“Is this your first time in Australia?” the officer asked. I smiled with joy and delightedly said yes! With an arrival stamp permanently etched on my passport, I stepped out of the gate waiting to see my better half, who was holding a welcome banner in one hand, with red roses clutched in another.
“There is barely any traffic on the roads, and the cars are going really fast,”I pointed out to him as we drive to my new home. He smiled and replied, “This is Sydney, which is less crowded unlike our home city, Ahmedabad!” Prior to flying here, I had read the history of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House and was captivated by the beautiful photographs. But seeing these iconic structures for real was a mesmerising experience.
My first job interview in Sydney CBD was extremely difficult. In spite of my sincere endeavours. I struggled with understanding the strong Aussie accent. Michelle Smith, the kind hearted recruiter understood my predicament and advised me to visit the local shops, spend time on marketing calls and also watch the news to familiarise myself with the unfamiliar enunciations.
In March 2005, within three months of arriving in Australia, I secured my first job. My husband and I were over the moon! Since then, I’ve never looked back!
Soon we made Ashfield our new home. Upon my first visit to an Indian store called ‘Parshwa’, I asked the owner to pack me two kilos of lentils (dhal). He smiled and replied, “In Sydney, you do it yourself.” I soon realised that in Sydney, we had to do most of the things ourselves. Unlike India there was no domestic help. Despite the initial adjustment, my husband and I cherished our kitchen moments—the winding down after dinner and the preparation for the next morning. The newfound freedom and independence motivated us to work harder each day.
In Australia, I embraced multiculturalism through my colleagues, who eagerly shared with me their cultures, food, and stories. Though at times, I felt overwhelmed being away from home, the support from religious communities and new friend groups gave me the companionship I needed.
I never experienced racism or workplace bullying. I learnt the recipe for Fattoush salad, a Middle Eastern delicacy, and enjoyed office lunch parties making rice paper rolls with my Chinese and Asian friends. They even participated in my Gruh Pravesh/Vastu Pooja, donning Indian attire.
During our initial five years in Australia, my husband and I purchased our first villa. With the arrival of our son, I focused on achieving work-life balance while raising him. My mother’s invaluable support during pregnancy left a void when she departed. We embraced the challenge of managing our newborn, home, and work. As our son took his first steps, we also progressed in our careers and achieved new financial goals. Despite the economic challenges and high interest rates, we comfortably managed to save enough to gradually assemble our financial portfolio. 20 years later, I feel content and satisfied. This country and its people have given us everything, allowing our dreams to take flight. To take Udaan.
