Mother’s wish for a safer house

By Fetalai Tuiluluu 06 April 2017, 12:00AM

If you have a nice and comfortable house, you should be grateful.

In Samoa, there are some families who can only dream of having one.

Among them is 44-year-old Tiatia Reupena of Faleasiu.

With the rain belting the nation during the past couple of days, finding a dry spot in their fale is a challenge.

Yesterday when the Village Voice visited her, she was busy trying to cover their properties with bits and pieces of tarpaulin. 

 “To be honest, with the state of the house we have, we’d rather live in anyone’s kitchen with the roof covered than living here,” she said.

“I don’t know when this rain is going to stop because the longer it rains the more problems we have here at our home.”

The floor of the fale is not cemented. Carboards are used as mats. The utensils are very basic.

“We have no money at all to build a better house,” she said.

“I’m only worried about my grandchild but for me I’m okay. I know this because I’ve seen my parents go through the same struggle and they didn’t have much.” 

Tatia has two children. No one in the family has a formal job.

 “Life is hard and tough for us,” she said.

 “We have everything on our land for survival, but the hardest part is our home. As you can see, it’s not much of a house.

 “My husband is trying his best to find a job so that one day we will be staying in a better house. 

“We are struggling on our own to find food and develop our home.” 

The mother complains about the cost of living making things harder for them.

“On the top of our daily struggles, the cost of living is not helping at all. 

“I don’t know what or how to compare the cost of living but I’m telling you it’s beyond expensive.

“The cost of living is so expensive.

“For me, I’m not ashamed to say that I need help to fix our home. I’m not looking for a flash house, all I want is for it to be covered and safe.”

By Fetalai Tuiluluu 06 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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