Bedtime Story | Counting Months with Mele

Mele was a happy girl living on the sunny island of Samoa. She loved the sea and the sky. O Mele o se teine fiafia e nofo i le motu la o Samoa. Sa fiafia o ia i le sami ma le lagi.

Introduction to Happy Samoan girl, brown skin, dark brown eyes, cheerful, setting in Samoa, beachside atmosphere.

1

One day, Mele’s teacher said, 'Let's learn to count the months in Samoan!' Mele was excited. I se tasi aso, na faapea atu ai le faiaoga a Mele, 'Tatou aoao e faitau masina i le gagana Samoa!' Sa fiafia Mele.

Happy Samoan girl, brown skin, dark brown eyes, cheerful in class, learning announcement.

2

January in Samoan is 'Ianuari'. Mele repeated, 'Ianuari', and clapped one time. Ianuari i le gagana Samoa o le 'Ianuari'. Na toe fai atu Mele, 'Ianuari', ma patipati tasi.

Happy Samoan girl, brown skin, dark brown eyes, cheerful learning January, clapping once.

3

'February is 'Fepuari'', said the teacher. Mele clapped twice and smiled. 'Fepuari o Fepuari', fai mai le faiaoga. Na patipati faalua Mele ma ataata.

Learning February, Happy Samoan girl, brown skin, dark brown eyes, cheerful claps twice.

4

When teacher said 'Mat'i for March, Mele jumped three times and giggled. Ina ua fai mai le faiaoga 'Mat'i mo Mati, na oso fa'atolu Mele ma 'ata.

5

'What comes after 'Mat'i?' asked Mele. 'Aperila for April,' was the reply. Mele clapped four times. 'O le a le mea e mulimuli mai 'Mat'i?' fesili Mele. 'Aperila mo Aperila,' o le tali lea. Na pati fa'afa Mele.

Question about April, four claps for 'Aperila'.

6

'Me!' Mele said proudly, 'Me is Mei in Samoan.' She spun around five times. 'O a'u!' Fai mai ma le mitamita Mele, 'O a'u o Mei i le gagana Samoa.' Sa ia taamilo solo faalima.

7

'Now, who knows June in Samoan?' asked the teacher. Mele shouted, 'Iuni!' and hopped six times. 'Ia, o ai na te iloa Iuni i le gagana Samoa?' o le fesili lea a le faiaoga. Na alaga Mele, 'Iuni!' ma oso faaono.

8

'What's next?' wondered Mele. 'Iulai for July,' the teacher smiled. Mele nodded seven times. 'O le a le isi mea?' mafaufau Mele. 'Iulai mo Iulai,' ataata le faiaoga. Na luelue faafitu Mele.

Discovering July in Samoan, seven nods for 'Iulai'.

9

August arrived, and Mele learned a new word, 'Aukuso'. 'Eight claps for Aukuso!' cheered Mele. Na taunu’u Aukuso, na a’oa’o ai e Mele se upu fou, ‘Aukuso’. 'Vavalu patipati mo Aukuso!' fa'afiafia Mele.

10

'Ok Now, 'Setema'!' Mele shrieked with joy. She stomped her feet nine times for September. 'Ua lelei, 'Setema'!' Na alaga Mele i le fiafia. Sa ia tu'ia ona vae fa'aiva taimi mo Setema.

September in Samoan, nine stomps for 'Setema'.

11

'Just three more to go!' Mele smiled. 'Oketopa for October!' and she clapped her hands ten times. 'Na'o le tolu isi e alu!' Na ataata Mele. 'Oketopa mo Oketopa!' ‘ua pati fa‘asefulu fo‘i ona lima.

Three months left, ten claps for October.

12

'November in Samoan is 'Novema'', Mele whispered. She snapped her fingers eleven times. 'Novema i le gagana Samoa o le 'Novema', o le musumusu lea a Mele. E fasefulutasi ona tatalima ona tamatamailima.

November in Samoan, eleven finger snaps.

13

Finally, 'Tesema' for December made Mele skip with glee twelve times in a circle. Mulimuli ane, o le 'Tesema' mo Tesema na fa'asefululua ai Mele ma le fiafia i le li'o.

December in Samoan, twelve skips for 'Tesema'.

14

With that, Mele found that she had learned all the months in Samoan and danced with joy! O lea, na iloa ai e Mele na ia aʻoaʻoina i masina uma i le gagana Samoa ma siva ma le olioli!

Happy Samoan girl, brown skin, dark brown eyes, cheerful has learned all months, happy conclusion.

15

Counting Months with Mele

Faitauina o Masina ma Mele

Have any feedback or suggestions? We're always looking for ways to improve!