Get Octavius, International PhD student, Back to New Zealand

In the beginning of 2020, I thought I had finally gotten my life together. I got accepted into a PhD program at Victoria University of Wellington. I signed a lease for a beautiful house in Hataitai. I found acceptance and joy from the queer community in Wellington. I connected with Black Creatives Aotearoa and joined a writing group to make sure that I continued to grow my writing talents. And my brother, who lives in California, was set to marry the love of his life. He asked me be in the wedding and I left New Zealand in March 2020 to attend the wedding and I have been stuck in the US since then.

And as you might have heard, Trump and his supporters have been making it unsafe for anyone who opposes their opinions. I have been living in fear and terror that my safety is not guaranteed in the US due to COVID, the fires in Colorado and California, and white supremacists.

I was grateful to find a home to stay in Boulder, CO. I was even offered to become a visiting scholar at University of Colorado-Boulder. A few weeks after I arrived a COVID outbreak at the university meant that it would be too high a risk to continue going to campus. Then the fires came and put the state in smoke and ash. At one point, we prepared evacuation bags in case the fires came closer to the house.

I have applied to be one of the 250 international students allowed back into New Zealand and praying that I can return before next trimester begins. VUW has nominated me to the Ministry of Education and I am waiting to hear back about further instructions to obtain a visa and pay for a flight and quarantine. I am looking for help to cover the travel costs to NZ and continue to be a part of the Wellington community I have grown to love so much.

*If for some reason I am not granted acceptance into NZ through this program, donation will be saved for the next program for international students. I am still a full time student at Victoria University of Wellington with a 3 year visa (expires 2023), so I will eventually return to Wellington.