When one thing gets canceled there is a better one waiting for you.
- Katarina Slemenik
- Jun 29, 2018
- 3 min read
Waking up at 7. Going to sleep latest at 10. In between do some work, go for a swim, do the work out and eat the catch of the day or a salad. That’s how our day look like at the Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa where friendly people gave us an opportunity to spend 6 weeks with them, helping around with different tasks.
The primary plan was to work in another resort where the owners canceled our stay two days before the arrival. After more than two months of emailing and arranging our work, they randomly changed their minds and said we are not a good fit for their resort anymore, before even giving us a chance to meet in person. We were very disappointed and worried. Staying in Samoa for 6 weeks without work wasn’t an option. On the day of the incident we decided not to worry too much, had some beers and had so much fun with a local guy. The only option next morning was to drive from resort to resort and ask if they need any help. Fortunately, a couple from New Zealand who owns the Saletoga Sands Resort & Spa offered us to stay with them and help around. In the end we were very happy and grateful. It definitely was another lesson we learned from. Even while traveling not everything goes after your plans. I still believe everything happens for a reason evendough sometimes doesn’t seem like it. In this particular case I was happy not to work for the people who are so arrogant and irresponsible in a way. No matter where we are or what we do, when the problem comes, we need to confront it, find the best solution for it and move on. Solving problems is part of our lives. The sooner we accept that the better we get in solving them.
Working in Samoa from mine point of view - working with locals in a resort.
Locals earn 150-200 tala per week, which makes it max 600 tala (200€) per month. If they earn less than 250 tala per week, they don’t pay any taxes. They work everyday (sometimes with one day off in a week), usually more than 8 hours, could also be 14 hours. When they work, they do their best but they also like to rest and relax. Their education level can’t be compared to Western one. Majority of people don’t go to study, so finding personnel for more skilled positions is really hard. They usually don’t think ahead but just for this particular moment or for the day. Solving problems is hard for them. In general they are very kind and friendly people with a big heart.
My work in a resort is mostly connected to what I was doing in a previous job back in Berlin. I’m taking care of their social media and in the last 2 weeks I was working on a new informational brochure for the rooms. Nothing too hard to handle. :) With 135 Samoan employees running around is always fun and busy with people. I’m still trying to remember all the names though.
Few of my coworkers.
Pictures have been made while Umu (stone oven) demonstration. This is a very traditional way of preparing Samoan food on the lava stones. They usually do it every Sunday after church. As you can see on the pictures, the main part of the meal is a pig(s). The food is very delicious and fresh.
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