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From the old boring camp to the new challenging world…Nay Moo’s family’s long journey to Australia...
The challenging future of Nay Moo has hatched in the new adventurous world of Australia… Sydney!!!!
After coming back from the very exciting trip to Burma by the mid of April, I stayed in the camp hopefully as if I am about to attend the Australia Cultural Orientation training very soon. However, while waiting for the training, I had a chance to teach myself one of computer programming languages, which my friend Andrew introduces it to me. I had learned that for a computer to be able to work properly, it must be programmed by someone timely. So I realized that God will certainly do thing for me timely as I feel like I have been programmed by God’s programming. Therefore, I put my trust in God and accepted all what will happen to me.
As it came to the time, by the first week and second week of May, my family finished attending the Aus CO properly. The course was really valuable for me and it was also like treasure chess of knowledge about situation in Australia, I felt more confident to tread on to the new home with the knowledge I got in the training. The trainer, Bee was also excellent in her active training. We did a lot of fun, practice and exercise. I would like to thank Bee very much for providing us with a very helpful and pragmatic training.
While taking the rest from the training and waiting for the coming step for the flight, it took about a month so my father could finish his school works and hand over the responsibilities to one of the teachers in ESP. I could also hand over the responsibility of administrating the computers to one of the teachers there as well. After everything was handed over and well prepared for the next coming year of ESP, the time of Nay Moo’s family’s departure to Australia had come.
By the end of May, we were told to go to the IOM office to sign our names and do finger print for the departure. Then we certainly knew the date of departure right there. We were also told that we have to stay in Mae Sot for five days. My father was very excited until when the IOM worker simply asked him a question…“Where were you born? He quickly and wittily replied… “I was born in Sydney!!!” you can know that how amusing answer the worker would ever have heard… : )
The departure of Nay Moo’s family...
After several sunsets disappeared on the cliff of Mae La Temporary Karen Refugee Camp, on the 12 of June, in the evening, many ESP students and my brothers’ friends came to our house as if they were quite miserable to miss our presence in the same long boring camp. They spent the night together with us to feel our very last refrain. Everyone might think I am very excited to leave. However, of course, they did not see my heart. I felt really unbreakable and indescribable to leave my fellow students, friends and neighbors tomorrow as we have been very close, touched and friendly. My heart was full of thrill, emptiness and loneliness all through the night until I could not sleep until 2 am. I fell asleep for a while and then the daybreak woke me up and greeted me warmly.
In the morning, 13 of June, everyone woke up and helped preparing the packages for us. I got up, prepared myself, we shouldered up the packages then we stepped down the path to MOI. From my house to the MOI, Nay Moo was thinking of “Oh my wearisome grown up residence Mae La Camp, I must really leave you this morning. I am grateful to you very much. Thank you for every moment I have spent in you”.
When we got to the MOI the IOM’s truck already waited for us. Many fellow students, friends and relatives were with us at the MOI to see our last beautiful faces and say Good Bye to our last waving hands. Only Nay Moo’s family and other one family were leaving this morning. The time was up, the driver got into the truck, the engine started, the wheel turned up then the truck headed to exit to the gate then left behind words and faces disappeared in the air. When the truck got outside the camp and entered the high way, I felt like my entire refugee burdens that I have been shouldered for ages have been released and I felt unspeakably free. When we passed by and looked back at the deserted camp, there was an apathy still touching my heart.
We drove along the road for about 50 minutes then we made it to Pah Wow Hospital again. We were checked the physical exam again, took the X-ray couple times then lifted up to the sixth floor to meet with the doctor. We each had to take three pills and one injection except my parents. It took us to be there for about 8 hours then in the evening at 3, we were sent to the Rujira Hall where all people who are about to leave are collected there. There were about 110 people already arrived here. We took a rest, settled down our temporary beds and took a bath then we went to the dinning place. This evening we ate rice and soup.
The first day in Mae Sot Rujira Hall, 14/6/08
I ate a lot yesterday so this morning I got up a little early for releasing natural waste. When I was around the toilet, the terribly bad smell greeted me and I found it disturbing of the toilets and bathrooms. I thought, not only me; those who had already gone might meet the same sucked situation. At 8 am, we were called to go eat breakfast. We were fed with yesterday’s leftover cold rice and soup. It was stupid… we do not like the leftover cold rice!
