Pasifika Peeps in Welly Halls

Words by Rebecca Soloi (she/her) 

For this issue, I talked to some of my Pasifika peeps who resided in halls last year about the good, the bad, and all the terrible catering in between. Below are some of their comments on their experiences living in the halls. 

Victoria House

“I stayed in Vic House last year. At first, I was excited because I got to meet new people and explore new things. Unfortunately, there was very little to explore in my hall, and even if there were activities held, we would have been the last to hear of it because of the lack of communication. I feel as if I couldn’t express myself as a Pasifika student. I was happy to have my own space, even though it was small, and most of the time, the food was just not it.”

Weir

“I was at Weir House in Trimester 2 last year. The RAs were very friendly and welcoming, the residents not so much. I would like to think it was because I had moved in halfway through the year and everyone had their thing going on, not because I was one of the few Pasifika who resided there. One other difficulty I faced during my stay there was the Food4ME app. It was used by the residents to reserve food or to view the menu. The menu was outdated and food always ran out, even though the app said there was still some left. The food was great though ngl.”

Te Puni Village

“We stayed in Te Puni Village, and it was great most of the time. The rooms provided enough space. The people were friendly, the staff were very helpful, and it was a close walk to school. The only downfall was the food. It was unseasoned most of the time and barely edible. Who doesn’t know the way to our Pasifika hearts is mostly through our stomachs?”

Katharine Jermyn

“I stayed in KJ Hall last year and it was nice. I had my own space, and the food was great. Everyone was friendly. Only problem I had was it was a tad bit expensive. But all in all, it was nice, despite the price lol.”

Not everyone has the same experience when it comes to staying at a hall. At the same time, we are pretty much in halls for one reason: because we came for school. With the cost of living rising, we as Pasifika students find it a tad bit hard to adjust, especially when some of us are far from home and cannot really rely on anyone else for financial help. Hopefully, these recounts of Pasifika students’ experiences in halls help others get an idea of what to expect.

RS over and out
CHEEEEEHOOOOO