How are you?

Callum | Ōtautahi

Callum has found himself torn between his home in London and his new home in Aotearoa. However, discovering a diverse community in Christchurch has helped him feel a true sense of belonging.

“We just recently went back to London to visit family and friend a couple months ago and that was a really, really big thing for me, I felt like that ticked off a lot of boxes and allowed my mental health to centre itself and find who I am again.

I am doing better now, but I was struggling for a little while. A big conversation I had while I was back home was how my heart feels torn between two places. I love a big city—the vibes, the cultures, and the diversity you can find in places like London. But Ōtautahi, Christchurch, is green and beautiful, with rivers, hills, and mountains. There’s so much outdoor potential here that I don’t quite have access to when I’m living in London, so it’s almost like I’m torn between the two.

We’ve found some amazing people in Christchurch who have looked out for us consistently over the last seven years. They’ve helped me find my community, helped me connect with other people of colour, and given me a bit of stability in Christchurch. I did find it a bit tricky when I first came here, though. Christchurch is not as diverse as what I’m used to, and I felt like a sore thumb. But finding that community within Christchurch and hearing how they’ve gone through similar situations has been so empowering. I don’t feel like such a sore thumb anymore.

Without that, living in Christchurch would have been very, very difficult.”