Student Stories

Oy’s story

From Bangkok to Yr 10 Marlborough Boys College, Blenheim South Island, New Zealand.  

This is how Oy (Nugunn Wattanapat) changed his life in 2006 when he came here as a 14yr old.  Oy comes from a wonderfully supportive family in Thailand, who have experienced overseas study themselves so Oy was well prepared for this change. He enjoyed his new lifestyle and did well in NCEA gaining University Entrance by the time he was 16yrs old.

We met Oy and his family at the beginning of 2008 when he started a Computer Science and Music degree at Canterbury University. We were asked to find him a home stay close to Canterbury University.  The home stay environment was the only option for Oy  because of his age and this has worked well for him.  He has enjoyed the quietness of Christchurch but has also loved the culture of arts and music.  Free tickets to the Symphony Orchestra and other music events!!!  He quickly dropped computer science and focused on a music degree.  In the small close knit School of Music at Canterbury University,  Oy has appreciated the staff who have mentored him throughout his time here.

Oy hopes to go on to do a MA in Musicology in the UK in 2012.

He loves NZ, has gained so much from living in another culture which for a small country is rich in diversity - he has met people from all
over the world on an equal footing and he values what this has brought to his life.

He wants to teach piano, be a writer and researcher more in the academic side of music.  But to teach others is something he would like to do in future.