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JOSE STUDYING AT YHE GOLD COAST

This article was written by Jose Asaca in August 2010 while studying English language
in prepartion for studying Agricultural Science at the University of Queensland.

Coming to Australia is a great learning opportunity and experience.

Studying in another country is a great opportunity. Everything seems different compared with my home country. There are not many Timorese people that get this opportunity to study in Australia. I was so lucky to get this wonderful opportunity and to be one of the Sahariv scholarship recipients. This would not have happened without FPET's help. When I left Timor, I knew that the difference in culture, food and weather were going to challenge me during my study in Australia. However, after a few months in Australia I realised that those challenges turned into wonderful lessons for me to learn and experience that I will never forget.

When I first arrived on the Gold Coast, the weather was totally different from Timor. It was cold and freezing especially during winter. Now I feel better because I get used to the weather here. Food is one of the problems that I had during the first two months. The food that I eat everyday here is different from the food that I used to eat in Timor. Now the food is not a problem to me any more because I also get used to it. I hope that I will not miss this kind of food when I am back in Timor.

English is required for studying in Australia. At the moment I am doing my preliminary English course at the Australian International College of Languages (AICOL) in Southport on the Gold Coast. I am very happy to study in the college because I am not only learning English, but also learning about many other different things such as culture and other general knowledge. On the other hand studying with people from different nationalities and different level of education make me understand more about the world. Furthermore, there are nice teachers at the college who help and teach me to improve my English. Even though my English is improving slowly it is better than it used to be. I hope that in the next few months I can meet the targeted IELTS score required which is 6.5 or 7.

Leaving family and friends is a hard decision to be made. Both my parents cannot write and read. Before I came to Australia I used to work to support my family to improve our family life condition, and support my young brother to go to university included one of my sisters to go to school. Now I can't support them any more. I hope that my elder brother, two other sisters with their husbands and other relatives continue to support my parents and my young brother and sister. Even though they knew that they will not get support from me if I have resigned from my job, but they are happy that I got a scholarship to study in Australia and they support my decision to leave my job.

Jose at the Gold Coast

Sometimes I think of them and their situation but I believe that I have made the right decision. I also believe that coming to Australia is a great opportunity for me to gain more knowledge for the best of family and the country. My grandfather has passed away in April. I was very sad that I could not be there in that moment of sadness. Even though I was not there at the time but there were many friends who really kind to support my family during this difficult time specially, Dave and Margaret Hall and the team and other relatives and friends. I also would like to thank those who have offered their prayer for my grandfather.

Live near Brisbane make me feel like home. I am so lucky have many friends in Brisbane, especially all FPET members and some other friends from Gold Coast who are work hard to help East Timorese and Look after me since I been in Australia and always visit us and take us to different places. I would like to thank for the wonderful support and help that I receive. I also would like to thank FPET and all FPET supporters who help FPET to maintain support Atabae community. Again, thank you for find this scholarship for me and Servacio and bring us to Australia. I also would like to thank the Loreto Girls College students and teachers who have donated me a laptop and also for the help that been given to Atabae community. Finally thank you to all friends in Brisbane and on Gold Coast who are helping East Timorese and been helping me since I been in Australia. I cannot mention all the names because if I do, it appears to be a long list of names. I hope you all know who you are?