When Renatha Soh Pande (Natha for short) was 10 years old, she dreamt of studying abroad, but didn’t know which country it would be. Natha is from Papua New Guinea, which she calls “the land of the unexpected”.
“I am from a great land of tropical rainforest, mountains, and valleys with some of the largest rivers, and just below the equator, sharing a border with Indonesia, Australia, and also Solomon Islands.”
Natha came to New Zealand to study on a Manaaki scholarship; she found out about it by word of mouth from colleagues and friends back home. “... I said to myself, why not give it a try? So I did, and here I am!”
Even the journey getting here was full of fun and adventure, says Natha; it took five different plane flights to arrive in “amazing” Southland. “I didn’t know where I was going because it was my first time travelling overseas.”
Natha’s enjoying her Pre-Entry Health Science Level 3 programme at SIT, and acknowledges she’s at the beginning of her dream to study health. “It’s fun to study the human body with its structures and ‘teeny-tiny’ names that you have to remember, also cultural and ethical considerations, plus, not forgetting maths.”
The SIT Invercargill campus tutors and staff “are amazing”; they help everyone achieve and stay on top of their academic work, as well as their health and well-being.
Describing herself as “an introvert and an extrovert, depending on the circumstances” Natha admits it can be challenging to adapt to a new environment, but overall she’s finding SIT an awesome experience. “... this institution, SIT, has a special place in my heart, ... and I will carry it with me wherever I am”.
Invercargill has surprised Natha, who admits she’s not much of a city person; even so ... “I think Invercargill suits my lifestyle, and I also feel adapted to the environment and its surroundings.” She’s discovered Queens Park is a restorative space and spends a lot of time there. “ ...it reminds me of my place and also gives me peace of mind when I am battling with my studies,” she says.
“I love the beauty of Southland and the people. The place itself speaks to its history, and the people are kind and welcoming. Though it's not a big city, it's fun and alive in its own way.”
Getting used to the unpredictable weather has been a challenge. “I am still trying to adapt to the weather here because it ... can change any time of the day.” Especially coming from a country that experiences only two weather seasons. “It's quite difficult for me, but it's mother nature, so whether I like it or not, somehow I need to get used to it. ...I am getting used to it slowly so far.”
Natha has already got involved with the local community; her biggest highlight has been giving back by joining Red Cross in Invercargill as a Disaster Response volunteer. Already familiar through doing a lot of volunteer work back in PNG, Natha was keen to join while here, and described engaging with the community through the Red Cross as “one of my biggest achievements so far ..it was amazing!”
Taking part in a Red Cross training weekend in Gore allowed Natha to meet volunteers from around Southland - Queenstown, Gore, as well as Dunedin and Invercargill. “It was so ... fun, to see all of us connecting with the community up at Gore. I couldn't be more proud of myself because I achieved one [thing on] my bucket list ... I wanted to do during my study.”
“I know for sure and believe that my journey towards achieving my dreams has just begun. Thank you, Southern Institute of Technology and Invercargill Southland.”