I went out to a New Year’s day BBQ with some friends yesterday. The BBQ is near the swimming pool in the vast complex they live in. Also there for the day were a Sudanese family.
I got talking to the husband who is a fulltime university student, holds down a fulltime job and supports (with his wife, a nurse) their kids and several nieces and nephews. They were all there and seemed a really healthy and happy bunch.
He told me how much he liked living in Australia. They have been here 4 years. He spoke English before he came, the rest of the family learned here and are perfectly proficient. He remarked how friendly people are. I asked him what he liked most about living in Australia.
He replied, “I like that when you go to bed at night you know that you will be alive in the morning. Or if you go to the shops to buy something you will come home and see your children again. In Sudan going outside was sometimes like committing suicide.”
I wished them the most sincere happy new year I have ever wished anyone before I left.
