First impressions leave couple wanting more

By Anina Kazaz 20 October 2018, 12:00AM

First impressions last.

For first time visitors, couple, Fidelma Berkery and Tom McGovern said the impressions they have of Samoa will remain with them for life. With both of them having Irish roots, they met in Australia and for eight years have lived in New Zealand. 

Travelling is a big part of their lives and they’ve spent a lot of time exploring and experiencing new places and cultures. 

One of the reasons they came to Samoa was because of the large Samoan community and Samoans Tom works with in Auckland. 

He said this trip has helped him understand Samoans better and their culture. 

The couple took time to visit a friend who Tom worked with five years ago in New Zealand.

 “When we got to the family in the village, this wasn’t a resort it’s been more kind of a homestay. So we saw how they live, which has been impressive to see,” he said.

“We wanted to see how it is after hearing so much about it. These are very friendly people always laughing every time, walking on the road they give you a big smile, it’s cool,” Tom told the Dear Tourist team.

They’ve found and experienced everything they expected in Samoa. 

“It is what I expect it really. I always understand that it is going to be less touristy than New Zealand, Fiji or the Cook Islands and we personally like that. Tourism is in an early stage but still set up and I appreciate that anywhere we stayed we had everything we needed. From what we asked from tourism we got it all,” Tom said.

Their stay in a fale gave them the authentic tourist experience they were searching for.

“It’s been nice in the fales, it was what we’ve been looking for,” Fidelma said.

They arrived last week Saturday and leave on Monday, but before that they plan to visit the Robert Louis Stevenson Museum and the south side of Upolu. 

By Anina Kazaz 20 October 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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