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Samoan woman conquers Mt. Everest

ON TOP OF THE WORLD: Rosita Afele on top of the 5,364 meters Mt. Everest Base Camp. (Photo: Rosita Afele)

A 44-year-old Samoan woman, Rosita Afele, has conquered the world’s tallest mountain after 14 days of living on the edge.

The Melbourne-based daughter of Fuimaono Savili Afele and Tima Afele from Lefagaoali’i Savai’i, Falealili and Lotofaga Safata, is absolutely elated about conquering Mount Everest, in Nepal, a peak often referred to as a “death zone.”

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Ms. Afele, said it’s a moment in her life she would always remember. The realisation of a dream started 12 months ago with an idea.
“I’d like to think I am a free spirited person; I love adventures and travelling has always been a dream,” she said.

But trekking up Mt. Everest never crossed her mind.

“It never entered my mind in a million years, until a year ago. This was a massive undertaking and it was mainly driven by the soul. And after talking to a work colleague last year who had just returned from Everest doing the same trek, it sparked something in me and I knew then that this is it. This is what I needed to do.

“I used to have this motto in my school days which is “the view is always better from the top” though at the time, I didn’t mean it literally.”

To prepare her for the trip, it took a year of training.

“This little trip to the ‘death zone’ has kept me away from those leisurely weekend catch-ups,” she said.

“As I continued to say ‘no’ it’s nothing to do with your much entertaining companies, or the food, the caffeine, most definitely not the vino…but more the long walks and hikes that has been talking up most of my weekends.

“A once in a lifetime experience especially for a fob like me as another one was alluding to that “she’s never known or heard of a Samoan whose done this kind of thing so either I’m the first ‘fool’ or perhaps am just a different breed.”

Ms. Afele said the journey from an idea to the realization of it has changed her life.

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A 44-year-old Samoan woman, Rosita Afele, has conquered the world’s tallest mountain after 14 days of living on the edge.

The Melbourne-based daughter of Fuimaono Savili Afele and Tima Afele from Lefagaoali’i Savai’i, Falealili and Lotofaga Safata, is absolutely elated about conquering Mount Everest, in Nepal, a peak often referred to as a “death zone.”

Speaking to the Samoa Observer, Ms. Afele, said it’s a moment in her life she would always remember. The realisation of a dream started 12 months ago with an idea.
“I’d like to think I am a free spirited person; I love adventures and travelling has always been a dream,” she said.

But trekking up Mt. Everest never crossed her mind.

“It never entered my mind in a million years, until a year ago. This was a massive undertaking and it was mainly driven by the soul. And after talking to a work colleague last year who had just returned from Everest doing the same trek, it sparked something in me and I knew then that this is it. This is what I needed to do.

“I used to have this motto in my school days which is “the view is always better from the top” though at the time, I didn’t mean it literally.”

To prepare her for the trip, it took a year of training.

“This little trip to the ‘death zone’ has kept me away from those leisurely weekend catch-ups,” she said.

“As I continued to say ‘no’ it’s nothing to do with your much entertaining companies, or the food, the caffeine, most definitely not the vino…but more the long walks and hikes that has been talking up most of my weekends.

“A once in a lifetime experience especially for a fob like me as another one was alluding to that “she’s never known or heard of a Samoan whose done this kind of thing so either I’m the first ‘fool’ or perhaps am just a different breed.”

Ms. Afele said the journey from an idea to the realization of it has changed her life.

Read more at Samoa Observer