Teaching students with Samoan heritage in New Zealand has enabled teacher, Rebecca Manley, to get insider knowledge on Samoan culture.

The 28-year-old teacher flew into the country with 19-year-old sister Isabelle and were heading to the Samoan cultural centre in town last Friday when the Samoa Observer caught up with them.

“I was teaching in Wellington, New Zealand and I was told by my work colleagues how Samoa is a nice place to visit, so we thought to come,” she said.

She said her work colleagues told her of their time in Samoa and her planning immediately began when she heard the stories. 

“A lot of people back home said that it’s a great place to come for a holiday and it's a beautiful and the best place for a holiday.”

Interacting in school with students coming from Samoan heritage background also contributed to her knowledge about the island, she added and this included her students’ cultural practice.

“We are here for one week and we have planned everything and have some few changes, also we are English residents New Zealander,” she added.

Discussing the various tourist attractions they have visited, Ms Manley said their best experience was at the Tosua Trench, which they described as an amazing experience together with the swimming on beaches. 

“Our favorite thing is going to the trench, seeing some sea turtles and also been exploring around the island on a rental car.”

The sisters plan to go to Savai’i before leaving Samoa to return to New Zealand. 

“We are thinking of visiting the other island and experience sleeping in a fale,” Ms Manley added while indicating that they were going to the cultural centre, hoping to see more cultural displays.

While it has all been fun and adventure, they have also had their challenges and one of them is the cost of public transportation such as taxis. 

“I think the biggest downside for us at the moment is transport and we are finding it really difficult to go around town and taxi fares are expensive," she said.

The price of goods are also a challenge as they found some food prices to be expensive as well as the prices of some rooms. 

The two sisters flew into Samoa Monday last week and returned to New Zealand on Monday.