After breakfast, we came back to the hall and stayed around. We were not allowed to go anywhere and even go sit in front of the Rujira Hotel. At 9:30 am, about more 70 people from Noe Poe camp arrived, so we had around 180 people staying in the hall. So crowded and so noisy though!! There are only 10 toilets and 5 bathrooms for our 180 people, 5 of 10 toilets are Gawlawah toilets and 4 of 5 Gawlawah toilets are broken, full, and untidy and terribly smell. When you enter the toilet you are always warmly greeted by the high rack sentry in the flush tub. The other 5 toilets are normal toilets but two of them are also full, you can not pour in your holy shits and they also smell terribly bad.
Today as Andrew visited us and he brought us fried chicken and sticky rice, we enjoyed them completely for lunch. There are bunches of graffiti written by those who already left for memory, blame, complain, preach, and everything they might feel about in the Rujira hall. One of the scripts says, “Every seed must fall down on the ground and become rotten, then it can sprout out and develop well. As the same way, everyone has to come and learn the patience, hardship and difficulties so that they can go and settle down in the third country well”.
This is the transition of refugee life to city life, the deepest dark, the worst transitioned-refugee-to-city life five days in Mae sot temporary refugcity hall we last experienced before we leave.
We went eat the rice and soup again for dinner at 6 pm.
The second day in Mae Sot Rujira Hall, 15/6/08
Hummph!!! Could not sleep well… people were talking, children were playing through the night and from mid night to daybreak, the frogs and insects were creaking and trumpeting noisily around the hall. As the time came, we went to eat rice and soup breakfast then came back to the nest and stayed around. At 10 am, the health care taker came and checked us if anything happens to us. We have to stay very well to pass this check for five days though. Today we were fed fried rice for lunch. At night, as you know, there were many people in the hall so I found it really really hard to sleep crowdedly and noisily with the lights on and the fans turning through the night.
The third day in Mae Sot Rujira Hall, 16/6/08
When I was in the camp I used to get up at 7 am, but now I got up a little early… at 6 : ). As the time came, went to eat rice and soup again. Wooo…!! Karens eat a lot!!! Therefore, the food was gone very soon. Then we were fed with yesterday’s leftover food again. But remember every seed has to fall down on the ground and become rotten then it can sprout out and develop well!! I was not quite full so I took one or two more plates… : ). At 10 am, our friends from Noe Poe camp left to United States and about 60 people from our Mae La camp left to Australia. The beds were cleared up and prepared again for another 100 people. At 6 pm, more people from Noe Poe camp arrived.
The fourth day in Mae Sot Rujira Hall, 17/6/08
Ummmmph!!! Still could not sleep well… got up with weary head. The frogs and insects were singing and greeting us every night. Then Nay Moo went to take breakfast as usual. At 9 am, people from Noe Poe camp left us to United States and our remaining Mae La friends left to Australia too. Only two and three families were remaining. The hall was almost empty leading us to loneliness and I was sick off very much. I wanted to leave as soon as possible. The time here in Rujira is very slow! Nevertheless, I was courageous because tomorrow is our turn. At 5 pm, we were issued with the warm clothes and shoes. Tonight we spent the night spaciously, quietly and thrillingly.
The fifth day in Mae Sot Rujira Hall to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport, 18/6/08
This exciting morning made us wake up too early at 2 am. We praised God and prayed for our further long journey. Then we got every thing ready. At 4 am, we were fed with coffee and some cakes, waited for a while then we left Rujira sweet Hall at 6 am. We also rode Rujira’s bus to travel to Bangkok. One of the Thai police officers also was with us to guide and guard us through the travel. Thank you Rujira for providing us with beds, food and transportation and thank you Thai police for guiding and guarding us...
