Australia

I am really glad that I have been given a chance to study in Australia. I would like to thank my sponsor, FELDA and my parents, whom without them, I wouldn't be able to get the chance to apply for the scholarship.

Living in Australia has completely changed me. When I was in Malaysia few years ago, people always warned me about being influenced my the western culture, hence will be spoiled and etc. I was once believe the same thought too. I bet that will be the thinking of most of the Malaysian. But, when I actually physically here, experiencing the living here, now that I learnt that I actually have found a meaning of living with the others.

Australia thought lots of things. Firstly, don't judge a people by their appearance and accept a person as they are. I had this bad habit of judging a person at our first meeting (or something even before) by where they come from, who are their friends, what are they studying and etc. Here, in Australia, people respect every single person they come across everyday. In my first few weeks in Melbourne, I learnt that a street dancer with baggy pants can be a Biochemistry PhD candidate at one of the finest research institutes in the world, a photography addicts can be a future doctor, an high achiever can be a journalist, and a clubbing freak can be a top-scorer. Anyone can be anyone as long you know your passion, talent and future directions. There is no stereotype.

Secondly, I learnt about appreciating your own handwork and rewarding yourselves. Who are you working for. Some say for their family, some say for their future. What about you? What you worth of? I started to think about myself. I work so hard to achieve a goal and I should reward myself something for what I have done. Shopping, travelling, eating good food or even a good rest at home! There will be a day where you will have to commit for your future but isn't whatever you are doing now, you're actually creating the path for your future.

And there is many more that I can write a book about it. But, the frustrating part is, when I back in Malaysia, none of the matter I talked above applied here. I try to smile to everyone as smiling is the cheapest gift ones can give to others, people are thinking that I am gonna do something bad to them. When I tried to not judge people, a guy in a shabby attire is actually a criminal. And people judge me by saying that I am acting all weird because studying oversea has changed me.

Oh well, I will just live to what I believe. Will share more stories next time. The end.