Challenging transition to a new life

REWARDING WORK: Jinesh Joseph has high hopes for a better future after moving from India and studying for his nursing degree at EIT Tairawhiti. Picture supplied

IN search of a better standard of living, EIT Tairawhiti student Jinesh Joseph moved from his home in Southern India to Gisborne three years ago.

He has also changed his career path.

After arriving with a degree in social work, he has now completed the first year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree.

“My wife, also a nurse, arrived in the country first and four months later I arrived with our daughter.”

The couple, both from low-income families, dreamed of getting jobs in a foreign country to achieve a better standard of living and to be able to send money home.

The challenging transition to a new life in a new country has been made easier because of support from staff at EIT and the Indian community here, says Mr Joseph.

“There is a large community of people from South India here.

“It is nice to be able to speak my mother tongue and we have functions together.”

There are around 25 families in this large community, with each having at least one nurse.

“When we gather, we can all share. The community has been very supportive.”

Back in 2008, Mr Joseph finished his social work degree and started working as the co-ordinator for a government programme to help people infected with HIV.

“When I moved here, I decided I needed to find something where I was dealing with people more.

“In India, I saw how the nurses interacted with people and were rewarded with smiles from the patients.”

His wife, who works as a nurse at Kiri Te Kanawa Retirement Village, was inspiring, and helped Mr Joseph decide what to do.

“But we had to have an income, so work was a priority to start with.

“I spent two years working for a fibreglass company then I decided I had enough money to start studying and I have just completed one year.”

By this time, his wife had given birth to their son, who was born in Gisborne in 2018.

Mr Joseph is studying and working part time at Domino's and has recently started working at Beetham Retirement Village as a healthcare assistant.

When he started the course at EIT, he found it a little difficult.

“The academic life here compared with home was unfamiliar.

“But with the support of lecturers and friends, I have been able to gain confidence.

“The course is very interesting and by the second semester I felt very confident.”

While fluent in English, at the start there was still a language barrier as pronunciation is different for some words.

“Everything feels really easy now,” Mr Joseph says.

To help his transition to a new country and culture, Mr Joseph spent time volunteering at Tairawhiti Community Arts Trust and the Habitat for Humanity ReStore.

Mr Joseph is looking forward to working in different areas of nursing and health in his practicums over the next two years before deciding where to work.

“My social work background may be helpful when I'm working in mental health . . . but I also like working with older people.

“One friend suggested the intensive care ward might be for me.

“I will experience different areas and choose something where there are daily challenges.”

Being a male in a female-dominated industry does not deter Jinesh.

“Back home in India it is not a man's position to be giving care, but I enjoy dealing directly with people.

“Being a male nurse has lots of challenges . . . I will overcome them by just doing it.”

For more information about the Bachelor of Nursing programme, head to the EIT Tairawhiti website or call into the main office in Palmerston Road.