New Zealander Arron Miller is not exactly your typical tourist as he works at the Moto’otua Hospital in Apia.

It is his first week in the country, and as a medical student he is in Samoa to learn as much as he can from the internship, before returning to New Zealand after six weeks.

And while the life of a medical student can have its challenges, he tries to make use of pockets of leisure time he has to discover more of Samoa.

“I have been to Piula cave and I went to Manono last weekend. I’ve also been to Togitogina and been to Fagaloa Bay,” he said. 

Arron is currently staying at the Tatiana Motel in Moto’otua and he thinks highly of the place. 

“I’m staying at Tatiana’s Motel in Moto’otua, it’s a good spot for me. It has a pool and everything and it’s cheap and they serve breakfast every morning.”

His first impressions—since his arrival in Samoa—are that the people are lovely and friendly, which makes it comfortable for a foreigner like him. But the large number of dogs he passes on the street are a concern, as sometimes they also become a menace. 

“Sometimes you don’t know if you should go pass them or not because sometimes they just lie there and sometimes they get up and chase you,” he said.

Another challenge is the experiencing of walking into a village or onto a beach and being unsure if he would be welcomed there. “Sometimes it is hard to know whether or not you’re allowed to go to a beach at a village like when you’re arrive. You don’t know if you’re allow to park the car there, or wait for someone to come, which makes it hard sometimes and a bit awkward to go travelling and doing things outside of a tourist scope,” he added. 

But Arron is taking on the challenges in his stride and intends to make the most of his experiences in Samoa. 

What about his job as a medical intern at the hospital? He acknowledges that Moto’otua has its challenges and is different from the hospitals back home. Nevertheless, he is keen to explore more of the island.