Fish selling mother dreams of a job

By Aruna Lolani 13 May 2017, 12:00AM

With Mother’s Day tomorrow, some mothers don’t just sit around and wait to be pampered.

In fact they have no choice. They either work or their families will starve and struggle.

Telesia Faalelei from Fasito’o-tai is one of them. She sells fish besides the road together with her husband.

This is her job. While her husband goes fishing and brings the catches, she is the seller and the brains behind their family budget.

 “No one of my family has a formal job. We all live from what we earn from selling fish,” she told the Village Voice

“We all live under one roof together with my siblings and their own families and children and fishing is our way of life.”

Telesia’s husband fishes every day. Even when the weather was bad during the past few days, they were out there hunting for a lucrative catch.

“For us, we sell what my husband gets to earn some money for our children’s school fees.”

Aside from the basic necessities, Telesia is hoping to treat her mother for Mother’s Day.

“I’m hoping to get my mum a new dress for this year’s Mother’s Day,” she said.

“We do not depend on other people for living. We work and find it ourselves.

“Although the cost of living challenges us to work the land and sea to earn money, we don’t give up.

Telesia has two-children and they are both in school.

Looking ahead, she has a dream.

“I want to get a job,” she said.

“I know that life is not easy if you don’t work. This is why I need a job so we can have a steady income.

 “Whatever job I get for the future, I’ll be happy to accept it.”

In the meantime, as Samoa prepares to celebrate Mother’s Day, Telesia challenges other mothers that they have to be strong for their families and children.

“As a young mother, I must make sure that my family have food and survive day by day. That’s my role.”

She wishes the Mothers of Samoa a “Happy Mother’s Day.”

By Aruna Lolani 13 May 2017, 12:00AM

Trending Stories

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.

>