Some strict NO-NOs

There may be a lot of sources which tell you what all you can do as a student in NZ and how to go about doing them, but not many people will tell you what NOT to do. I'm listing some of the strict no-no(s), based on what I have seen so far:

1. Never be late for class/presentation/meeting etc.

I know as Indians, we follow the Indian standard time wherever we go but it doesn't work that way here. Being punctual is very important. They do not like lame excuses like 'I got up late', 'I missed my bus' etc. Being wherever you are supposed to be is your responsibility and if you're not on time, it makes a very bad impression.

2. Lack of Courtesy

It is very important to inform your lecturer or whoever applicable, if you can't make it to a class and why you can't be there. Attendance is not compulsory but it gets very tough if you don't attend lectures. Lecturers go out of their way to help students, especially when you ask them for help. It's very important to maintain a good rapport with them, because they will help you identify your strengths and work on your short-comings.

3. Get your priorities right

I have noticed many students taking up part-time jobs for money and bunking classes in order to go for work. It doesn't help them in anyway. Studies here requires a lot of effort, planning and time. Once you are done with your course, and you land up in a job, you'll make more money than what you part-time job offers you. It's very important to get priorities right and decide what's important to you.

4. Dress according to the weather, not according to style
It's amusing to see some students shiver in the cold, as they come dressed in California style. It's understandable that you may want the world to see that you are wearing branded stuff but there are two things to remember: i) no one here really cares what you are wearing, they do not judge you by your appearance and ii) its winter for god's sake, you don't want to end up with pneumonia, do you?

5. Act with responsibility
For many students, it would be a first time experience abroad or even first time living by themselves. It's very important in this case to act with responsibility. It's good to have fun, but one should know where to draw the line. I know people who have blown their money [meant for a whole year's living expenses] on drinking, clubbing, shopping (mostly stuff they don't need) etc and end up bankrupt within 2-3 months of coming here. Financial awareness and planning is a must, unless your parents are happy to send you 45,000-50,000 rupees/month for your survival.

There are few things I can think of right now, more as and when I remember,
Until next time, adios!

P.S. My apologies to those people who have mailed me in the last 2 weeks, I have not been able to reply thanks to long hours in the lab. I have read through all your mails and will send out the replies by tonight.

Before you leave India:

International travel can be confusing and lead to a lot of problems, if proper planning is not done in advance. Here are the following aspects to look into before you embark on your trip:

1. Find out what are the major international airports in the country you are going to (Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch in New Zealand) and make sure that you take the flight to a city that’s nearest to your destination (Christchurch is nearest to Dunedin, so if you are coming to Otago, you can come by this route). If your university is located in the city that has an international airport, then you don’t have to worry about a connecting domestic flight.

2. If you have to take a domestic flight within NZ, then plan in advance. Ask you travel agent to see if the international airline you are taking has a tie-up with domestic airliner in NZ [Singapore airlines has a tie-up with Air NZ]. This way, you can book all the way to your final destination and avoid carrying your luggage from the international to the domestic terminal within an airport. Also, you will get good deals on the ticket price and will be able to save a substantial amount.

3. NZ visa generally takes a lot of time to arrive [mine took 2 months from the date I was given the AIP, because I had applied well in advance and they give the visa generally 1 month before your course start date], so be prepared for an anxious waiting time. Keep calling/tracking your application online. You can ask you agent to do it as well [depends on what you have indicated on your visa application form].

4. Try to avoid going all round the world before you get here. It is exciting to go on an international travel, but the more you travel, the more tired you will get and also be at a risk of being exposed to unnecessary infections. Try to take the shortest route possible [in terms of time]. It will help you get over jet lag too.

5. Make sure you have your luggage allowance sorted. Inform your airline [through your travel agent] that you are going on a student visa. Generally, the airline gives double luggage allowance to students at no extra cost. If you don’t get the allowance sorted earlier on, then you may end up paying a hefty fine at the airport when you land. Make sure the luggage allowance holds good for the domestic flight too. Most of the domestic flights do not allow more than 20 kgs/head but you can explain that you are an international student, coming into NZ for the first time and that you have a 40kg luggage allowance printed on your ticket. This will hold good only if you have it printed on your ticket, else you have to pay fines for extra luggage. Double check with your travel agent about this.

6. If your travel involves a transit stay for more than 6 hours, you are generally eligible for a hotel room and free pick up and drop service from airport. Check this with your airline too, well in advance. So that you don’t have to sit in the airport for hours, without being able to take a bath.

