24 in 2024: marriage dreams, back to school and barefoot in Tahiti
Twenty-four in 2024 is a series on the lives, hopes and fears of 24-year-olds around the world in a year of election uncertainty, conflict and climate change.
Where do you live?
I’m from Papara, on the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia. It rains all the time. But I love it, it’s cooler than other places in Tahiti and it’s always green.
I live with my parents and my little sister. She’s 9 years old and is handicapped so life can be hectic at home. I have another sister who’s 18 but she doesn’t live with us. I love my sisters. I probably don’t show it enough.
What do you do?
I work as a stocker at the distribution centre for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Papeete. I help the employees refill the shelves … and manage the stock. I like it. It’s a one hour drive so I leave around 4am to beat the traffic. But the thing I love to do most is drawing. I’ve been drawing since I was really little. In 2018 I started getting into manga, and I started to adopt that style.
24-year-old Wilson Poareu, who lives in Papara in Tahiti, French Polynesia. Photograph: Atea Lee Chip Sao/The Guardian
What apps do you use?
I use Facebook messenger a lot to talk to people or chat in groups. In Tahiti, all the young people use it. I like Instagram too, especially the Reels – scrolling through them is a great way to waste a lot of time.
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What do you listen to?
As a Polynesian, local music is always present. I like listening to music in my language from Tahitian composers and singers like Angelo Barthelemy. I’m loving instrumental music too. One piece I really like is Clair de Lune by Debussy. It makes me feel at peace.
What do you eat?
The staple food in Polynesia is fish. At home, we tend to eat chicken, but when we get the chance we eat raw fish or fafaru. Fafaru is so good – it is basically big pieces of raw tuna that have been left to ferment in seawater. It’s good. It smells bad, but if you hold your nose, it tastes delicious. But actually my all time favourite food is sushi. Sushi is life.
How do you socialise?
Most of the time, it’s with the people in my neighbourhood, the people that live around us. Sometimes they come over for a chat too, and I’d never say no to a friendly chat.
Poareu relaxes by drawing. Photograph: Atea Lee Chip Sao/The Guardian
What do you wear?
In Tahiti, it’s really hot. So it’s always a casual outfit – T-shirt and shorts every day. It’s perfect for the weather. It’s so hot here that people don’t usually wear shoes.
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Tell us about your Saturday?
Me and my family like sleeping in on Saturday because during the week we wake up early. We prepare breakfast together, it’s usually hot chocolate, fresh baguette and butter – that’s the typical Polynesian breakfast. Then we all clean the house all together, do the washing, clean the car and everything. Lately, I’ve had choir rehearsals at church every Saturday night as I’m part of a young adult choir.
What do you want?
I’d like to have my own home and a stable occupation. In French Polynesia, we’re far away from everything, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so life is very expensive here. I’d like to be capable of providing for my own home and family.
How do you relax?
Drawing and singing both help me relax. I’ve just recently discovered a love for singing. But being outside in nature relaxes me the most.
What do you fear?
I’ve always been scared of not finding my place – I’m learning little by little to have confidence in myself and in my abilities. The thought of separating from my family scares me too. Here in Polynesia, everyone considers their family their treasure.
‘In Polynesia, everyone considers their family as their treasure.’ Photograph: Atea Lee Chip Sao/The Guardian
What’s next?
I’m going to study accounting. Going back to school will be a bit hard, it’s been 5 years since I’ve been to school. I want to go back to school to gain more knowledge, and to get a better job and be independent.
Marriage is taking up more and more space in my thoughts. I love my girlfriend so much, she’s someone that I want to have by my side always. People are scared of marriage but I think it’d be an amazing adventure.
What does the world in 2024 look like to you?
The world in 2024 seems to be moving fast … and there seem to be a lot more difficulties than there used to be. There’s a lot of war, a lot of conflict, there’s poverty and hunger and violence. The world seems tormented but I think there’s hope. This generation will change the world, but whether it’s for the better or worse, I’m not sure. Hopefully, it’ll be a good change.
My girlfriend is a big source of inspiration for me. One thing she tells me all the time is that there’s little pieces of happiness or sunshine in every day. There’s always something to be grateful for. And smile! You can always find something to smile about.
Read more from our 24 in 2024 series