Sang Yum family reunites in Samoa

By maria 26 July 2017, 12:00AM

“Blood is thicker than water.”

This was the message at the opening of the Sang-Yum Family Reunion 2017 recently held at the St. Therese Retreat in Leauva’a. An occasion held every three years bringing family members from across the globe together. 

This year brought them all back to the beautiful shores of Samoa after four previous successful reunions in Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. 

Like all family reunions, the hope is for every member to reminisce on old memories while creating new ones and cherishing the moments spent with one another. 

It is also a time for the young generation to engage with elders and learn about their rich family history as this is an essential part of maintaining family treasures. 

Kamuta Sang-Yum Ah Chin, migrated from China and served as an indentured labourer in Samoa under the German colonial rule in the 1900s. 

He married Maria Ivoga Nielsen of Fusi, Safata, daughter of Matalena Scanlan and Kaisa Nielsen. 

Many Chinese men fled their home country during the 1900s due to harsh conditions they were living in such as unemployment, overcrowding, famine & war and established a new life in Samoa. 

Fast forward today and the Sang-Yum family has grown with family members residing in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa and Samoa. 

This year’s reunion in Leauva’a started on the 8th - 10th then Savai’i 11th - 13th of July. An enriching experience where the young ones were fully immersed in rich family history and the Samoan culture.

Samoa was the perfect location to have this years reunion as this is where the history of the Sang-Yum family was created. It has now been agreed upon that the next reunion will be held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands in the next three years. 

 

The author Maria is the daughter of Saveatama Fata Osa Sang-Yum and Ana Lemisio Sang-Yum.

By maria 26 July 2017, 12:00AM

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