7. Carry chewing gum for flight travel, especially if you have never been on a long flight before. Some people suffer from pain in their ears during take off and landing. Chewing gum keeps the jaw moving and the ears intact. Carry cotton plugs, they can be useful to prevent ears from getting blocked. Avoid eating too much of solids on the flight. Airline food is crap anyway. Drinking fluids [not too much of alcohol though] is a better option. Change in time zones will disrupt your body’s mechanism anyway and there’s no point troubling your tract with too much of solid food. Walking inside the flight frequently is also good, keeps blood circulation normal and will help avoid cramps. Most people do not have any trouble on flights. The above tips are for those unlucky souls who may have unexpected trouble. Better be safe than sorry.

8. Make sure you have an insurance policy that covers your travel too. Most universities provide good policies. Make sure you buy them and also know whom and how to contact in case of an emergency [loss of baggage, missed connecting flight, theft, medical emergency etc].

9. Carry enough clothes that you last you at least 3 months. Carry about 10-15 sets of undergarments. Remember, clothes here do not dry quickly and you may have time to do your laundry just once a week.

10. Buying gadgets like laptops, phones, I pods etc. can be done both in India and in NZ. There’s not much of a difference in prices as of now. Plus, you will be spared of carrying your laptop all the way, if you come here and then buy it. It’s a personal choice anyway and as long as you get an international warranty, where you buy does not matter. Make sure the software you buy is original though. They have strict laws here and users of pirated software are dealt with strictly.

11. Carry photos of family and friends, slam books etc. You may have many photos on you computer but sticking some up on the wall in your room will make a lot of difference, especially when you are home sick.

12. If you are on medication for any temporary or permanent ailment, carry a year’s stock with prescriptions [check with NZ customs beforehand, they would have a list of medicines that are allowed] or find out if those medicines are available here and if you would need to see a GP with your medical history to buy them here.

13. Make photo copies of your passport and visa and put them in each baggage that you have. Carry the originals in your hand luggage though. Also carry your laptop and other fragile gadgets in hand luggage.

14. NZ has very strict guidelines about food items that you can bring in to the country. Check the immigration site for details. Declare all the food items that you bring, upon arrival. Declare all items, even if you are doubtful of them [I, wanting to be very honest, declared even my aloe vera face wash and neem-turmeric soap, and the customs official was not amused but let me go anyway]. If you are caught with prohibited items without declaring them, you will be fined immediately. They have sniffer dogs in the airports that randomly and continuously check the entire luggage that is arriving, right from the time it is unloaded from the flight.

15. Carry enough cash [extra cash is also good], in the currencies of the country you are transiting and also in NZ dollars. It will be useful to buy food/drink or pay for taxi etc.

16. You can write to students who are already studying at the university you will be going to. They are a good source of information, of everything that you need to know before leaving India.

17. Do not hesitate to ask for help if you are in need. There are support staff on the flight, the airports, hotels, even in the university. Make sure you talk to people and get help if you are in doubt or don't know how to go about things. Do not worry about being mistaken as a dumbhead. They are there to help and are used to a LOT of people asking them for help.

18. Make sure you do sufficient research about various things that may be involved in your journey and stay. It’s not very difficult. A good preparation will ensure that you have a safe travel and an enjoyable stay abroad.

In my next blog post, I will talk about academics in general and what Indian students must do in advance, to ensure that they perform well here in NZ. Till next time, adios!

WEATHER

The weather in NZ is cold, obviously, compared to what we have in India. What else can you expect from the Antarctic region? It is difficult for anyone coming from India to adjust to the cold and it may take sometime (few weeks to months) for your body to get used to the lack of heat.

Students will mostly come here for the February intake and some of them may come for the July intake. February is end of summer and it is a good time to come to NZ as you will slowly get used to the cold. July is peak winter and I can only wish good luck to those who come here then. May god be with you. It’s not that bad if you plan properly and come well-prepared.

November- January is summer and its nice and warm then. Right now, we are having autumn, and all the roads are strewn with brown leaves. A la ‘Mohabbatein’ style!

Spend some time on Google and search for the city that you are going to come into. Check for details of the place’s weather, cuisine options, stores, people, history, culture, events etc. It’s good to have such information before hand.

Dunedin has a microclimate weather pattern, something like 4 seasons in a day. It will be warm and nice in the morning; suddenly it may rain heavily for an hour or so and become warm again. www.cityofdunedin.com and www.dunedinnz.com are good sites with information on Dunedin. Wikipedia is also helpful, but some of the information may be incorrect. We don’t refer to wikipedia, atleast for scientific information but I guess it should be ok to use it for simple information on cities in NZ. The link is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunedin.

