Day 1: the agony
Dear Australia,
I’m sure you know that my homeland, Lebanon, was a victim of Israeli aggression recently. This is not what I’m here to talk about, but it has implications on my greater purpose in life. Because of this war, the Australian embassy in Lebanon ended all applications for emigration to Australia.
This is a massive setback for me, a man whose only purpose in life is to make to Australia, the land down under.
I know that I can still apply for emigration elsewhere. There must be a way.
Dear Australia,
Try putting yourself in my well-worn shoes for a minute. I am a young Lebanese male working an 8-5 job that I do not enjoy, looking for securities I cannot get, hoping to marry the woman of my dreams and am facing many obstacles.
I am not the lazy bum you think I am. I’m not a wog (isn’t that what you’ll call me when I move in?). I’m not useless. Australia, I hold a university degree, whatever that implies.
I dream of Wollongong. My girlfriend’s aunt keeps filling my head with passionate dreams of this Wollongong place. I don’t know what it looks like, but I’ve seen some pictures and let my mind go loose with imagination.
She tells me fabulous stories about how the Australian government will give you an advance to build your home in Wollongong, but I think she has too much faith in the government. I might be wrong, and I hope to be wrong.
Put yourself in my shoes. What would you choose? The 8-5 job or the prospect of working (equally hard) for less hours and getting a decent salary? Would you want to be respected or to live in the Middle Eastern country that values no human being?
Australia, you have space for two more people (I want to bring my girlfriend with me). Please take us in.
Ok, give me my shoes back. I have to get back to work. Thank you for listening.
I’m sure you know that my homeland, Lebanon, was a victim of Israeli aggression recently. This is not what I’m here to talk about, but it has implications on my greater purpose in life. Because of this war, the Australian embassy in Lebanon ended all applications for emigration to Australia.
This is a massive setback for me, a man whose only purpose in life is to make to Australia, the land down under.
I know that I can still apply for emigration elsewhere. There must be a way.
Dear Australia,
Try putting yourself in my well-worn shoes for a minute. I am a young Lebanese male working an 8-5 job that I do not enjoy, looking for securities I cannot get, hoping to marry the woman of my dreams and am facing many obstacles.
I am not the lazy bum you think I am. I’m not a wog (isn’t that what you’ll call me when I move in?). I’m not useless. Australia, I hold a university degree, whatever that implies.
I dream of Wollongong. My girlfriend’s aunt keeps filling my head with passionate dreams of this Wollongong place. I don’t know what it looks like, but I’ve seen some pictures and let my mind go loose with imagination.
She tells me fabulous stories about how the Australian government will give you an advance to build your home in Wollongong, but I think she has too much faith in the government. I might be wrong, and I hope to be wrong.
Put yourself in my shoes. What would you choose? The 8-5 job or the prospect of working (equally hard) for less hours and getting a decent salary? Would you want to be respected or to live in the Middle Eastern country that values no human being?
Australia, you have space for two more people (I want to bring my girlfriend with me). Please take us in.
Ok, give me my shoes back. I have to get back to work. Thank you for listening.