We drove a long the way and when it was about 8 am, we reached the Mae Sot to Bangkok soldier and police check point then we had to stop and wait there for a while for something that I do not know. While waiting and observing on the bus, a big long bus came and stopped near us. One of the soldiers opened the load room door, let a big dog enter to sniff in the room, and I was very scared to see that. When I looked at the other side of the road, there were about 30 illegal Burmese and Karen youngsters coming back from Bangkok captured and checked by the Thai soldiers, their bags and loads were exposed on the road. Then came a check point truck, their bags and loads were uploaded on that truck and they were driven following the first truck to somewhere I do not know. Thank God, I was on the right and safe bus!!
Along the way to Bangkok, there are fantastic and significant infrastructures that I have never seen lying constantly ahead me!!!! Plus passing Bangkok traffics was incredible!!! We were on the bus the whole day and we reached Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport around 3 pm. When we were dropped off the bus, a beautiful Thai lady (heart jumping…) came meet us and sent us to the processes we have to go through the huge airport. Finally, at 4:40 pm we got to our destination gate way, that Thia lady showed us our flight, left us there, she had to go back to arrange for another family, we thanked her then we waited for the flight in the waiting room for a while. All the walls are made up of glasses so you can see through the outside. Many airplanes were taking on and off consequently. The number of the airplanes would be more than the population in the Mae La Refugee Camp...
At 5:30 pm, our flight, BA, British Airways was about to boarding so we were announced to be ready, then the administrator came and opened the gate and then every one walked into the airplane. Children and immigration people were let to go first, so we got in first and looked for our chairs. When every one was well seated and the 5kg bags were put in place, we were told to put the seat belt on then follow by the safety instructions in the plane. It took about 30 minutes to position in the airplane and at 6 pm the airplane shook up, the floor tilted a little for a while then turned level. It was dark and all the windows were closed so I could not see anything outside. When the floor turned level, we were announced to enjoy our journey. At 9 pm we were served with Gawlawah dinner. Food and drink were served several times in the plane though. Nay Moo was very tired all through the day so some time after dinner he positioned up himself then fell asleep. I felt bus sick and air sick as well so I did not sleep well. I was sleep-awake-sleep-awake through the night. At 1 am (Bangkok time), I woke up then could not go to sleep any more. Almost every one woke up as well. Then we were served with Gawlawah breakfast as we were taught in the CO training…chicken or beef? : )
At 2:50 am (Bangkok time) 5:45 am (Sydney time) the airplane started to land. At 6 am, the airplane landed, we all got out, the crews greeted us, we said Goodbye to the crews then we were on our way to the checkpoints. Before we got to the check points, a lovely Gawlawah lady came meet us and took us to where we have to go, then we went down stair, took up our most different and colorful bags, put them on the carts, then we moved to the bags scanning point. After everything was finished, we went out to the exit to the meeting points, which are the terminals of the airport.
Good morning, S.y.d.n.e.y... Nay Moo’s first day in Australia, 19 June 2008
Hey, hey, hey!!! See You Do Need Educating/Encouraging Yourself!!!
Many people were coming in and going out of the terminals, greeting each other, smiling, crying, looking for each other, coming to pick up friends or relatives, and showing up for different purposes. Among them Nay Moo’s family was also looking for some one to show up. But we didn’t see any one we know. Before we came, my uncle said he will come and see us at the airport. We had been looking for him for a while. But he did not show up. What was wrong????? We were trying to phone him many times and in many ways but still could not….We ran in to a BIG trouble…got everything stuck!!!!!! 8(
.....who will help us????
Hey Nay Moo! Remember every time when you are abroad, you have knowledge to think, you have eyes to look and see and you have mouth to ask and say!!!
My father and I walked here and there, and looked around and read the signboards one by one then one of the signboards caught my eye, which is written “Internet Free Access”. I thought my aunty in Singapore would probably be online. I promptly went to the queue, waited for a moment then my turn came. My aunty was not online so I dropped a message to her to call my uncle to come and pick us. And at the same time my father went to the security and asked for help. The security told him how to dial the numbers in Australia. We tried dialing again and again then finally it worked. We got stuck around at the airport for over 3 hours. Around 10 am my uncle came with some one to pick us up to one of his church members’ house. The reason my uncle did not show up when we arrive at the airport is that… he already came to meet us at the airport before we arrive. The flight QF that we were supposed to take is changed to another flight, which is BA. He did not know that. He is also told that the flight QF will be arriving at night. So he went back home... then Nay Moo gets stuck! : )
My uncle has an appointment at the TAFE collage so he drove to the school and brought me and my younger sister Kwah Poe at the same time to meet the teacher and headmaster of the TAFE collage for enrollment. Then the teacher told us to come to sit for test some day when we get a little better, she knows we just take off and have been extremely tired and airsick.