It is very important to have good thermal clothes. That’s the only way to survive the cold. It’s been two months since I have come to Dunedin and I’m still getting used to the cold. The winter starts in may and stays on until July and the first winter is the most difficult for anyone here.

Clothing:
As I mentioned above, it’s important to have good quality thermal clothing to beat the near zero temperatures here in Dunedin or in any other part of south island. North Island is warmer (by about 7-10 degrees C) than the south island but it is still difficult to adapt for students from India.

It will also be better to buy winter clothing in NZ, as the wool we get back in India is not enough to tackle the cold here. Merino wool, made in NZ is the best choice as it keeps you warm. It is slightly more expensive than the normal wool and the other synthetic wool options but it is definitely worth it. Wearing layers (3-7 layers, depending on what your needs are) is the best and only way to keep your body warm.

Big buildings like in the university or at places you may work will have ample heating systems but student flats have only heat pumps and no under floor heating systems. This will make it colder than usual and it is always better to wear layers.
Only problem will layers is that it will make you bulky and heavy but with time, you will get used to walking and even running around in them. Make sure you have enough pairs of socks, gloves, head caps (which cover you ears), cotton plugs, mufflers and shawls (if you like to use them). Main thing to remember would be that clothes will not dry fast during the winter, and so it will be very important to have enough sets of socks, caps and undergarments. Buy knee length socks, even if you are a man, it keeps you warm. Buying 3-4 ‘hoodies’ is a must, they are useful in the rain and in the cold. Please do you winter clothes shopping in NZ. Carry a sweater and jacket for the plane journey. Everything else, you can get it here.


Heating systems:
Bigger buildings have ample heating systems, so as long as you plan you day in such a way that you stay indoors, you would not really have a problem.

In student flats or other houses in residential areas, there is hardly any under-floor heating. Heat pumps (look like ACs) keep rooms warm. Foot heaters can also be bought and used. They are also effective in keeping a room warm. Make sure you have enough money to buy a heater in case you need them because not many landlords provide food heaters. Heat pumps are a more regular feature, but there may be a heat pump in only one common room in the entire flat. It is always better to have a foot heater for your own room. Also, if you buy it yourself, you can take it with to whenever you move- out of the house or out of the city. As long as you are in NZ, you will use them.

Buses and cars have heaters, so traveling in them will not be a problem. During peak winter, there is snowfall on the hill tops (in Dunedin). So, one should be very careful while walking up or down, I have heard that people have very bad falls and break a bone or two, because they slip on the ice on the roads. Those who live or will move into houses on the hills do be careful about this.

Food:
As I mentioned in my previous post, because of the cold, you will feel hungry every 2-3 hours. So make sure that you always have something to eat. Divide you daily meals in such a way that you have 5-6 small meals a day rather than having 2-3 huge meals.

Eat fruits, vegetables, salads. Rice, noodles, meat, and other carbohydrate food keep you warmer, so make sure you have some carbo-rich food at least once a day. Drink lot of soups-they keep you body warm, even if it is temporary, and they are much healthier than hot chocolate or other sugar based beverages. For people who drink alcohol, it keeps you warm as well, but make sure you don’t get tipsy during the day and ruin your routine.

There will be a lot of walking to do within the university and sometimes even out of it, so you will need all the energy. Most importantly, even if you don’t feel thirty, do drink at least 8 glasses of water a day, it will keep you hydrated and going. Dehydration leads to digestive problems and sometimes joint paints and headaches in some people.

Flatting:
Before you shift into a flat, make sure you are informed about the heating systems there, what you need to buy and what will be provided. It is important to plan all this in advance. There’s no point in falling sick because of the cold just because you didn’t know you had to buy a heater yourself.

In my next post, I will be talking about what kind of preparations you need to make before you come to NZ, in a general manner. I will talk about the common mistakes Indian students (including me) make and how a lot of trouble can be avoided during travel, and settling down here; with some careful planning in advance.

Parents of prospective students are welcome to write to me as well. Like the Hutch (now Vodafone) puppy, I’m happy to help. I will answer to the best of my knowledge, experience and ability and if I’m not sure, I will re-direct you to someone who can help or I would just say I don’t know. I do not wish to give any incorrect information, which may lead to confusion and discomfort for anyone.

My email id is: kumar.prashansa@gmail.com
Pls. mention “Re: Studies in NZ” in the subject line.

p.s. please pray that I survive my first winter here without a fuss!

F~o~o~D

The most important thing in our life is food. After all, we all work so hard so that our basic needs are satisfied, and food is so important to every person on this planet.

