Make the most of your time at the University of Otago. The Pacific Islands Centre can help you with academic assistance, scholarships and accommodation, legal and immigration matters – and more.
Strength in Numbers: Looking After Your Mental Health as a Pasifika Student
I remember walking in to Student Health as a fresher many moons ago, feeling crook as fuck in all ways possible, just needing some help. I looked around for a brown face or name. There were none in sight. My name, pronounced incorrectly, was called out by the Caucasian doctor, summoning me to their office. I took a seat, and the first thing that came out of the doctor’s mouth was “bula vinaka!” Because that ticks the cultural competency box, right? I talked about my stuffy nose and my stupid asthma lungs, and left out all the hard brain tings I was going through. In exchange, the doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics and sent me on my way.
Strength in Numbers: Looking After Your Mental Health as a Pasifika Student
I remember walking in to Student Health as a fresher many moons ago, feeling crook as fuck in all ways possible, just needing some help. I looked around for a brown face or name. There were none in sight. My name, pronounced incorrectly, was called out by the Caucasian doctor, summoning me to their office. I took a seat, and the first thing that came out of the doctor’s mouth was “bula vinaka!” Because that ticks the cultural competency box, right? I talked about my stuffy nose and my stupid asthma lungs, and left out all the hard brain tings I was going through. In exchange, the doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics and sent me on my way.