(Part 2 of 4 – Pam and Harry)
PAM
On the first day I came here, it was just like heaven. We got welcomed, and went to the Wacol Hotel, where we lived for one and a half years. Our family went from having no food every day to having food every day. Heaven. If we were sick, we got doctors. Heaven.
I got a job at Golden Circle the first day I arrived because they asked me if I wanted to work, and I said, ‘yes’. At night, I studied English. I went to night school until I finished my high school, and then I went to university and did Biochemistry. You couldn’t believe how I studied. You know what a Microbiology book is like? Every single word I had to translate. I didn’t even know some of the words in my own language, because I had left school so early.
My husband and I went to the same night school, and were just friends for a few years. Then I had to get married so my mum would be happy, and she chose him! Unfortunately, I had my first baby when I only had one more semester to go, so I had to stop my studies. But when my second daughter came, I went back, to study Child Care management. Then I worked in child care for a while, because I wanted to work and look after my children at the same time.
I built up my life here because I wanted my children to have a better life. I wanted to prove to them that if I could do it, that meant they could do it too. Now, my daughter is a lawyer, another is a paramedic, and my son is a pharmacist. I tell them they are very fortunate to be born here, that everything they wish for, they can do. Even if they are the worst student, they can have a better life than many others around the world.
I feel I owe this country a lot. They gave us a life to live.
Pam
Vietnam
Arrived 1980
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#storiesnotstereotypes #inspiration #perspective #refugees #migrants #Australia #Australianmigration #Vietnam
Heroes <3
Love your attitude and your example
Australia is lucky to have you Pam. Thanks for sharing your story.
That’s true Spirit Pam!! So glad to have people like yourself in this country.
What a beautiful story ❤️❤️❤️
Melinda – reminded me of what we were discussing yesterday. Awesome story!
Wow Pam you are an amazing Australian, you did amazingly well and did an awesome job bringing up your kids, how lucky are we to have you in this country.
What an amazing lady. So strong
Wonderful inspiring story that makes me thankful we have true heroines like you in this country. Every single person in this country should read your story.
Beautiful story. I want to believe that the Australia Pam was welcomed to is still the same country it is today.
Wow. Amazing story. We are lucky to have you.
Thankyou for coming here Pam. Australia has always needed people like you. Always will.
Pam, you have worked so hard and your children are a credit to you and an asset to our country❤️
I’m wondering if I taught one of your daughters at Earnshaw State College in 2006. The student I’m thinking of had the values you express in your story.
Great story,good to see hard working migrants achieve what this great place Australia can offer.
Heaven xx
Gail Caruana you may like these stories
These migrants work so hard to give their kids the best start, something most take for granted. On top of that, they have to learn a very complicated language!
Pam, it must be extremely heartening to look back at your determination to keep going with your study and see the outcome today.
Thank you for sharing your amazing story, I am so glad you have found a home in Australia and wish you and your family the best xx
This is great.
I’m proud to say I lived and worked as a volunteer in the Philippines Bataan camp for many months. I hope I helped make the move to Australia a little easier for people like you.
It’s not all about you Claire.
What an amazing story of determination. I’m so glad you won the battle and raised your children to be productive Aussies. Exactly what our country needs ????
“Even if they are the worst student, they can have a better life than many others around the world”
That really is an incredible quote
Most refugees have this attitude: they appreciate the country that has welcomed them with open arms, they want to give back by working hard and more importantly they want to provide a better future for their children. Sure, there are bad apples among them, you take any social group separately and you will always find bad apples. And the problem is that the negative is always more sensationalized, you write a story about refugees doing bad things, it brings strong reaction, you write positive stories, they seem boring. The ugly always enjoys better publicity than the beautiful. This page is wonderful, it counterbalances the negative in such a beautiful way, bringing down stereotypes one by one. Keep it up! ❤️