Fatma Al-Lawati

First experiencing New Zealand on holiday, it was an obvious choice for Fatma Al-Lawati when the tertiary programme she wanted to complete was not available in her home country. "I travelled to New Zealand in 1996 on holiday with my family and was able to come back this year to study at Massey University in Palmerston North. I want to complete a Bachelor of Resource and Environmental Planning (Geographic Information Systems - GIS) degree which isn't available in Oman. Having a degree from New Zealand will mean that there are better job prospects for me when I return home a degree from an overseas English speaking country is seen as prestigious."

The first step for Fatma is to complete the Certificate in Foundation Studies at Massey University. Despite missing friends and family, she is enjoying this new experience.

"The facilities for study, the lecture theatres and the library are great for study and there is good assistance available to international students from the staff. Palmerston North is a small, friendly city with few distractions so it provides a good study environment.

"I am staying in a homestay which I enjoy. I participate in English Language centre activities when I can, such as playing badminton, basketball and frisbee after my foundation studies have finished for the day. It's a great way to get to know other students and find out about other cultures."

This is not to say that there are no challenges being an international student. "I have been the only Omani female student in Palmerston North for the past six months which at times has been difficult for me, as I cannot always have the same meaningful conversations with other people here as I might with friends back in Oman. However, another Omani female student has now arrived, so I am looking forward to talking with her." Daily contact with her family on the internet and regular telephone calls have been particularly important for Fatma, and she hopes her sister will join her next year.

On return to Oman with her degree, Fatma hopes to gain a good job utilising her GIS studies. "With this degree there are a variety of different types of organisations I can work for. Examples include archaeology, history, ecology, natural resource management, geography, planning, marketing, or tourism offices."