International student Curtin Malaysia gained valuable experience in Miri's land

MIRI, 20 Oct: Distance from home is no barrier for international students to feel at home when the community's hospitality and cultural diversity in Miri helps them adapt to new life.

That uniqueness has made the experience of studying at Curtin University Malaysia more meaningful.

For the Indonesian student, Winne Putri Alena, 18, an inclusive campus environment and opportunities to socialize with friends from diverse backgrounds helped her feel accepted even though she had just started studying last July.

"Although I've been in Miri for less than three months, I also had the opportunity to get acquainted with local culture through food like Sarawak laksa", she said.

Adithya Thuruthiyil Raj, 20, who grew up in Brunei, shared the same experience.

"The ability to speak Malay and a little Chinese also helped me interact with the local community, as well as enjoy the cultural diversity in Miri", she said, who was found here today.

For Daniyal Jews, 20, from Pakistan who grew up in Qatar, the friendly atmosphere on campus and the willingness of lecturers helped students become among the things that made their learning experience more positive.

"I look forward to participating in more sports and campus activities, besides graduating from Curtin University", he added.

Meanwhile, Kankolo Junior Nteh, 22, who is from Cameroon, said his experience of staying for more than three years in Miri allowed him to get to know the culture of Sarawak's community more closely, including by visiting long houses in rural areas.

He said that participation in the student representation council also opens up space for building relationships with students from different backgrounds.

"After graduation, I look forward to returning to Miri because of the development of infrastructure and facilities in this city during my studies here", he said.

Geology student from Tanzania, Lewis Byemelwa, 21, described the open and sociable attitude of the local community as an important factor that helped him adapt during his two years at Curtin Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Samantha Mpepu, 23, from Zimbabwe shared her experiences at Miri giving her a new perspective on cultural diversity, particularly the way communities celebrate their heritage and celebrations.

"The reception of celebrations such as Feast Day celebrated with enthusiasm, including through traditional food dishes, shows the pride of the people in this city for their heritage", he added.

The diversity of student backgrounds in Curtin Malaysia also reflects Miri's position as a city that offers space for young people from different countries to learn, share experiences and get to know the uniqueness of Sarawak. - TVS