Vanuatu – Lily

Student: Lily
Course: Bachelor of Criminology / Bachelor of Psychological Science
Program: Trimester exchange T2 2023
New Colombo Plan Scholar 

Did you go on any memorable trips to explore your host country or maybe a nearby country?

For the majority of my program, I stayed in Port Vila for my studies and internship. In my free time, I visited some other islands of Vanuatu. My friends and I visited Pentecost Island for a cultural land diving tour. On Pentecost Island, men take turns jumping off of a tower as they believe this will bring a successful yam harvest. I felt privileged to witness this cultural event. I visited some smaller islands including Pele Island. On Pele, my friends and I enjoyed the crystal-clear water, whilst drinking fresh coconut water. I also visited Nadi, Fiji for a weekend and did a ziplining tour and got to see some amazing views.

How did you make friends and what sort of things did you do together?

Before I arrived in Vanuatu, I reached another New Colombo Plan Scholar who was in Vanuatu. She was able to introduce me to various people. I also met people in my language classes, university classes and at events. It was much easier to meet new people than I had expected. Many other people who were working or studying in Vanuatu were also looking for connections, which made it fairly easy to build my network of friends. With my friends, I explored other islands and went to many events such as fun runs, soccer games and even a wedding. I also enjoyed learning how to cook local dishes like simboro.

What's your one piece of advice for a student who is planning to study abroad? How should they prepare?

I recommend joining expatriate communities on Facebook. Other expatriates have gone through similar experiences that you will encounter, and they will have the knowledge to assist you. These communities are also a great way to learn about events in your location, which are a great opportunity to meet new people. Facebook communities also made me aware of current news, which was useful to gain information and make informed decisions throughout my program. For example, I learnt from a Facebook community that one airline was unreliable and recommended that I use another airline.

How did your trip add value to my studies? i.e. Did you gain credit? Was it to increase your employability?

Travelling allows you to learn a lot. You learn about different cultures, perspectives, and about yourself. This experience is something I will have with me for the rest of my life. Studying abroad will challenge you and help you grow as a person. I now have the ability to draw on my international experiences to demonstrate my employability in my future career. Completing a semester of university in Vanuatu allowed me to meet new people and create life-long connections, which will also be beneficial to me later in life. I got to witness how the Vanuatu people lived, worked and studied. Many of my classes specifically related to Pacific culture, allowing me to expand my knowledge about different cultures while gaining university credit.

Learn more about studying at the University of the South Pacific