Hamel excited by 2 years of writing
Timaru raised, Pōneke/Wellingtonbased slam poet champ Jordan Hamel will be winging his way to one of the United States’ top universities after being awarded a Fulbright NZ General Graduate award.
Hamel, the 2018 New Zealand Poetry Slam champion, represented New Zealand at the World Poetry Slam Champs in 2019, and was the Michael King Writer-in-Residence in 2021.
After leaving Timaru to attend the University of Otago, where he gained bachelor of arts and law degrees, Hamel moved to Wellington, where he has worked as a lawyer and a policy adviser while continuing to publish and perform widely.
He said he was thrilled to be heading to the University of Michigan, where he will complete a two-year Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing.
‘‘It’s one of the best writing schools in America, so I was very stoked to get in there.’’
He will leave for Ann Arbor in August, and was not concerned he would be overwhelmed after his small town upbringing.
‘‘I’m moving to a college town, which I think is a good size – I’m not ready to take on New York City or something like that.’’
He said the Fulbright process was intense.
‘‘It was a pretty hectic application, then I had to go have an interview with a very intimidating panel of board members and do a presentation, answer all these questions, and then nervously wait by the phone for a couple of weeks.’’
Hamel, who recently penned a ‘‘A love letter to Timaru Airport’’, embraces his hometown.
‘‘It’s always a complicated relationship, but I have massive affection for Timaru – my family’s there, my friends are there, all my history’s there – I would never disown Timaru.
The Roncalli College alumnus said his secondary education was ‘‘awesome’’.
‘‘I had some amazing English and drama teachers who were super supportive.’’
He visits South Canterbury about four or five times a year, though not as much as he’d like, and would be making a couple of visits before heading off to the United States.
‘‘I really love it every time I come back. Covid makes it easier to work remotely, and lets me spend more time with the family.
‘‘I miss Timaru, and I’ll definitely miss Timaru while I’m away.’’
He said he’d love to make writing his full time career, but, ‘‘there’s no money in it, not really’’.
‘‘I think that’s what I’m most excited about – is not having a job for two years, just getting to write and study is going to be amazing.