At Leauva’a road, she has become a permanent feature. 

It’s very hard to miss the welcoming smile of the lady selling pancakes in her roadside stall.

For Leaso Fepa’itio Sala, from the village of Leauvaa, every day is a joyous day greeting pancake buyers with a smile.

Aged 64, Leaso does her best to do her part in the family through the sales of round pancakes.

“Life is great for me,” she told the Village Voice.

“I would make my own round pancakes early in the morning and then spend the day here waiting for customers and everyone would come by and buy them.

“Especially the youth, they would come and buy a whole bunch from me. Once I run out of pancakes to sell then I would go and rest before doing the rest of my daily chores.

“I use my time wisely, I hardly go bingo as well and I make sure I am well rested before I start the next day. I just go and bingo twice a week.”

With her children currently residing overseas, Leaso says that she has little to worry about at home.

“There’s only one person in my family who is currently working,” she said. “My children are currently overseas so it’s just me at home with my sister and her husband so there’s nothing much to do here.

“I spend most of my days with  my sister’s children and I just sell my pancakes in front here. “

With many people buying round pancakes in large bunches, Leaso says the money she earns is just right for her.

“We make enough money for everything that’s needed in the house,” she said.

“I would work every day of the week and sometimes I’d make about $60 a day. My busiest day would be Sundays. I made about $150 yesterday because everyone bought pancakes for Sunday breakfast, lunch and evening tea.

“I sell them at 10cents a piece and people would come and buy them in big bunches.”

And with everything she does, she does with a big smile.

“I enjoy what I do and since my children are all overseas, I just do what brings me joy,” Leaso said.

“I had a stall in Apia before where we sold food and pancakes. Once we stopped our stall in town I saw that there was nothing else for me to do so I started to come to the roadside to sell.

“Another reason I do this is because life has become a bit expensive and I want to do my part to get sugar for the family.”