A Thousand Miles to Herself

The sky was a heavy gray, the kind that hints at rain but holds back just enough to keep the day dry. It was 3 PM on a damp afternoon during the rainy season when we met Veville outside the Faculty of Psychology. The subdued atmosphere stood in stark contrast to her easy smile and energetic steps.

Sitting down at the Campus 2 public space, she leaned forward eagerly, ready to tell the story of how she came to find herself thousands of miles from home, in the heart of Java.

Veville never imagined her path would lead her to Indonesia. It wasn’t a choice she made herself but one her parents nudged her toward. “I didn’t even want to come at first,” she said. 

The day she left home is a memory Vee still finds almost comical. “I cried all the way,” she laughed as she recalled her memories. Her cousin, who happened to be a flight attendant on the plane, tried to cheer her up. Even her uncle got in on the effort in reassuring her that everything would be fine. 

“It’s funny how dramatic I was about it,” she chuckled.

She had applied to three countries: Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. However, fate, or rather paperwork, decided her destination. When Indonesia’s visa came through first, her parents didn’t waste time, they booked her ticket, and she was off before she could fully process the decision. Within 4 days, she was on a plane.

However, her parents had a clear reason for choosing Indonesia. They believed it was a place where she could learn and grow. “They said, ‘You love watching Asian movies, so why not live in an Asian country?’”. But more than that, they felt Indonesia would offer fewer distractions than Australia or New Zealand, where she had family. They wanted her to experience something completely different. “

She acknowledges the challenge was exactly what she needed. New Zealand would only let her dive straight to work, not studies. Australia would have let her continue playing sports like netball and rugby. But Indonesia forced her to grow in ways she hadn’t expected.

“I mean, it wasn’t even my first choice. But looking back, I get it now. My parents really knew what they were doing.”

At just 22 years old, Veville Volatabu Nabalarua, or simply Vee, embodies courage and ambition. Growing up in Lautoka, Fiji, a city nicknamed the Sugar City for its thriving sugarcane industry, Vee grew up surrounded by sunshine, community, and warmth that shaped her outlook on life

Vee’s family has a long tradition of seeking education and opportunities abroad, a legacy that inspired her to do the same. “My family has a tradition of going abroad for education or work, then returning to Fiji to build businesses or help others,” she shared. Vee’s decision to study at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) was largely influenced by her uncle, who heard about the university from another Fijian student. 

Her parents, a homemaker mother and a senior rates clerk father, have always encouraged their children to pursue opportunities abroad. 

She recalled sending her application just minutes before the deadline. “I submitted my application just 30 minutes before the deadline! Can you imagine that?” 

Vee chose to major in Management, a decision driven by her high school background in accounting, economics, and computer science, and her father’s advice. “My dad suggested that IT would require continuous study, while management would be more practical for starting a business,” she said. 

Academically, Vee has found her stride. Among her favorite subjects is Management Accounting, which she likens to solving puzzles. “It feels like a game to me,” she said. Another standout is business negotiation and communication, where she’s learned valuable skills that are already proving useful in her entrepreneurial endeavors.

Her lecturers have played a significant role in her study. Vee singles out Farid Adi Prasetya, S.Hum., M.M and Soepatini, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D. as her most favorite lecturers. Farid stands out with his humor, which makes lessons stick even during exams, while Soepatini has been a source of guidance and understanding for Vee, like “a mother figure,” shared the 5th semester student.

Adjusting to life in Solo was a whole new challenge for Veville, but it also became a turning point in her story. Moving meant living independently for the first time, with her only family connection being an uncle miles away in Jakarta. 

“I really thought Indonesia would be an English-speaking country,” she said with a smile on her face. “Oh, this will be easy, I’ll make friends in no time. Then I got here and was like, wait, what?" she added.

Her interactions with locals have been equally memorable. “I enjoy chatting with everyone, some shopkeepers even remember my usual order.” 

One experience stands out as both funny and embarrassing. Shortly after arriving, Vee was speaking to her mother on the phone in Fijian, repeating the word matamu several times. “In Fijian, it means in front of you and your eyes, but in Javanese, it’s a swear word!” she conveyed, her laughter blending with the bustling sounds around us.

Apart from her personal connections, Vee has been active in broader communities. She’s participated in summer camps, international conferences, and even served as a keynote speaker at schools across Central and East Java. Her talks often focus on leadership and building confidence in English.

“The students usually know how to speak English but lack confidence, so I spend time helping them improve,” she said. She also keeps sessions engaging with quizzes and fun activities.

Climate change is another issue close to her heart, particularly given its devastating effects on her native Fiji. “Rising sea levels are devastating for small island nations like mine. Many islands are literally sinking, and their residents have to migrate. Advocacy is crucial to raising awareness about how larger nations’ actions impact smaller ones.”

Vee always dreamed of being her own boss, though as a child, her goals briefly shifted to medicine because she wanted to help people. It wasn’t until the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic that she realized she needed a path offering both flexibility and control.

“That’s when I returned to my original dream of being my own boss,” she explained, a decision that marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial ambition.

Adjusting to the cultural and business environment in Indonesia was one of Vee’s biggest challenges. “It’s very different from Fiji,” shared the 22 year old student. From formalities and hierarchy to language barriers, adapting wasn’t easy. Seeking guidance from professors, building relationships with mentors, and immersing herself in local culture helped her navigate these hurdles and build trust.

Vee’s curiosity knows no bounds. Vee has visited companies in Jakarta, Malang, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, and Semarang. “Honestly, most of those trips started as vacations, but I’d always squeeze in a meeting with some business professionals or entrepreneurs,” she shared. For her, these trips were a chance to “kill two birds with one stone.” 

Her upcoming trip to Bali is another move in this direction, she hopes to connect with companies in the pastry and dairy industries. As part of her strategy, she works with a middleman, a fellow Fijian living in Bali, who helps open doors and introduce her to local entrepreneurs. “Some companies are less open because of confidentiality, but others are willing to share and help,” she said.

However, among all her travels, Jakarta stands out as the most memorable. “I was able to build relationships with diplomats and successful business professionals, both locally and internationally,” she added. Attending formal events gave her a glimpse into the lives of influential people and the strategies they employ to achieve success. 

Still, Vee is excited to see how her journey in Indonesia will play out. Whether it’s her academic or her growing entrepreneurial pursuit, she knows this chapter is just the beginning. 

When asked about her advice for new international students, Vee replied “try everything and explore, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Balancing studies with fun will make your journey so much more rewarding.”