Visiting from Stockholm, Sweden Professor Lars Dencik and Dr. Astrid Seeberger who are newlyweds, are in the country to visit their son and to learn more about Samoan culture.

The couple was seen strolling along the Apia seawall enjoying the warm sunshine and cool breeze before they were approached by the Samoa Observer for the opportunity to hear their story.

“The weather is wonderful. For us in Sweden it is almost winter and the days are very short and nights are very long. It was very cold and when we left that morning there was ice on the streets and you would have to dress very heavy,” they said. “We have to be with our children and we are going to study the social life, the culture and the lifestyle.” 

According to the Professor, they had only just gotten married four days ago but have been together forever. He is here to visit his son Daniel Dencik, who is a Danish writer and film director currently residing in Samoa. 

Prof. Dencik is a Professor of Sociology at Roskilde University and has many questions about the Samoan culture.

“I have a son who stays here with his children so my grandchildren are here and so we came to visit them. We will be staying for a month and so we will have time to at least write an article while we are here in Samoa,” he said.

“If we were struck by anything then yes, by the many churches that we saw and the religious orientation of the people and we will try to investigate more and we have questions about the lifestyle. 

"We saw the houses and we ask ourselves where people hide their clothes or where they go when they make love and that is the curiosity that we have and we will try to find out the answers.

“The country where we live is Individualist and the secular is very strong and here, people live in large families, are taken care of within the families and religion plays a role in daily life so it’s a very contrasting picture that we have.

"And it is interesting for us to find out about the implications of the lifestyles here in terms of domestic violence, child abuse and mental health.”