Samoa Immersion brings a new perspective on life

On 14 July, fifteen lucky students travelled to the islands of Samoa for 2019 Samoa Immersion. We spent four jam-packed days in the capital city, Apia, visiting the Samoan markets, shops and seeing the island of Upulo. We visited the cultural centre where we learnt about traditional tattooing, cooking and living. Then we spent our Sunday visiting beautiful churches and experiencing their masses and services where we learnt the importance of family and faith in their culture. After, we caught a boat over to the island of Savai’i to fully immerse ourselves in the Samoan lifestyle with our billeted families.

Over the next seven days we helped children with their schoolwork in class, explored the island and experienced a typical week for a Samoan family. On our last day, tears were shed as we said goodbye to our family and left the island to fly back home to Australia.

Words can’t describe how incredible this trip was and how much it changed each and every person. We saw a new perspective on life. A perspective where nothing is taken for granted and where the littlest things truly are what make us happy! They are the kindest, most welcoming people!

Between facing new challenges and learning a new way of life, it’s easy to say the Immersion also created our own family and brought each one of us much closer together.

Chelsea Furlong, on behalf of the Samoa Immersion students