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One of his reasons for choosing New Zealand was his prior experience living there. In 2016, he participated in scouting activities, namely the New Zealand Jamboree. His decision was also influenced by New Zealand's high quality of life and its openness to the culture of other countries.

At the university of Waikato, Farqi studied visual culture and how to read it in a class aptly named Understanding Visual Culture. Moreover, he also took other courses such as Fundamentals of Successful Marketing, Character and Intercultural Capabilities in Organization, and Promoting Mental and Physical Health.

Living in a foreign country is not an easy task. He had to adapt for more than two weeks because many things felt unfamiliar to him. These aspects range from grocery prices and public transportation to class conduct and the silence at night. However, there was one thing he was grateful for: he was brought together with accepting and helpful dormitory mates, as well as the Indonesian Student Association (PPI) Hamilton that became like a family to him.

This IISMA program gave him the opportunity to interact and connect with people from various countries, including Vietnam, Germany, India, and Sri Lanka. "One life lesson I learned there was how to live respectfully alongside people of different races, religions, genders, sexualities, and other aspects. Don't turn away when faced with differences—instead, confront those differences and learn how to coexist with them," he expressed.

During his time in New Zealand, Farqi gained valuable experiences, life lessons, and motivation to continue his studies abroad. "Since my time there, I feel that I've become a better version of myself, from how I practice tolerance and communicate with others to how I handle problems," he concluded.

Reporter: Devi Berliana Pratiwi (Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Class of 2021)
Indonesian Editor: M. Naufal Hafizh, S.S.
Translator: Ariq Ramadhan Teruna (Chemical Engineering, Class of 2021)