We came back from school then we went to Centrelink to register ourselves, and then went to Bank to open the bank account, and then we made up to the Medicare for health registration. Because our family members were not here all so we were told to come back again tomorrow. We came back to the house where we first stopped, took dinner then moved to the house where my uncle lives in. We got many things done for the first day so that was not so bad though! When we reached the house, some of our Karen friends came to visit us, we praised God together then you can see clearly HOW TIRED WE ARE IN THE WHOLE DAY! Everyone was happy to go to BED.
The second day in Australia… 20 June 2008
Xxxxzzzzz!!!!! Exhausted and weary from the whole yesterday, Nay Moo got up a little late this morning around 8 am. After breakfast, we took a rest and waited for some one to take us to Medicare again, because most of the cars here are 5-sitter. At 9 am we drove to Medicare, then Bank, then at 1 pm we moved to Centrelink to finish our yesterday’s cases. It took us 3 hours to finish registering ourselves. Then we went to Neeta City Shopping Hall to buy some folders for keeping documents properly. Hey, keep in mind!!! If you come here, you have to keep your documents carefully! We were invited to eat dinner at one of my aunties’ house, and then one of my cousins drove us home. We took a rest for the day again!!!
The third day in Australia… 21 June 2008
Fortunately, one of the catholic priests here in Sydney who worked along with my father in running LMC by the name of Father Ron Nissen was willing to drive us to tour the Sydney city. You know how excited our heart is!!! : ) Pu Loe, Nay Moo, Ler Bwe and Tha Moo got in to the car quickly. Hoo hoo!!! We first went to Sydney Harbor. We walked along the Harbor seeing the infrastructures covering the Sydney city. Bunches of cars, buses, trains, boats, ships, ferries, airplanes, and helicopters traveling constantly to and fro. Then we headed to the Opera House. There were many people touring on the harbor. It was cold and windy at the harbor. We walked around the Opera House and we were also playing the Spot to bla…bla…bla… game along the way. It means when you see the spotted thing, you have to say it first. Fr. Ron spotted us the aboriginal. We tried to look for the aboriginal among the crowded moving people. Ha ha! I won the game!! So Fr. Ron gave me a price. The price was; I have two choices to choose if I want to go to the subway or continue walking along the harbor… I have never been to the subway so I chose the subway then every one had to follow my choice. Fr. Ron bought us a ticket each. We entered the subway station, got on the train, and rode along to the Central. We returned to the harbor by bus. If you buy a ticket you can ride the train or bus or ferry for the whole day. By the noon time, he bought us a pack of fish chips each. While Ler Bwe and Fr. Ron went to take the car at the car park, Pu Loe, Tha Moo and Nay Moo were waiting eating the fish chips on the couch at the harbor. When the car arrived, we all got in to the car then drove across the Sydney Harbor Bridge which is the most famous bridge in Australia. We drove ahead to the North Head, Manly harbor and we parked the car somewhere in the car park. Wow! The open sky with airplanes taking on and off, the whole magnificent scenery of Sydney City with Sydney Harbor, Sydney Harbor Bridge and boats and ferries sailing full of the sea, and the deep blue ocean with the huge ships and steamers going in and out were the fantastic views we have ever seen in our eyes face to face. We did lookout for a while then we came back straight to Fr. Ron’s place. We crossed the Qazac Bridge then another two small bridges, turned a few corners and we made it to Marist Mission Center. We took a rest for a second and took a walk in the MMC campus for a moment then Fr. Ron drove us back home.
