"I come from a small coastal city in the Guangdong Province of China called Chaozhou. Well, when I say small, it has a population of about 2.5 million – but that’s considered very small in China. Chaozhou is famous for three things: businessmen, beef hotpot and tea. We drink several cups of tea every day and we love a bit of satay sauce with our hotpot.
I first came to Australia ten years ago as a tourist and decided to come back the following year to attend high school. What struck me most was how peaceful Australian life was compared to China. I couldn’t believe how quiet the streets were in Cairns after 6pm. In China, the pace of life is very fast. Many restaurants are open until midnight and people work very hard.
There’s a perception that we’re all rich kids from very wealthy families. But most Chinese students – and their families – work incredibly hard to support their overseas study.
The stereotype about the strong Chinese work ethic might be true, but there are also quite a few misconceptions about Chinese students in Australia, which can be difficult to overcome. There’s a bit of a perception that we’re all rich kids from very wealthy families. But most Chinese students – and their families – work incredibly hard to support their overseas study. We place great value on education in China, and will make a lot of sacrifices for it.
The language barrier can sometimes make it hard for Chinese students to have the confidence to make friends with domestic students, even though most of them really want to. It’s especially hard to join in a conversation about rugby or cricket – two sports most Chinese people have never even heard of.
We do a lot of work in the CSSA to try to break down cultural barriers. We just held a Chinese Cultural Day on campus, and we’re planning workshops to help Chinese students better understand Australian culture and improve their English. And domestic students can also learn Mandarin if they want to. Cultural understanding always comes from people spending time together. But sometimes they need a little nudge.
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- "You don't see many Australian-Lebanese women from Western Sydney making it in these spaces"
- "Australians are more fascinated by ancient Egyptian culture than Egyptians"
The degree I’m studying towards, early childhood education, is not a typical choice for a Chinese student – or a male student for that matter. But I’m lucky that my parents are open-minded. Their only hope was that I was able to choose a profession that I really loved.
I wanted to be a teacher because I want to support and grow future generations. Early childhood is such a critical period in a person’s life. It’s like the roots of a big tree – so much of a person’s early experiences influence their behaviour later in life.
I am truly fascinated by children’s creativity; they always manage to create unexpected things from ordinary situations. My early childhood placements have reminded me how much imagination tends to fade with age. It’s a shame. Adult life could do with fewer rules, restrictions and routines.
I do have to do a bit of extra work to familiarise myself with the Australian culture, so I can connect with other educators, and with the children I care for. The kids cartoons and games here are so different to what I grew up with in China. So, even though I’m 23 years old, it’s often Bluey that I’m switching on after dinner".
