We were born in Auckland and then had the privilege of growing up in the small rural town of Te Kūiti from 10 years old. Being part of this community has shaped so much of who I am today and I hope to one day be able to give back. Te Kūiti is a small, humble town that has helped strengthen my roots - roots that now guide me as I continue to explore and embrace my Fijian and Samoan identity.
I currently live in Dunedin with my beautiful partner while completing my final year of Medicine at the University of Otago. This year is a special milestone for me as I am closing my Dunedin chapter and we will be moving to Hamilton to start my job as a House Officer at Waikato Hospital. Both my partner and I are looking forward to returning home to be closer to family, who have been significant sources of support and belonging especially while I’ve been away.
Being surrounded by loved ones provides a deep sense of safety, grounding, and connection. This is especially true for me in my journey of reconnecting with my Fijian culture and language. Growing up in New Zealand, I did not have the privilege of learning our language at home so my knowledge was very basic before coming to University.
Over these past years in Dunedin, I have learnt more words and simple phrases while at University and I have become more intentional in learning our language. Even amidst the demands of medical study, I try to find some time to practice and one of the helpful things is that my twin sister is actively learning our culture too. It is nice having someone so close, taking these steps alongside me through this journey.
One of the challenges is that I am not often surrounded by people who speak the language fluently, so opportunities to hear it and use it naturally are limited. However this is where the theme of this year’s Fijian Language Week speaks so strongly to me: “Na noqu vosa me na tekivu mai vale”—my language begins at home”
For me, this theme is both inspiring and grounding. It reminds me that language learning is not only about fluency but more importantly, it is proudly acknowledging your starting point and building from the heart of your home and family. My goal is to continue learning alongside my studies and when we move back to Hamilton, I am committing to making this a real priority. I would like to take formal classes and more importantly, I hope to practice alongside my Dad. He holds much of the language and cultural knowledge that I would love to carry moving forward.
Looking ahead, I aspire to strengthen my knowledge so that I can connect more deeply with Fijian patients I will meet as a doctor. As I have learnt over my clinical years, language has a significant role in building trust to help strengthen the doctor-patient relationship but also is a significant contributor in an individual’s healing. Being able to greet and converse in a patient’s heart language will make a noticeable difference.
My journey is only at the beginning but I hope that by continuing at home with my family and actively using the language in everyday practice, this will help honor the legacy of my parents and strengthen my Fijian roots.