First 5 months in Perth...
As I opened my eyes, the only thing that I can see is the white ceiling above me. I quickly take a glance around my surrounding trying to reason out the unfamiliarity and sudden insecurity that I’m feeling only to realize that this wasn’t a dream but a reality. In reality, my current “home” is in this double room (Room 4b) of this flat (Flat 28), the Student Village that accommodate students of Murdoch University which is located in Perth. In reality, my little private place is at this corner of the double room I am sharing. In reality, my little heart has succumbed to expectations expected of me and I’m starting to close up within me. In reality, I’m not anywhere close to home.
Feeling cold, I wrapped myself with the comforter enjoying the warmth and wishing for my sunshine to shine ever so brightly today. I have had enough of winter. The cold weather is unbearable anymore. It makes me feel so lonely and empty. I feel so bitter, I am homesick. Yes, I do admit that I’m a pampered child back home with everything being provided. The transition will not going to be any easier for me. I want to just curl up and cry my heart out. I’m starting to wonder whether the decision to transfer to Perth is the right choice. Why on earth did I ever think that studying abroad will be super cool? Now that I’m here, it is not anywhere near cool. It is just plain scary and I want to go home so badly. I am terribly missing my family. The night when they finally said their last goodbyes and left me in the student village to catch their flight back home was the toughest night. I’ve come to realize that I’m really on my own now. I’m a big girl now. I must be independent. It is not a choice to be independent or not anymore. Then, I begin to start recalling the night my friends came to see me off at the airport. Hot tears started to fill my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. I can still feel each of their embraces which are filled with genuine love and well wishes pouring out for me. It will never be the same in Perth. It is impossible to find these people in Perth. They are all unique in their individual ways and I’m so blessed to have them.
I’ve woken up with the thought of going home every single morning for the first two months here. Every night before I sleep, I would pray that God would send me home and that I admit that I’ve made a huge mistake for coming here. I dreamt of my family and friends and it is a beautiful and happy-filled dream but as soon as I thought that was reality, I jerked and yet again, to have realized that I’m still very much here. It is usually the culture for study abroad children to not complain of being homesick whenever their parents called. It will be a disgrace some sort towards their parents for pampering their children when they were still in the nest. It is also common that study abroad children will try not to inform their parents if they are not doing well here and ensure their parents that they are doing well instead. I’m not in any way that kind of daughter to my parents. I am not like Wilson to put all those troubles he is going through here in Perth under the bed and not make his parents worry for him. I do understand that it is the supposedly act of a good child. As a pampered and dependent child, my parents would be amazed if I would ever go through all my troubles without even a single complaint from me. My parents brought up have always been no privacy and they should know everything. When I was young, I will never understand and demand for my PRIVACY without realizing that the reason behind this is to remind me that in whatever situations that I would face, whether it is highs or lows, I will never walk alone. Other than God, my family will always walk this road with me.
I still didn’t really realize the reasoning behind my parents’ parenting methods before I came here to Perth. Student life abroad takes you away from your comfort zones. I’m very sure Perth has made me develop “what-the-heck” symptoms. Ever since I’m in Perth, I always wonder what in the world am I doing here. I remembered Dee (my ex roomie) put up a reminder on our little notice-board in our room reminding both of us the main reason why we’re stuck in Perth. Answer: To Study. I’ve always wondered whether am I doing the right course, whether Business studies is actually my kind of thing, the thing that I really wanna do or just to please my parents? Being the eldest in the family, I am not showing any good example to my siblings. I’ve been denying the utmost truth that I’m the worst sister anyone could ever find. Attitude wise, I’m a true definition of the word ‘ugly’. Academically wise, my siblings do better than me, yet, I’m here using up their education funds to make it to Perth. So, what the heck am I doing here? Since everyone around me are feeding me with all the advantages of studying abroad, my only conclusion is that going to Perth will make me a better person. Yes, that should be it.
