Sarah reacquaints with family and fa’asamoa

By Deidre Tautua – Fanene 02 February 2018, 12:00AM

Sarah McDermott, 28, from Auckland, New Zealand is no stranger to Samoa.

But despite having roots here since her parents are both Samoans, she is thrilled to be back home and is looking forward to the chance to get to know the fa’asamoa even more. 

Dear Tourist spoke to her at the S.T.A. Fale yesterday while she was learning how to weave a mailo (a traditional plate for food).

“I come here at least once a year because my mother is from here,” she said.

“But for this trip this is the first time I’ve stayed longer, so I have been here just over two months.”

“I spent Christmas and New Years with mom because my father passed away three years ago and so it’s just mom that’s left. I always make time to come and see her and spend time with her.”

She has one more week left of her holiday.

“It has been great and an awesome holiday,” she said.

“Before when I come for holiday I would be spending most of my holiday in American Samoa because I was born there.”

“However, this trip I spent it here in Upolu so it has been a great experience.”

“I’ve learnt to appreciate life as it is and the little things especially with families.”

She said having full Samoan parents is very special.

“When we were young, we didn’t really grow up in the fa’asamoa my parents grew up in the faasamoa but not us,” she said.

“When we moved to New Zealand it was just sort of relaxing which to us was okay but for me being a proud Samoan I knew I was missing something.”

“I knew that in order for me to be a proud Samoan I needed to know more and better yet learn about my culture.”

“And this trip has taught me a lot and I was able to learn a lot.”

“Like today, everyone else is working and I had nothing to do so I decided to come down here at the Samoa Tourism and learn how to weave this beautiful Samoan plate.”

“It has been a great two months and it’s sad that it has come to an end but I know that I will be back and at least I had learned a lot.”

“I will definitely miss Samoa especially mom but it was worth the trip and the two months staying.”

By Deidre Tautua – Fanene 02 February 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>