Single man with a heart for family

By Aruna Lolani 18 April 2017, 12:00AM

Toetu Tanuvasa from the village of Nofoali’i, believes that you should just be happy with what you have as long as it puts food on the table.

Aged 27, Toetu works long hours as a farmer but he remains positive about what he does.

He understands the true meaning of hard work.

“I am grateful for the chance I am given to earn a bit of cash to take care of my family.” He said 

“I know in my heart that this is the job that was given to me by the Lord, and I am forever grateful for it. 

“I get paid every day by taking the fruits of my land to the market. If it doesn’t sell there,  we sell it on our road and it’s honest money for me,” he said.

“Money doesn’t fall from the sky, and nowadays if you don’t stand up and go look for a job, then you will live a difficult life roaming the streetd.

“With the work I do, I have to use my time wisely.

Toetu said the job he has provides just enough for his family. 

But no matter how hard anyone works, there will always be struggles.

The money I earn means my family and I can get by very well, he said. 

“You know, people are only poor and can’t afford food because they don’t want to work. 

“An example is me waking up early in the morning so I can make use of the cool air and avoid the hot sun while I plant crops. 

“When the sun is at its hottest in the middle of the day then I take a break and drink some water. 

“Like I said before, this is the only work I do here,” he said.

“I don’t really do anything else; the farming work is pretty much the toughest duty I have every day. The work I do provides enough for everything we need in the family.

 “We only struggle with money when we have to take care of the things for the church and families fa’alavelave. 

 “This is what I do every day; we have the same tasks from morning till night,” he said.

“I just work our plantation because it’s the only thing we have, to be able to look after our family. 

“When the sun sets then that’s the only time I can finally rest and have some food with the family.”

Toetu is a single man. 

By Aruna Lolani 18 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>