There are many Indian joints/restaurants in Dunedin and in other cities and towns of NZ, which have north Indian food. It’s difficult to find south Indian food in such places though I have heard of a place which sells Dosa. But, eating out everyday can be an expensive affair, especially if it’s Indian food. Also, they make all dishes here very bland, to cater to a multicultural and a diverse consumer base. So, if you like your spices, then the best thing to do will be to cook your own food, the way you want to eat it.

Check out ‘Anarkali’- an Indian restaurant I’m yet to visit, though I can safely recommend it to others who are in Dunedin. That’s because who ever has been there can’t stop raving about how yummy the food is.

For vegetarians, option of eating out might not work well, as most of the places have no vegetarian menu (unless you are ok with eating salads which in my opinion, only horses can feed on).

Cooking is not very difficult, even for someone who has never tried it back in India (thanks to the pampering we get back home). Frozen, cut, mixed vegetables are available, so are frozen parathas, rotis, samosas, spring rolls, wedges and stuff like that. Microwaves, ovens, electric kettle, bread toaster and electric coil stoves are part of every kitchen, and thus cooking is a quick and a safe process. You don’t have to really worry about things going wrong which would burn the whole place down.

You get dosa/idly batter in the powdered form as packs, which you can add to hot water and let it ferment over a few hours. I’m told that this is not very effective because what should generally take 3 hours to ferment, takes almost 2 days thanks to the cold weather and lack of fermenting microorganisms in the atmosphere. You can try doing this though and pray that it works or shell out 7$ for a dosa in a restaurant that sells it.

The most important thing, which I would like to mention here is that, because of the cold, you will not feel hungry. But, it’s very important to eat something at least once in 2-3 hours so that the body remains warm. It’s a vicious cycle kind of a thing.

Milk, cheese, butter, bread (garlic bread with tomato herbs is our favorite), bun, noodles, spaghetti, pasta, macaroni, muffins, cakes, juices are available in plenty of sizes, varieties and combinations. All these are rich sources of energy and fat as well. So, do have 1 heavy meal a day which has a combination of these items.

Once inside the university, you will have a lot of walking (or running depending on what time to wake up) to do and trust me, you will need all the energy. Girls, please don’t worry about dieting once you are here. If you diet, you will freeze. You rather be slightly plump than freeze and get pneumonia (that’s an exaggeration, but I hope I am convincing enough).

For non-vegetarians, the options are aplenty. There’s chicken, beef, ham, and variety of sea food that I’m not currently aware of. You can check out once you get here. Junk food lovers like me will love it here because you have so many options to choose from – Mc Donald’s, KFC, Burger King, Wendy’s (for the most amazing ice-creams ever).

Dinner in NZ means it’s in the evenings and not in the nights. If you are invited to a dinner, it will be mostly between 5-6pm because it will be followed by clubbing or a house party.

For those who drink, alcohol is aplenty. However, you need to show a photo-ID, with your date of birth. It’s a legal requirement here that you have to be above 18 years of age to buy alcohol or to get into a bar or a club that serves alcohol. No point in trying to bribe the bouncer or pleading with them. It’s a law and it’s easier to carry your ID rather than wasting your time with the bouncer.

Rice and Indian spices are available in a shop called LEITH, which is an Asian grocery store. PACK N’ SAVE and COUNTDOWN (both are supermarkets) are good places to buy provisions/groceries on a monthly basis. The former is cheaper but countdown is good to buy fresh stuff like vegetables, bread etc.

You can buy chicken gravy masala, kurma masala etc in places like pack n’ save.

Depending on where you eat, an average meal can cost you anything between 5-15$. There are also good places that sell Thai, Malay and Chinese food-which are good substitutes for Indian food.

Though it is natural to feel homesick and crave for Indian food (I miss chaat! You don’t get it here in Dunedin), the whole point in coming to a multicultural environment is to mix with people of other places and cultures. You need not be very adventurous and eat an octopus but there’s nothing wrong in trying out a few stuff from other cuisines. Trust me; it will be an experience worth giving a try.

If you have (or get) flat mates from other places, go ahead, make them some wonderful Indian stuff and eat what they have made. I’m sure you will enjoy it.

If you have any questions, doubts, recipes or if you can come and cook for us for free, please write to me at: kumar.prashansa@gmail.com

Intro

I am currently doing PG Diploma-Food science at the University of Otago. I had applied through VIEC-Education. I chose New Zealand as my destination for higher studies, when I was in 3rd year of engineering.

