It sure is tough to break the “laid back” stereotype that permeates news out of tropical islands in the Pacific. Just last week, President Barack Obama blamed Hawaii for his “laziness.”

Check out CNN’s write-up on the Samoa dateline shift: 

Hong Kong (CNN) — When the Vatican switched from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century, legend has it that riots broke out over the “lost 11 days” the shift caused.

However, on the Pacific island of Samoa – which plans to skip Friday this week when it switches to the west side of the international dateline — the mood is more typically laid back and Polynesian.

“Sure, people are excited,” government spokesman Uale Papalii was reported as saying to foreign media. “I myself am relaxed, (we are) only changing the calendar.”

— CNN