Krisma
From the Philippines to Bairnsdale
As cliché as it sounds, living in Australia appears to be part of my destiny. Imagine having three people from different parts of the world – at various stages of my life – encourage me to try my luck in Australia.
When I was living in California in 2010, my friend Shirley kept telling me about a Filipino teacher, who works in Australia. She said with my qualifications and experience, I should consider applying there too.
I worked in Kuwait in 2011 and met Uzma who was originally from Pakistan. Her family was working on migrating to Australia. She said I should have a crack at it too.
Then in 2012, Rowena, my college friend based in the United Arab Emirates told me she was applying to Australia and encouraged me to do the same. She sent me an electronic copy of a booklet that outlined the skilled migration process to Australia. I printed it and thought of reading it when I got the chance.
That booklet did not see the light of day for a long time. Then one day, I was spring-cleaning and came across it – about a year after I received it. I thought I could either throw it out or give it a read. I decided to have a quick look, and the rest is history.
My family and I have been in Bairnsdale, in East Gippsland, for a few years now. I have been working at the East Gippsland Specialist School since 2016 as a classroom teacher.
Adjusting to life in Australia has been an interesting journey. I have learned not to be too hard on myself and to enjoy life and relationships more. I think it’s worth mentioning that my colleagues welcomed me by giving me my first ‘pub’ experience. I had never been to a pub before in my 34 years of life. Mind you, I now go to the pub most Fridays with my mates.
Life in the Philippines was all about sacrifice. My parents worked hard to ensure my brothers and I graduated with a university degree. I finished my undergrad in primary education and immediately started working. I continued to work full-time as I completed my bachelor’s in secondary education at night, attending classes while undertaking my practicum. After graduating with my second undergrad, I attended classes on weekends to finish my post-graduate degree and then my Master’s in special education, specialising in communication disorders.
When I got to Australia, I had my first opportunity to work part-time. I have worked in different countries and working full-time was the only option. When I learned I could work part-time, I was so relieved to finally have some headspace and time for my kids.
What I like most about living here is being near the water. We have the Riverine walking trail where we can see a relaxing view of Mitchell River. Then there’s Metung, Lakes Entrance, and Paynesville, which all have their charms and are easy to access. Growing up, I was not allowed to ride bikes or learn how to swim. I have now made it my mission to ensure my kids stay safe around water and lead active lives.
My family and I are very happy here. We know there is more to discover, and we are looking forward to that too. I want our kids to grow up in Australia and to live here for the rest of their lives. Maybe we can visit our native country every now and then, but ultimately, Australia is now our home.