So, I packed my bags and I pulled myself together, have a pre-departure resolution aiming to put all my bitterness, sorrows, everything unhappy about my old life behind me and start anew in Perth. I have to admit, that’s the fun part of starting anew in a new place where nobody knows you. Of course the first few weeks, I’m always very fearful of not being able to get a group of friends any closer to the ones I have at home. So, what I did was to participate in all first year orientation gatherings and within a week or so, I’ve obtained a handful of really good friends. Although, most of them are first year students but we have the same first year experience here in Perth. Our friendship developed tremendously in those 5 months together and I’m proud to say that they are my “ohana”. Ohana means family. If I did not come to Perth, I would never have experience such friendship. Dan used to say how funny it is for us to come all the way to Perth so that we could meet up when we are just staying in neighbouring countries.
Student Village life is very interesting indeed. I got to meet lots of awesome people from all around the world like US, Germany, Zimbabwe, Korea, Singapore and etc. These people are very friendly and fun to hang out with. All of them are mostly very open to Asians and know how to really have fun. I’ve had Americans playing football over the flats when I was walking to uni. I’ve went clubbing with Germans and Koreans and I promise they really know how to dance sexy and drink crazy. Although living in a flat with so many other people is a disadvantage like cleaning which I hate it so much because I have to clean up other people’s mess which I clearly never contributed to any of it every two freaking weeks so that I will not get fined when it is being inspected. It is worse when I have to do it on a Sunday night after church and usually after a party which I never participated. Kitchen duty sucks!! Like, I have to clean the whole bloody kitchen including the appliances such as toaster, oven and even defrost that refrigerator that looks like north pole in there!!
Many would say I should be very independent by now. You can laugh out loud now because I’m still as dependent as I can ever be. I’m blessed with really good village friends that will never see me pursue my hunger strike. My favourite hang out place will be the all time Flat 37. I’m almost a Flat 37-rian. I go there almost everyday and if that one week I’m busy and didn’t get to make my grand appearance there, the original Flat 37 residents will be questioning my sudden disappearance. Flat 37 is the one place I could run to for all sorts of shelter like blackout at Flat 28 (my ex flat), full house at Flat 28, Room 4B or even shortage of food supply at Flat 28’s kitchen. The residents of Flat 37 would be Dan (the ever so loving Big Sister of Flat 37 gang), Keanan (the Choo-Choo Train), Kristy (the true definition of gentle and kind lady), Wilson (the King of Blurness) and Yuwin (The Mighty Lord Avocado). We have indeed gone through thick and thin together in these 5 months. Throughout my entire stay in the village, these good friends have been supporting me in every way when I’m on my lowest point and have been rejoicing with me when I’m at my highest point. I would never trade them for anything for I’ve realized that at when you’re in need, only your true friends will be forever there to lend a hand in whatever way they possibly could help. They are my angels and I wish to be their angel too.
The weather in Perth is so amazing. The sky is ever so blue and at night, the stars filled the dark sky and they sparkled at you as if they are smiling at you. I used to walk with Flat 37 gang to our favourite hiding spot, the “rabbit field” which till now I don’t recall seeing any rabbits hopping around that field. We would sit or lie down in the field looking at the shining moon and sparkling stars above us. Sometimes, after studying in the library till wee hours, we would come to this field and wait for sunrise at 530am. It is so beautiful during sunrise with mist all around us as if we are in the clouds. When I’m lonely, stress out and feel empty, I would walk out to the balcony and look at the moon and stars for comfort. God is just so awesome to have created such beautiful universe. We also have our night walk to Caltex opposite Murdoch University often when hunger strikes. Caltex is like the only petrol kiosk with a small shop where we can shop after working hours. I promise the Caltex worker can recognize and label us as the Asian Caltex fanatics.
