The eight Fijian students that left the country in August this year to pursue medical studies in Cuba are adapting well.
Public Service Commission (PSC) permanent secretary, Parmesh Chand said that it was good to know that the students have settled in well and are looking out for each other.
Amele Natuaniyavula, one of the students, in an email said that they are adapting well as they really had to get used to the time difference.
She said they have finished the first exam in the Spanish language and are now awaiting their second exam, which will be administered after Christmas.
The students, Ilai Cama, Tevita Lalabalavu, Sharvin Sharma, Ahnil, Lolohea Tagilala, Ashika Prasad, Brenda Williams and Amele Natuaniyavula are all studying at the Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina University.
“We have settled in well, meeting the other Pacific students and the other races that are present in the school. We are also getting along with the Cubans, getting to know a bit of their style of life as they are fast Spanish speakers, getting adapted to the food they eat and as for the weather it was a bit different, because when it's hot, it is really hot and yes we are getting to the winter season now so it's a bit cold now,” Amele said.
“However, we are still trying to adapt to the time as it differs from home Fiji. I may say that we are one day behind or 11 hours or more behind. Eventually we will get adapted,” she added.
Amele said that the basic conversational Spanish classes that they had in Fiji before leaving for Cuba really helped them in adjusting to their new environment.
“Basically, learning basic conversational Spanish has helped especially in the classroom: conjugating verbs in the different tenses and as we also learnt group dynamics it has helped us a lot to look out for each other, helping each other with our Spanish.
“When someone feels down we try to encourage each other and also trying to mix with the students from different countries and at the same time practicing our Spanish.”
Amele said the group was also thankful to the other Fijian students who are already studying in Cuba for helping them settle in.
“We have met the other Fijian students and they had helped us a lot in getting adapted here in Cuba beginning from the day we arrived at the airport."
“We spent some time with Asil Ram, Masikerei Vunicagi and Rick Fong before they went to the province for their three year studies.”
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