Musings

Welcome to Straya, mate!

 

While talking to a close friend of mine back home in India, the conversation steered towards how it’s been a while since I made the big move to Australia. Four years, to be precise. Sometimes, I tend to forget it’s been that long because as is the age-old habit with time, it tends to whiz past and before you know it, you’re already in 2018, and the country that was alien to you just a few years back is now your sort-of -home.
At times, it takes looking back to realize how far we’ve come and so, as I hit the 4-year milestone, I decided to pen down some important things that I learnt over my time here.

Appreciate them small conveniences

It is funny and innately human but only when we leave our homes, do we quickly develop this new-found love and appreciation for it. While I was living back in India, there were several things that would bother me about the country; the traffic and its associated road rage, corruption, safety issues…you get the drift. It is one of those things that I’ve come to realise is such a universal trait in people because, irrespective of where you’re living in the world, whether it’s a first, second or third world country, the people living in it will always have their own concerns and difficulties – the difference is in the levels, I guess. So, while I was busy grumbling about the traffic at home, I completely took for granted some of the conveniences that I casually enjoyed there. I cannot thank enough all the bhaiyas and didis back home who helped me cope with life, right from helping me clean my room (“didi, pair sofa pe rakho, jhaadu maarna hai”) to cooking my meals (“aaj bhindi banaya, kal chicken banayega”). Nothing will teach you how to appreciate them more than moving to a new country where you quickly need to figure out life skills – the kinds that you conveniently delegated earlier. I’m sorry, but before this, I was not accustomed to cutting an entire chicken or assembling a cabinet from scratch so you can imagine my befuddlement at trying these tasks.
I have lived on my own in India and at that point in time, I thought I was winning at independence. Moving here, though, has taught me just how much I took for granted the help that was conveniently available everywhere.

Dignity of labour is your new catch phrase

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I remember having conversations around this topic with friends; about how nice it was that in Western countries, your job did not determine how you were treated and how, it would be nice to have this in developing countries as well. The idea seemed noble enough but I’m not sure how strong my empathy was because how can you truly empathise with a situation unless you’ve actually experienced it?
Cut to my initial student days in Australia wherein I thought I would manage my expenses by trying my hand out at waitressing. It would be fun, and really, how hard could it be?
Well, turns out, very.
I quickly learnt after three whole days of stumbling around in a restaurant, trying to balance plates, that I was a terrible waitress and did not have even an ounce of the skill you require for it. Luckily, I found something more compatible eventually but I learnt my lesson quick enough. Any job, even the ones we disregard because we never had to do them, requires a skill set, which- surprise! -not everyone possesses. People working in sectors such as hospitality deserve respect not because it’s the ‘polite’ thing to do but because it is hard work and they are entitled to it.
The empathy that I was talking about? It kicked in quickly and it kicked in strong, maybe because I was no longer seeing the situation from atop my high chair but at the ground level. So, even now, whenever I go to a restaurant, I am reminded of my shameful waitressing skills and out of pure respect, I try being a little extra nice to the staff there. Being polite does not cost me anything and it is the least I can do for the service they are providing.

Friends are family too

When making the decision to move here to study, while I meticulously calculated the financial costs involved, I think I underestimated or didn’t fully comprehend the emotional cost I would incur, that of leaving behind friends, family and my comfort zone. My initial few months here were lonely and tough as is the case for many new students but it is only when you experience that sort of emotion, do you then appreciate the friends that you do make. Over the last few years, I have made acquaintances, fun-friends and good friends – but I have also made the kind of friends that are like family. With them, I have laughed, cried, shared stories and made mistakes; and through it all, they have put up with me the way only family can. Irrespective of how often we keep in touch today, they have all helped me in their own ways, to become a stronger and more confident version of myself and for that, I am forever grateful.

Catch the travel bug

Before arriving in Australia, I remember browsing through pictures of the beautiful landscape and making mental notes of all the places I had to visit, all the cuisines I had to eat and all the activities I had to try out. When I finally got here, I did tick a few things off that checklist. During my first summer break, I went visiting family and friends and had the customary pictures taken in front of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. I tried body boarding for the first time, had my first Australian camping experience, stuffed myself with food and wine over Christmas and in general, travelled around and made merry, just as I had wanted to.
After that first summer though, my interest to explore, to travel gradually died down. I guess life got in the way and I decided that further travelling could wait. It became this luxury that I couldn’t afford because I had to utilise my time, effort and finances someplace else. There was always something else to focus on, something new to worry about. I decided that when everything got ‘sorted’, I would take time out and travel. After all, those places weren’t going anywhere. I couldn’t travel when I had all these worries.

I slowly learnt the hard way though that time is not the sorcerer’s stone that we sometimes think it to be and life never does get sorted to the point where you are completely stress-free. It is then up to us to consciously make time in between our daily routines (and all the stress) to do the things that we most love.
Over the last few months, I have rediscovered my love for travel and I honestly cannot recommend it enough. Everyone’s travelling experience is different but I think we could all agree on this – it does have the ability to change your perspective.

So, if I may, this is my advice: go for those long drives, even if it is just to the look-out point a few metres away from your place. Travel to places other than the cliché ones so you have your own stories to tell. Go for the bush walks or hikes or treks, if that’s your thing. Travel solo or with your partner or with friends and most definitely within your means but, do travel.
On a personal note, it has helped me create a reservoir of happy memories that have helped me get through some tough days.

 

So, there you have it folks. Four years of my life here in a nutshell.
“Four years dude! Can you believe it?” my friend exclaimed over our skype chat and the truth is, at times, I really can’t, because it still feels like yesterday that I stepped into the flight, absolutely terrified, to make the 20-hour trip to Australia…20 hours and I was transported away from everything known and familiar and into a new world but, hey, looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing.

7 Comments

  • Peter Emmanuel

    Nehaa! 🙂 This is so brilliant and so ‘from the heart’! 🙂 Looking forward to more of your writing!

  • Veer Vikram Varma

    Wow Neha… Didn’t know you had a writer in you. Here’s to many more to come… Cheers!

  • Anonymous

    Wow Neha… this is so well written. I still remember when you were giving exams to move to Australia and already four years!!!Such a long way you have come. That is awesome!!!

  • Ritvik

    Amazing price of writing Neha. I just loved it 🙂
    There are so many things here I can relate to and I’m sure I would have never realised them, unless I read such emphatical writing.

  • Niviya Vas

    This makes for such good reading, Nehu!
    Not only am I proud of your having spent four years in a different continent, but I’m swelling with pride at the fact that you are FINALLY PUBLISHING! This is definitely a ‘Yay’ moment!

  • Anonymous

    Its a perfect description of an international students life in Australia . After all it took us weeks to say ,” Its Straya, mate!

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