I was doing B.Tech-Biotechnology at SRM University at Chennai when I had made up my mind about coming to NZ and the following factors help me make this decision:

1. Being a country with a relatively low population, opportunities are aplenty.

2. NZ is known for quality education and it costs lesser to study in NZ when compared to other western countries.

3. I had applied to Immunology, Microbiology and Food science and I got admission in the PG Diploma -Food science course at the University of Otago. Food industry is one of the major industries in NZ (more than 50% economic turnover is from the food industry here), and NZ is known for its export market and innovation in preservation and packaging technologies-so, what better place to venture out into what was a new domain for me, food science.

Experience in NZ:
In this post, I will broadly outline the major aspects of being a student in NZ. In each of the posts in the future, I will talk about each aspect in detail, to the best of my knowledge.

Academics (Post Graduate level):

The faculty at the university is very friendly and is ready to help with any kind of problems related to academics. University of Otago also has a student learning centre, where one can learn how to develop essay writing skills, how to make a presentation etc.
There is also an organization called ‘student job search’, which is like a recruitment agency that helps students find part time work.

I got a job at the Physics department as a lab demonstrator. Getting a job at the university is an advantage because of the timings and the higher pay. However, past academic track and good communication skills matter.

The pattern of studies is very different here, in comparison to what we have in India. We have only 2 hours of lecture/subject/week. But, one has to do lot of reading beforehand to know what is being talked about at the lecture. A complete list of course outline, lecture schedules with dates, name of the lecturer, topic of discussion etc is all given at the start of the semester, mostly on day 1 at university.

The pattern of grading or marking is up to each lecturer to decide. They decide the course syllabus, outline, sequence of lectures, practical training or field visits (if required) etc. One subject may require you to give in only 2 essays over an entire year (1 at the end of each semester) based on a research topic of your interest, and another subject may require you to give in 4 essays and a final exam.

Classroom environment is great-they encourage students to think, to ask questions (even if they may be silly sometimes), to be skeptical etc. There is no attendance policy at the university; however you will be marked based on your dedication, willingness to learn and hard work.

A lot of stress is given to being punctual- being on time to class and in submitting assignments is very important. No one says anything if you are late, but it doesn’t make a good impression.

The library facilities are fantastic with free broadband access (you can’t download videos and games though!), access to thousands of books, e-books, journals and other resources. There are group study rooms or personal study areas inside the library. There are also computer resources and an IT helpdesk, where one can get help with anything related to their laptops/notebooks. One can configure their system to the university’s network and use wireless internet, load anti-virus (Sophos) for free, and get other academic software like End note etc.


Social Life

Kiwis are friendly and helpful in general. But, one has to make an effort to speak or ask help when required. There’s no point in being quiet all the time and expect people to strike a conversation with you. NZ has a sizable population of Indians (like every other place in the world) so there’s no question of feeling left out. However, it is good to interact with kiwis and people from other cultures and countries as well-it will be a great learning experience.

There are many clubs, pubs all over NZ, for all those who are interested. However, taking a photo ID which has your date of birth to these places is important. We may be over 18 years of age but in comparison to the locals, we look small made and underage. That’s why it’s important to carry an ID all the time.

Food

There are some Asian shops where one can buy Indian spices, rice, frozen rotis/parathas and other Indian food. There are a few Indian restaurants as well; however buying food there or eating out daily would be an expensive affair. What better excuse to wear a chef’s hat and start experimenting!

Weather

Dunedin is a very cold place because it is in the south island. We are roughly about 4000kms from the South Pole and I guess that explains everything. Cities in the north island are warmer by almost 7-10 C compared to those in the south island. But, for anyone coming from any part of India, the initial few weeks are quite difficult to adjust. Academic year normally begins in February, which is end of summer. April-August is winter, when temperatures can go below 0C

All buildings, buses, cars, university buildings, flats etc have heating systems. Dressing in layers of clothes is the best way to keep one warm. It would be best to buy warm/thermal clothes here rather than from India because the fleece quality locally produced here can effectively fight the cold and keep one warm.

Part-time jobs

There are jobs available for students in restaurants, supermarkets, shops and at the university. There is a regulated minimum wages policy in NZ, which ensures that everyone is paid a minimum of 12$/hour. Pay varies depending on the employer and the nature of the job. Getting a job depends on one’s communication skills, qualifications and work experience (if any).

If you want to be independent and do things at your pace, and yet do well, then NZ is the place to be. Learning and fun can be balanced well because there’s time for everything. With a lot of recreation activity options, one can learn to skateboard, to play snooker, to go hiking, to do a bungee jump, to go for a ‘sky-walk’, take a train ride into the gorges- all of this while studying and getting your degree.

For any other questions (from students wanting to know more about studies/life in NZ), please free to write to me at:

kumar.prashansa@gmail.com