The fourth day in Australia…Sunday, 22 June 2008
: ) Still got up a little late… Today was Sunday. As you know Nay Moo is usually at home on Sunday. A good Christian!!! I started writing my first long journey to Australia which I wanted to share to my fellow Karens remaining in the camps or living everywhere in the world. In the afternoon, at 1:30 we got ready to go to the church of Seventh Day Adventist, they share the church so for SDA, they go on Saturday, but for Sunday Baptist, they go on Sunday. After the service, at 6 pm, my father and I were invited by Fr. Ron to go and have dinner with him, so he came and picked us then we went to the Dooleys at Silverview Club for dinner. We had some beer and wine, talked for a while then got into the dinning room. Ha.. ha.. Gawlawah dinner!!! A very big piece of pork with steamed potatoes, sauce and some pieces of lettuce. I was a little drunk and asleep and I wanted to come back home very much. But Fr. Ron did not finish talking so we waited until he finished then we drove home around 10 pm.
The fifth day in Australia… Nice Monday, 23 June 2008
Today I had no appointment to go so I thought I would go out and have a walk around the streets and explore the place and observe the nearby environments. After breakfast, my two brothers and I went out and walked along the streets. We saw no one on the street. The houses are like the tombs in the cemetery…quiet and lonely! I wished to see someone and greet them but the situation here is not the same as our home land… hear my say… my fellow friends... you might be surprised when you get here! We walked along the street corner by corner; it was breezy, cold and lonely! After walking for a long distance, we got tired then we sat down at one of the corners, looking around and talking to each other.
As by chance, we saw a man, age about 40, riding a bicycle on the road we were sitting on. We looked at him and smiled at him with our heart saying that, ‘we are happy and excited to be in your country’. Maybe he is happy to see us and could read our heart as well. As this was also our fifth day in Australia, so he replied our smiling faces with his greeting starting with the letter “F” …. What the Fucking are you looking at!!!! You Fucking kids!!!! You idiot!!! …then he murmured along the way as he was cycling. How do you feel if you were me? This is my first greeting I have ever heard on the road in Australia that I cold never forget. We came back home, took a rest and went to sleep.
And, for the rest of the days:
I was on the move, on the go almost every day, every day in the train….so now I am very good at riding the train in the city... Maybe... train expert rider!!! : )
In this same week, my sister and I were told to go to the school to sit for the test. My uncle took us there and the teacher already waited for us. When we got there she came to us and put us to the test immediately. The test is for the Migrant Youth Course. My sister is suitable to this course but I am too good to this course. So the teacher appointed me to come and sit for the next higher test.
The test and the enrollment in collage…
On the 30 of June at 11:30am, I went to sit for the test again. Wow! There were a lot of people...over 200 people coming for the test. I was surprised to see a lot of people... They speak excellent English much more than me…I became unconfident with my English. And I thought I wouldn’t have passed this test. Anyway, there was nothing more than to trusting myself and be of good courage. The test process was; we take the test today, tomorrow if we are successful with our test we will be called for the interviews and the day after tomorrow will be the selection for those who are successful with their interviews. I was very doubtful in this competitive test. There were about 30 people were interviewed and only 16 or 17 people were selected. Because of God’s grace, I was also selected among the 16 or 17 people. On the 3rd of July, I was told to go to school for enrollment. Wow! There were thousands of students coming for enrollment. We had to queue up in very long lines. So it took a long time to finish my enrollment. I have never seen the enrollment like this before!! The people here speak very fast so it took me a big effort to cope with them as I am a new arrival here myself. Before I came here I was confident with my English but when I get here I would almost lose my confidence. Thank God, every thing worked well!
The excursions with the TAFE collage students on their school holiday...
I am also a very blessed and fortunate lad. Since I arrived here I went immediately to the school, got to know with some teachers and they are very nice and helpful to me. My arrival here is the time of school vacation and the school also has the excursions. I have got a chance to go to the last day…the closing celebration of the first semester of the Migrant Youth Course so I have heard some information about the vacation. Hey… they have three trips during the holiday… it is absolutely free!! I was very interested to be part of them so I asked the teacher to accept me in the trips. As the teachers are very kind to me, they did not hesitate to accept me, they welcomed me warmly. On the 2nd of June my sister and I went to school to fill up the forms for the trips.
