Nan Thazin (Rose)

From Myanmar (Burma) to Wonthaggi

Everything about life in Australia is perfect, in my opinion.

People are friendly here.

The politics, the weather, the food – I like it all.

We are lucky here.

I am from Myanmar, formerly Burma.

It wasn’t an easy place to make money, so my parents moved to Thailand to find work.

I stayed in Myanmar, where my grandma raised me.

My parents sent money from Thailand to help look after me.

It was hard growing up there.

One house had a dugout where we would go and hide when there was fighting. That happened very often.

People grow their own food in Myanmar. But sometimes they don’t have enough rice, because the rain is bad. Too much rain creates floods, and floods wipe out all the crops.

I lived on a farm with my grandma. When the school was open, I’d go to the village, but when it was closed, I went back to the farm.

Many children in Myanmar want to go to school, but some can’t because their parents can’t afford it.

We are lucky in Australia.

I arrived here on 26 August 2017, to join my husband, Ein Dri Ya.

We are both from Myanmar, but we grew up in different villages. My uncle introduced us.

We married in Thailand before I moved to Wonthaggi, where Ein Dri Ya had lived for ten years already.

I was so happy about coming to Australia. There are lots of friendly people here – that’s why I’m happy.

My husband works full-time. He used to wake at 3am and leave for work by 3.30am. He came back by 5pm each day. He says the work wasn’t tiring – it was the long drive that wore him out. He is now working closer to home, which we’re happy about.

We have a daughter, Marymoe. She’s an Australian citizen, same as Ein Dri Ya. I have permanent residency.

In our spare time, I like to go to Wilsons Prom. I’d never been to the beach in Myanmar, so I like going to the beach here.

I go to the local neighbourhood house to make friends, and I go to school to learn English. I also go to a new mother’s group to make friends.

When I was young, I wanted to be a doctor. I now work in aged care as a personal carer. I hope to continue studying in Australia so I can work as a nurse one day.

I want to sponsor children in my village in Myanmar, so they can buy books or go to school.

Some of my family members are in Thailand, and some are still in Myanmar. My sister lives with her family in Thailand. My brother returned to Myanmar to care for my grandma. My parents followed him there. We talk to each other over the internet.

I hope to return to Myanmar to have a traditional marriage ceremony, but I feel very happy in Australia. There’s everything I need. Australians have made me feel welcome. Everything is perfect for me.