… it goes: I whale always love you.
But my real answer would be:
Enjoy every moment. No regrets! Follow your feelings.