As the time has come for the trips, on the 7 of July we went to the Blue Mountains which is the very attractive place for the tourists around the world and it is also the most popular place in Australia. The weather was cold and windy. We have got to ride the railway and the cableway which are very exciting for me… And on the 9 of July we made it to the Jenolan Caves. Along the way to Jenolan Caves it was raining and snowing so how gleeful to see the snow in my eyes face to face. There are many caves at the Jenolan Caves. Our trip leader Peter bought us the Imperial tickets so at 11:45 am, the cave tour guide took us into the cave. He explained us about the cave while we were in the cave and there are something I remember…the Imperial cave is about 430 million years old. And the cave was discovered in the 1879 by Jeremiah Wilson… And on the 11 of July, we made it again to Canberra which is the new capital of Nay Moo. We toured in the Parliament House. We have got to see the Conference Hall of president and governments. How perfect to feel my dignity in the Parliament House as I have been the resident of Australia now! The House is open to all... the citizen, the migrants and the tourists!! And you are welcome as well!! We also toured to art gallery, museum and some other popular places...Nay Moo always shows up at least one of the Karen features everywhere he goes in the big city, so our Karen friends could recognize him as a Karen and could make friend with him well... want to see some pix?, please visit: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/sawnaymo
The next step after holiday...
After the holiday, as I was already enrolled to the school for the next semester which will be starting on the 23rd of July, I will be attending the Certificate IV in English for Academic Purposes at Graville TAFE Collage for six months. If I am qualified I will be continuing to the university after this course because this course is recognized to enter the university. Come on; let’s light up our future as bright as we can!!!
Now what are the benefits of being the resident of Australia?
•Have chances to travel to wherever you want
•Have got the equal right/freedom as a human being
•Have got the recognition from the government
•Have a bank account
•Have full opportunity to work and study further
•Have got the necessary assistances from the government
•Have got a very nice house that does not need to renovate it annually
•Have got a higher standard of living in the city
•And have got many other things that I still do not know right now…
Who was I before I came here?
•jungle boy and displaced boy since born
•hungry for freedom and recognition
•a refugee living in the refugee camp which is barbed with barbed wires for about 13 years (if you are barbed with barbed wires your heart is also barbed)
•like an unable bird living in the long boring and timid cage
•But hopeful and visionary for the bright future shall come someday….
What are the positives and negatives of being in my homeland and new land?
Being in my homeland...
* have a lot of friends who are very friendly and fun
* have nice and helpful neighbors and relatives
* enjoy the same activities and funs with close friends and neighbors
*speak the same language and enjoy the same culture
* have wonderful time to spend and play games with friends
* have large and familiar community
* satisfied with less money
but...
* don’t have identification or recognition
* don’t see the developing infrastructures of the world or don’t see the very wide horizons of the world
*discouraged with lack of freedom and low/poor living standard
* don’t have opportunity to study higher educations
* don’t have the chances to travel as you want
Being in the new land...
•have got identification and recognition
•have got good and higher education system
•understand the living system in the city
•see the wide horizons around us
•have got full opportunities as a citizen
but...
•don’t have many close friends and touching neighbors
•lonely, isolated and less fun
•everything is expensive and everything needs hard effort
•need self-confidence and self-responsibility
What shall I do for my future?
Now as I have been settling and adapting myself to the new home and have been a resident of Sydney, everything I have to do is… “See, You Do Need Encouraging/Educating Yourself”... Now I have got a chance, but the chance is not like you are given a fish to eat... I myself have to build up the hook, find my own baits, and explore the best spot to do fishing….. Cos’ the world I step on now is very wide, huge, adventurous, challenging and currently unfamiliar with my just hatched out paradigm...
Thank God, our journey was safe, sound, and smooth!
"In the worst situation, endure and excel; from the best progress, adapt to be adept."
Saw Nay Moo Doh Taw
1/32 Strickland St.
Bass Hill NSW 2197
Sydney, Australia
Website: www.karenvoice.net
Tags: from the old boring camp to the new chal