A good life comes to those who work

By Vatapuia Maiava 21 December 2016, 12:00AM

Mau Aitofi, from the village of Afega, admits that life is tough.

Waking up early in the morning, walking to the plantation to clean up, harvest crops that are ready and then off to sell or cook is far from an easy way to live, especially under Samoa’s hot sun, but that’s the life for many.

But although it’s tough, Mau says that giving up is never an option; he just works a little extra harder for what he wants.

“In all honesty, life has gotten harder and harder over the years,” he told the Village Voice.

“But no matter how hard things get, working hard to take care of those you love is what’s most important.

“With my family, things are very simple, we only have two children to take care of. My eldest son is working right now but my daughter is still schooling.”

For Mau, every day is the same.

He wakes up early in the morning then goes straight to the plantation armed with his machete and wheelbarrow.

“This is my task every morning,” he said.

“I wake up early in the morning and make my way to the plantation and get whatever I need to make a living. 

“My son’s job doesn’t really make enough for the family to live on so I try and work hard here at my plantation; everything I do is for my family.

“There are way too many things to do so we can’t just depend on one persons wages because it’s not enough.”

Mau believes that it doesn’t matter what kind of job you have, the only thing that matters is working hard to provide for your family.

“Just as I said before, this is my life,” he said.

“This is the work that I do and I have been doing it way before I had children. I have grown used to doing this over the years, no job is too small and that what I truly believe.

“Blessings and a good life does not come looking for the people; people go out and look for ways to make a good living for their family, especially the children.”

But at the end of the day, you have to learn to take the good with the bad.

“In life, every day is different,” Mau said.

“Sometimes you have bad days and there are others times you have good ones. It’s good to take the good days with the bad.

“It is also a good idea to prepare for every day that comes your way because when you have a bad day, you will surely be ready.”

By Vatapuia Maiava 21 December 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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