China Study Stint Transforms Student
Lindy Teilai says discipline and efficient time management became part and parcel of her life as a student in China for the past six years.
The 23-year-old of Wainika, Cakaudrove, with maternal links to Nasegai, Kadavu, began pursuing a Master’s Programme in Astronautical and Aeronautical Engineering at the Beijing Institute of Technoloy this year after graduating in July with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering.
“The first year I arrived, there was a bit of culture shock, especially with time management,” she said.
“I’ve improved my time management since arriving in China.”
“In Fiji, I never used to study until three to four o’clock in the morning and have two hours of sleep, and then we’re back in the classroom at 8am.”
“I struggled with that when I came to China in my first year, but after a while, I got used to it,” she said.
“I’m grateful to have adapted to that lifestyle because the people here really work hard, and they’re always on the go.”
“That’s one of my main intakes from China, but it has really helped me improve how I manage my time and how I can do a lot of things with the time that I have.”
She said choosing to study in China was based on its links to other countries.
“China has a lot of links around the world, and the links are broad.”
“The equipment and labs couldn’t be found anywhere else in the world.”
“After graduating, I am looking at joining Fiji Airways to bring my skills back home.”
“In 2020, I went home for a holiday but got stuck during COVID.”
“I spent time with my family, and I am grateful for that because I lost some people before returning to China.”
“I got to spend time with them when I was at home in 2020.”
“I’m grateful to God that I actually went home, even though online classes were a bit difficult.”
Advice
She encouraged those wishing to pursue their respective fields of interest in China to be open-minded.
“I think in the Fijian culture, Sunday is a day to go to church. We don’t have that here in China since Christianity is not really a thing here. I think it is best to keep those God-fearing moral values that we have at home and bring them here, just to keep them within you, because that will really help around China. What you learned from your parents are the little things that we take for granted until we leave home. We realise that the things that our parents and grandparents have encouraged and moulded us into are very important,” she said.
“When you come here, you are alone, and your family is a million miles away. It’s not just a two-hour plane ride; it’s quite far and expensive.
I think just having those moral values will really help you and encourage you personally when no one is looking. If you’re in Fiji and you want to come to China, you’ll learn how to manage your time wisely, and that’s one of the things that you have to adapt to quickly.”
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