Veena Kumari has never regretted living on the island of Rotuma for the past 15 years.

She is married to Fai Okostino from Motusa Village in the district of Itutiu and they have been together for 35 years.

“Life is in Rotuma, I have never regretted moving here because getting food and other things is so simple,” she said.

“I don’t have to walk long distances and even spend the whole day looking for what we can eat because everything is just outside our house.”

The duo were together in Suva when Mr Okostino worked at the then Daily Post and Ms Kumari at a garment factory.

“I’m from Baulevu and we were used to the city life when growing up and even working. Island life was something new that I had to adapt to,” she said.

“When I first came here, I did not know what to do because it was totally a new environment.

“I would spend most of the day crying because village life was something for me to learn but the villagers here started coming to me and were helped me in many ways.

“I can now say that I’m accustomed to everything here on the island.”

Ms Kumari has seven siblings who are all overseas.

The last time she met them was in 2017.

She described island life in Rotuma a rewarding journey for her family.

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