Tough life? That’s just the way it is

By Ilia L Likou 26 January 2017, 12:00AM

Life is hard. But that’s just the way it is.

Ask Ioane Seumanufagai, 39-year-old from the village of Vaito’omuli Palauli, and he would tell you.

“I work to earn money for my family but it’s just hard,” he said.

“At times, there are a lot of things I have to deal with even  when I don’t feel like it.

“We’re here to clean up my boss’s house and land so we’re trying to do it really quickly because I think it’s going to be raining soon.”

Ioane works hard to help his family out.

“This is all about my family. No matter how hard things are or how much money I get paid, at least I have something (money) to send to Savai’i for my family and my parents.

“That’s me, I understand the importance of helping my family out and that’s what drives me to come to work every day.

“I know what’s happening in Samoa at this time. If you have $100 in your hand for a day it’s just like it’s something that you only get to look at for two seconds then it’s gone forever.

“That tells us that we need to be smart when it comes to budgeting money because life is hard.

“We need to be smart....

He went on, ‘Living here in Upolu and work is really hard away from home. Especially as I’ve mentioned before that my parents are still alive so it isn’t easy at all.

“I miss my family but this is the only option  I  have to support my family financially which is why I have come here (Upolu) to look for a job, and to work.

“So whenever I get tired I think of how much I love my family and parents so I just push on a little harder.

“As you saw when you drove past, I am currently working really hard and enjoying what I’m doing.

 “If you don’t go to work you might end up somewhere else; if you don’t go to work your family will suffer.

“Very simple.

 “We have to bear that in mind that - money is not a problem the past years but for today – life is all about money.

“That’s the truth - if I don’t work hard and sweat, my family won’t eat.

“That means I have to work while I still feel sick, work through bad weather, work in the hot sun and work when I am tired.”

“That’s just the way it is.”

By Ilia L Likou 26 January 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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