Trifter

Australia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. It is the island continent that has no resemblance to any other continent as it has:

• The world’s longest coral reef that is The Great Barrier Reef in Queensland stretching 1,260 miles long.
• The world’s largest rock that is Uluru or Ayers Rock rising 348 metres in height, 1.5 miles long and 1 mile wide.
• The World’s largest sand Island named Fraser Island that is also in Queensland and is 75 miles long.

Physically Australia is closest to countries of South East Asia, however, culturally, Australia belongs to the Western part of the world due to its colonisation 200 years ago by the Great Empire then Great Britain.

Although Australia is “Down Under” on its own, borders no other mass of land but the Pacific ocean, on its soil live people from all around the world. People like myself and others who had chosen to make Australia their home.

To me Australia is the home that has given peace and security at a time my own home country was in the midst of a civil war. It has given me education that of which my own country could not have given me. It is now giving my children a future and a place to pursue their dreams and potentials. I am forever grateful to this wonderful country.

Although, some may still view people like me and other migrants as strangers or “wogs”, even after 30 years, I feel that I am so much part of this land. The best years of my life were lived and outlived in Australia. My hopes and dreams of a good fertile future were also realised and pursued in Australia with the help of Australia’s fair Education system and the facilities that are accessible to all with no discrimination whatsoever.

I mostly feel Australian when I am far away from Australia. I realise then how much I have acquired from the Australian way of life. The way I like openness and despise formalities is all a result of my long living in Australia. In a working place almost everybody is on first name terms whether a person is in a managerial position or at the bottom of the ladder.  At universities, students and lecturers are also on first name terms although the lecture may be a professor in his/her field, and yet they’re always very friendly and willing to help.  Listening to people coming from other parts of the world this kind humbleness and friendliness is almost non existent.

I believe this has emanated from Australia’s humble beginnings, far away from the motherland Great Britain, which meant far away from royalty, protocols, etiquette’s and the ascending and descending social classes.

Early Australians were all equal and of the same social class except for the governors and their families who were a minority. This trend seems to have continued along the decades and from generation to another until this modern day Australia.

As a result, the simple way of life is what is mostly desired in Australia that of which in turn have made Australia a unique and a special country to live in. No wonder that anyone who visits Australia would like to return or remain to make it home including myself.