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A Journey to Find ‘Homes’: Transformational Journey through AIYEP and Living in Australia
Written by Ashanti Dayani Ajengpitaloka, the first winner of the "Journey Chronicles: Celebrating Australia-Indonesia Bonds" Short Story Competition
‘But no matter how far or how wide I roam, I still call Australia home.’
When I heard that song performed by my AIYEP friend during the Pre-Departure Training program, I wondered why Peter Allen put so much love into Australia. How can a country give such a deep impression that makes you feel ‘home’ despite where you come from? From that moment, my curiosity to know Australia has evolved significantly, to discover the definition of ‘home’ Peter Allen said in his phenomenal song.
I began to put my interest in Australia during the AIYEP program. However, since a pandemic still occurred in 2021, I couldn’t go to Australia then. I did not say that AIYEP online was not worth it; instead, it became one of the best moments in my life, especially during the pandemic. AIYEP broadened my networking with Australian people and Indonesian delegates from various provinces, enabling me to be immersed in the culturally rich atmosphere. This program also widened my knowledge of how close the relationship between Indonesia and Australia is, proven by many programs such as AIYEP. However, the fact that online programs limit my experience could not be denied. For instance, deep diving into Australian work placement through real-life internship experience could not be encountered only through online platforms, even though I still got experience doing the online internship from home. Learning about the Australian lifestyle that is supposed to be done through the homestay experience could not be changed by the webinar about what Australian culture looks like either. However, since those are the only things both governments can do to sustain the program, I could not complain about anything. Therefore, I still could not believe that two years later, I got a chance to step on to Australia to pursue my masters degree at my online internship site, Monash University.
It was unbelievable….
This country is truly beyond my imagination. As someone who has never lived outside her hometown for almost half her life, Australia, especially Melbourne, offers ‘comfortable’ feelings I have never experienced. This city provides me with everything I need and want to try. Food, culture, tourism attractions, and anything else are accessible to everyone. Melbourne brings worldwide culture into its city, which makes my anxiety about becoming a minority somehow disappear. People are so kind and warm, and they give endless compliments to each other. This city welcomes me with an abundance of tolerance, which reminds me of the intercultural competence I have learned in AIYEP. I thought I would experience such a big culture shock here, but the general takeaways from AIYEP really helped me adapt to this new situation. Not to mention my Australian AIYEPers, who helped me figure out everything here, something I might not have had if I had not joined AIYEP two years ago.
Aside from the welcoming environment, I've been introduced to a plethora of new opportunities that I did not think existed before, such as dancing. I started dancing two years ago only for AIYEP purposes. Still, in Melbourne, I got a chance to preserve my own culture by joining the dance community, something that I might never have thought of before when I was in my hometown. If I had not joined this dance community, I would not have known I could perform in front of others. What is more surprising is that half of my dancing friends are Australian-born. I did not know many Australians were interested in learning Indonesian traditional dance before. I mean, hardly many young Indonesians are interested in learning traditional dance, thinking it is an ‘old people’ activity that is ‘not popular’, Hence, this is something that slapped me in the face that even people from the countries preserve my culture without a doubt more than myself. Living here helps me appreciate my cultural roots much better.
Getting to know my culture and nation better has never been my expectation while living here before. Some people may believe that the new regions they are living in are far superior to their home country simply due to technological, economic, or other advances. As a result, they often forget about their home nation and spend their lives in new countries. Living in Australia makes me realise how much I love my country, Indonesia. I cannot deny that Australia has so many advanced aspects compared with Indonesia, but that does not indicate that Indonesia lacks potential resources for future development. That is why partnership between the two countries is required to ensure that both benefit from growing stronger together.
I know why Peter Allen created ‘I still call Australia home’ because Australia has taught me to redefine ‘home’. Home does not have to be limited to a building or a country. It can be anything, anywhere your heart belongs to. I realise that both Indonesia and Australia are my homes, places where I love to live. Finally, I will always be thankful that AIYEP and my journey of living in Australia helped me find "my home."
Wela’lin-Thank you-Terima kasih
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