Navigating Life - From Kuala Lumpur to Otago

As a young girl, it’s normal to have multiple ambitions and so many changes along the way but being a pharmacist has always been the one constant throughout the years. I am lucky enough to be accepted into pharmacy school not just in IMU but also as a transfer student to University of Otago, New Zealand (NZ).

Prior to moving to Dunedin, New Zealand, all the talks that I had with friends and family about my transfer sounded fun and seamless but when the actual day came, it was a whirlwind of emotions.

One thing that I was not aware of was that I would have a 6-month break before transferring after completing my fourth semester of Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) in IMU in June 2023 since New Zealand’s university intake only starts in February 2024. Initially, it was fun having no academic stress but it gradually turned into boredom and fear of missing out, especially since my peers in IMU were doing their fifth semester while I was doing nothing.

Upon my arrival to NZ, I was rushed with so many differences from what I had back in Kuala Lumpur. One of the biggest things is that Dunedin is a rather small city and being a born and raised city girl, it seemed so foreign to me. To add to that, most shops and eateries in NZ close at 5pm, taken aback is definitely an understatement.

However, as time passes by, I finally have a grasp of the daily life of a Kiwi (nickname for New Zealanders) because to them, work-life balance surpasses everything. This made my previously said fear of missing out amongst my peers in IMU seem small because I realised that there is no reason to rush so much in life. This brings me to the student demographic and student life here in Dunedin, the students and the educators (lecturers, tutors etc) are very much laid back, from dress codes to studying/teaching style.

For one, I was so culture shocked to see that people wore shorts, and sandals to class, workshops and even our white coat ceremony. In addition to that, students here refer to the lecturers by their first name instead of their respective titles, this is something I am still trying to get used to. These changes are not necessarily bad but it made me question if Malaysia is too strict or is New Zealand too laid back?

But I do realise that with the lenient culture they have, it makes education feel more welcoming and less pressured.

Coming from an Asian country, hustle culture is a prominent thing but it is not a thing in NZ. If you compare our schedule in Otago with IMU, the timetable we have here is relatively less packed than in IMU which was a 9am to 5pm schedule. It felt odd in the beginning but as time passed, I sort of got used to it and I realised that mental health was progressively better than before due to less stress and because I am surrounded with so much nature and gorgeous landscape everyday, I get the chance to go on walks every so often.

In terms of pharmacy practice in NZ, I am really in awe of how much authority a pharmacist is able to get in actuality. Most Kiwi would use their local community pharmacy as their first point of contact instead of going to clinics because pharmacist prescriber is a thing here. I have encountered a pharmacist prescriber cancelling a doctor’s prescription for inappropriate antibiotic use and prescribing an appropriate one himself – the highlight of my time here so far. Who knew that pharmacists can go beyond dispensing and counselling. Malaysia healthcare has a long way to go.

I love the time that I spent so far in Otago but at the same time I really do miss IMU because Malaysia is still home. I am privileged to have the opportunity to experience university life in two countries where both have their pros and cons. I hope that one day when I am a registered pharmacist, I will come back to Malaysia and apply the knowledge and good experience I have into practice, but until then, I am still a work in progress as an international student and an individual.

Written by Annissa