Wedding brings Sarena closer to home

By Nefertiti Matatia 25 November 2017, 12:00AM

The best part about weddings is not just two people getting married; it’s about the whole family coming together.

Sarena Vaitupu, who was born and bred in New Zealand, finds so much excitement in coming back to their roots especially this time around when one of her family members is tying the knot next week.

This wedding is a great opportunity for Sarena and her family to finally meet up again and even though it is going to be for a short while before they part ways again, she is certain that families are forever.

The 24-year-old shared her own experiences that this is what she misses the most about home, it is the family and the culture which is really strong here in Samoa compared with how it is in Dunedin.

She is happy to return to her roots and get the opportunity to be reunited with her father’s family who is here in Samoa. 

She is from Vailima. 

Sarena says nothing has changed in Samoa, everyone is still close with one another and the love that we share is very much alive.

But in terms of development, she said Samoa had definitely changed a lot. She says every time she comes she gets to witness something new because she comes to Samoa at the end of every year.

“Then we get to see that our small country is slowly developing which is really good. New buildings here and there,” she said.

Despite living far away from Samoa, she told Dear Tourist that her Samoan culture is very much alive in her household, where they still do chores and clean up.

“Everywhere we go and where ever we may live, we always do chores at home. The normal chores like cleaning up and all of that.”

The lifestyle in New Zealand is very different from how it is in Samoa for Sarena because culture, religion and family are not very strong in New Zealand.

So she is grateful to be back in Samoa.

By Nefertiti Matatia 25 November 2017, 12:00AM
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