Alessandra Perini is very far from her home in Italy, but she is not ready to return just yet. 

She is on her final weeks of a three-year journey through Australia, New Zealand and now the Pacific Islands before heading to London to begin her accounting career.

Ms Perini spent her last three years living in Sydney and then Auckland doing all kinds of work. She picked fruit in orchards, waitressed and catered in hospitality jobs, volunteered in different accommodations and on farms, and even did some au pair stints.

She said Samoa is not well known around Europe, so when friends in Australia recommended she visit, it was hardly a choice.

“Now is the time to visit, otherwise I would just postpone this trip because it’s too far from home,” Ms Perini said.

“It’s not famous in Europe so I thought I should check out Samoa, and Vanuatu as well. Fiji is quite famous but these other two are not, unfortunately.”

Samoa is her first stop on her Pacific trip, with Fiji then Vanuatu on the cards before her arrival in London. She said while her trip in Samoa is definitely too short, she was glad to join Enes Samoan Tours for a good look around Upolu and Savaii.

If she can return one day, she said she would be interested in WWOOFing, a scheme that partners volunteers with farms called Willing Workers on Organic Farms. There is a handful of partners in Samoa and after several great experiences WWOOfing in Australia and New Zealand, she would like to try in Samoa.

This trip however, is about taking it easy.

“I just came here to relax, and I am relaxing so I am happy about that,” she said, laughing. 

Ms Perini found herself on a guided tour by accident: Enes Samoan Tours agent Henry Mapusaga stopped her in a market in town, with the suggestion that if she is travelling alone then why not join a tour? She gladly accepted.

The tour heads to Savaii on Friday, and Ms Perini travels onwards to Fiji on Saturday.

“It’s too short, I know. I would recommend to others to stay 10 days,” she said.