Potlucks are favourite past times of village residents. It’s more of an impromptu kind of thing. No extra planning needed. Cooking skill is something I developed a little. Yes, a little. Like, now I finally know the difference between shallots, onion and ginger. I have not learned how to use the knife properly but I am now so much in relief that I can actually cook something edible. The kitchen now is my laboratory to experiment all kinds of ingredients that can be transformed into an edible decent dish that deserves a well done compliment. Although I only cook when my groceries are going to expire the next day and thus I cook in bulk, I am still very proud of myself. Talking about potlucks, we will never forget to include these two guys who are ever so hilarious and entertaining, which are Yeap and Yeow (the YES brothers from Penang KDU College). They are not only entertaining but helpful, friendly and are good cooks too. They can cook really good curry chicken, Chinese dishes and the unforgettable claypot chicken rice. Yeow is an amazing Chinese doctor I always seek in Perth. Like, he knows what sickness you have by sensing your hearbeat. He is good at traditional massaging, like he knows which muscle, which bones that is related to all your health issues. Yeap has big expression and it even more entertaining when we played the 007 Bang game. Along with other friends like Sean Brian McMahon (the youngest among us that never fails to entertain me), Mindy (landlady of Yuwin, Wilson and David), Victor (the feminine good looking dude), David (the anti Swedish but IKEA fan), Mun Yoke and April (accounting twins), we would have potlucks and birthday parties filled with great fellowship and drinking games. Yes, we’ve definitely played some truth or dare games with confessions, moment of truths spilling all over and of course everyone got dared to kiss someone a couple of times. Speaking of Drinking games, I’ve finally realized that I’m not too bad in holding my liquor. At my own flat, Flat 28, I’ve had drinking competition with my flatmates which are Australians and Americans and I’m proud to say at the end of the night, I’m still very much sober. Oh yes, I’ve also have a collection of alcohol bottles on top of my cupboards in my kitchen. The bottleshop near our uni, which is called Thirsty Camel is a drive through shop and it is cheap. A pack of goon (cheap wine) is only like AUD 12 for like 1-2 litres.
Study wise, it’s pretty challenging in Perth because you do not know the lecturer well and their expectation of you. They DO NOT SPOONFEED. YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. Lectures are shorter than tutorials which are a total opposite system of KDU. I managed to get decent group mates and decent results. I’ve learned to write a proper assignment, do proper research and think, think and think!! My brain still hurts when I recall of those painful moments cracking my brain for those bloody marketing reports that my lecturer is never satisfied with. Lecturers in this country have more power even though we students pay their salaries. Lecturers can walk out of class as when they wanted. I was truly amazed. Furthermore, everything is done online to SAVE THE TREES. Save the ENVIRONMENT. From enrolment to submitting assignments are all done online. Students in uni can dress as whatever they want to such as Gothic, horny, half naked or even powepuff girl style. Yes, I saw Blossom. The university is huge and every Tuesday, I have to walk down two hills to get to my lecture hall which is located at the Veterinary School. I’m always questioning why I should go through this trouble to get to a vet school when I’m a business student. Well, that’s why bicycles are the main transportation method of students here. Save the earth, Save Mother Nature. By the way, at the Vet school, I saw horses with raincoats. It seems that Australia treasures their heritage animals so much, they even put raincoats on their horses, I think I saw Black Beauty with raincoat. Frankly, there are fewer cars on the road compared to Malaysia because the public transportation in Perth is so much more efficient than Malaysia. The buses do stop at bus stops in Perth. In contributing to the effort of saving the environment, when you go buy groceries, you are encouraged to bring your own grocery bag. By the way, when paying for your groceries, you do not need to bring cash because you can pay through eftpos (debit card). There’s this terminal where you slot in you card and then type in your pin number and tadaa!!
These 5 months in Perth have been filled with rainbows and portholes as well. I’m not good with directions, I admit. Whenever I’m lost and fall down, I always have good friends like Dan and Yuwin to look for me and bring me up to my feet again. When I’m hungry and weak, they will be there with extra food for me to give me strength. When I’m doing things wrong, they will correct me even though it hurts. I thank God so much to have blessed me with such great friends. I really hope to meet more people like them in the future wherever I’m going to end up in.
xoxo
If i stay in Perth, I can have a reason to buy my all time favourite Maltese breed pup. Perth is one of the perfect place to breed a dog. The air is clean and the community here just loves dogs. I have seen so many pure breed expensive dogs in 9 out of 10 houses and these dogs are all happy dogs!! The RSPCA here are all out to protect dogs, thus i never seen any stray dogs in Perth streets. Bravo!!
