GS AUSTRALIA SPECIAL - In association with IDP Education

Becoming "as Australian as a meat pie." By Divya Anjali Ramanathan

I've been to cities that never close down; from New York to Rome, and Old London Town. But no matter how far, or how wide I roam, I still call Australia home."

They may be lines from a famous Australian song, and while I haven't been to New York, Rome or London, I have to admit my heart joins in on the chorus of "I still call Australia home".

Even as I completed my bachelor's degree in The History of Fine Art and Drawing and Painting, at Stella Maris College in Chennai, India, I started dreaming of a future as an art therapist. After hours spent surfing the internet for a good course, I chose to apply for the Master of Art Therapy course at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.

That was the reason I first came to Australia, and life changed in entirety. After I started my master's degree in 2000 and completed it in 2002, I realised that I wanted to do a PhD, as long as my parents didn't have to fund me through it.

When I was awarded two scholarships for my PhD, I realised that it was possible to weave more of my dreams into reality. Now in my seventh year in Australia, I can also add with pride, that I'm a "dag". (Go on, look it up!)  

So I'm no longer a stranger in a strange land, and while India will always be home, so will Australia. I chose to study in Australia because I felt the way of life, the value system, the people and the pace were similar to what I've experienced in India.

In the past three years that I've been here, I've learnt to eat bland food, learnt to decipher some Australian slang, and learnt to say "no worries" a fair bit! While I haven't developed a taste for vegemite (and I'm sorry, I don't think I ever will!), I've finally learnt to say "tea" instead of "dinner", "shower" instead of "head bath", and "good onya" and "didyabringyergrogalong" without my tongue twisting.

The most useful thing I've learnt though is to be myself. No one cares which family I hail from, our financial or social status, or what I look like. My friends like me for who I am, and people respect me for what I give of myself.

In the seven years I've been in Australia, I've only experienced the nasty side of racism maybe once or twice, and have instead thoroughly enjoyed the friendly acceptance that I consider so Australian. I've rarely been labelled, and especially for someone with a slight physical disability, that is such a refreshing change! These differences do affect one's study experience, and I know it did mine because I could focus on enjoying my education and life here without having to worry about these insignificant issues. One of the reasons I love Australia is because I truly feel free to be me.

With that delightful sense of freedom, I'm all set to stride into my future. Both my degrees have developed and enhanced my skills as an art therapist, and some tutoring and guest lecturing experience at La Trobe, as well as presentations at national and international conferences, have added depth to my education.

I've gone from waiting anxiously whilst my MA thesis was being examined, to being an examiner of MA theses, and strange as it still feels, it has made me realise that I'd love to maintain links with academia and research, as well as private practice and working with art therapy clients.

My study experiences in Australia have therefore not just educated me in the field of my choice, but also in other avenues connected with my career. From experience and exposure, I now have many more exciting career options to choose from, and only see myself growing from strength to strength.

I've grown as a person, and my confidence has escalated. When I left home in December 1999 it was for the first time, and no one really knew how I'd cope with juggling the demands of my unpredictable and often exasperating health, my studies, and living by myself. I wanted to spread my wings, hoping and believing they could fly, but I have to say that studying in Australia has not only helped me learn to fly but also to soar beyond my wildest dreams. I made my mistakes, and learnt from them. I came across obstacles and learnt to overcome them. I've become more open and questioning, and have also learnt to challenge myself and my limitations even more.

I'd say studying in Australia has increased my knowledge of my field, and of myself as an individual. I've come to know my strengths and weaknesses better, and have had the opportunity to convert more weaknesses into strengths too. I've felt free to be me, and learnt how much more I can be...so I can give even more of myself, and of my best.

My future looks bright... and I'm smiling as I think of how much I've changed, and how I do indeed love being a "dag" that is as Australian as a meat pie!

Articles in this Australia section are contributed by IDP Education Pty Ltd.

IDP Education offers the most popular enrolment service used by international students who study in Australia. IDP has been operating since 1969. It was set up to channel Australian assistance to universities in South East Asia and was previously called the International Development Program.

Today, besides advising and enrolling international students in Australian courses, IDP continues its aid work and also owns a share of the IELTS English test.