SCOTLAND: Zimbabwean student’s first trip abroad takes him to the Glenkens

By The Daily Record

A post-graduate student from Zimbabwe is enjoying his first time outside the country – among the people of the Glenkens.

Natsani Brandon Dube will start a masters degree in statistical ecology at the University of St Andrews on Monday.

He arrived in Scotland on August 9 and since then has spent much of his time with Roland Chaplain and June Hay at their home in Balmaclellan.

Highlights included his first ever sight of the sea – and the warm welcome from everyone he has met.

“And understanding the Scottish accent is really easy.

“This is my first time outside Zimbabwe and I had never seen the sea before.

“I went to Mossyard and thought how growing up at home we were told to always stay away from the river because it was very dangerous.

“Yet here there were people playing and laughing in the water.

“Also in Zimbabwe you can bump into elephants and lions but in Scotland you can move freely.

“I really enjoyed visiting the sea and seeing all the bird life there.”

In his remaining time in Galloway Natsani was keen to visit local enterprises or organisations to inform his studies.

He said: “I wanted to participate in any local environmental or nature projects in order to get some knowledge which I could use at some point. My main interest is the environment and wildlife with a speciality in conflict between wildlife and humans.

“I also study climate change and how people are being affected by this.

“Many people really don’t realise how climate change is impacting Mother Earth.

“Those most affected by climate change in Zimbabwe are in rural areas.

“Rainfall patterns have changed and is more scarce so for anybody with livestock or crops it is becoming more difficult to put food on the table.”

Roland said: “People here have been hugely helpful in terms of letting Natsani stay or cash in kind over the period.”

Natsani has also spent time with Morag Paterson and Ted Leeming on their 11-acre croft near Dalry.