U.S. Ambassador sends farewell love to Samoa

By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 20 December 2020, 4:00PM

Outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Samoa and New Zealand Scott Brown and his wife Gail Brown have bid farewell to Samoa, New Zealand, Cook Islands and Niue.

The couple bid farewell in an online video on Friday which recounted their shared top 10 memories over the course of their three-year posting.

The Browns who appear in the video with their "diplo-dog" Gracie, said the posting had been “an amazing experience” and “the best job ever because of you.”

“It’s been almost four years and Gail and I are very very sad to be leaving…it’s really been one of the most amazing experiences of all three of our lives,” said Ambassador Brown.

“You have welcomed us into your homes, into your business and into your clubs and just into your lives. Thank you for making us part of your whanau,” Mrs. Brown added.

On behalf of his team, the Ambassador personally thanked Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi for the courtesy afforded to his team at the U.S. Embassy in Apia, Samoa.

He also thanked Magiagi Primary School.

“To the people of Samoa, listen we love you, we miss you, we enjoyed our time there so very very very much. I want to obviously thank the Prime Minister and his team for the courtesy exhibited to me and my team. I hope we helped make a difference,” the Ambassador said.

“I also want to thank the Magiagi Primary School, all the kids and the headmaster we loved you. I just want to say it’s been truly an honour to serve.”

Mrs. Brown said “between the amazing food, the beautiful family memories, the incredible times that we had there, just absolutely beautiful. Faafetai tele lava.”

“I’ve had some incredible memories too so it’s a happy-sad time. Our youngest is expecting our oldest is getting married so it’s time to kind of get a little closer to our family and we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the courtesy, the love, the support and friendship that you have given us,” said Ambassador Brown.

“Please stay in touch we’re only 14,000 kilometres away come visit anytime. Kia ora, see you later, thank you very much. Cheers.”

Mrs. Brown said New Zealand, Samoa Cook Islands and Niue had all been amazing places to visit and were full of people with beautiful hearts and values. 

The Ambassador, who plays the guitar, said he tried doing things a little different during his time as Ambassador such as "Rock and Roll Diplomacy."

He put more than 40 different Rock and Roll displays in the U.S. Embassy residence in New Zealand and held two Fourth of July Rock and Roll events.

During one of their events, the Ambassador said he hosted an interview with Gene Simmons, a founding member of rock band Kiss.

Rock and Roll, the Ambassador said, is a great equaliser that brings people together:

“There are way more things important than politics."

 

 

 



By Tina Mata'afa-Tufele 20 December 2020, 4:00PM

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