[Life] Survival in MelbourneAuthor: JEFFI CHAO HUI WU Time: June 23, 2025, Monday, 12:03 PM ········································ [Life] Survival in Melbourne March 18, 1989, went abroad, first stop: Melbourne, Australia The airplane roared as it soared into the sky, the lights of my hometown gradually shrinking and blurring, eventually disappearing from view. I leaned against the seat, gazing out the window, but inside I felt no excitement, only a complex emotion that was hard to describe. This is not an ordinary trip, nor is it a guaranteed study abroad program. This is a high-stakes adventure, a journey where I don't even know where the end is. I have only one goal: to survive, and then to create my own future. Alone in the world, a stranger's realm Melbourne, a completely unfamiliar city. The moment I stepped out of the airport, the cold wind hit me, and I realized that this was not the imagined life in a foreign country, but a complete survival challenge. Language barrier makes it impossible to even understand the price of a bus ticket. Cultural barriers make it difficult to even know how to place an order. In a tight economy, every penny of savings needs to be carefully budgeted. Reality hasn't given me time to adapt; I must find a job as soon as possible, or I won't even be able to pay the rent. Looking for a job over the phone? That's a joke! In China, we are accustomed to the model of "first making a phone call to clarify, then going for an interview," so I bought an English newspaper that had many job listings. But it wasn't until I actually started making calls that I realized this simply wouldn't work. Because the people on both ends of the phone cannot understand what the other is saying. A few days later, I gave up on making phone calls. I realized that in this land, people who do not speak the language at all cannot find a job over the phone. The First Job: A Brief Trial When I first arrived in Melbourne, everything was unfamiliar. I was trying hard to adapt to the foreign environment while also contemplating my future path. I lived with a Vietnamese couple who treated me very well; they were also very hardworking, leading a simple and regular life. Every morning at five o'clock, they would get up on time, have a simple breakfast, and then start working until nine in the evening, when they would finish their day's labor. Although their pace of life was tight and monotonous, they never complained; instead, they silently endured and worked hard for a better life in the future. The hostess saw that I had just arrived and was unemployed, so she took the initiative to introduce me to a job at a garment factory. She enthusiastically told me that it was a very simple job, suitable for a newcomer like me, and that no experience was needed; as long as I was willing to work hard, I could earn enough for living expenses. Seeing her eagerness, I nodded, thinking that I should at least give it a try. The work experience on the first day The next day, I arrived at a small garment factory, where the air was filled with the scent of fabric and the heat from irons. The factory was bustling with people, each focused on their work, with no extra conversation, only the roar of machines. The female owner took me to the master in charge of managing the new workers, said a few words, and then left. My task is very simple: to iron the collars with a flat iron. For every 10 collars I iron, I earn 0.1 AUD. This means that if I iron 1000 collars, I can earn 10 AUD. I picked up the first collar, carefully adjusted it, and pressed down hard with the iron. The scalding steam instantly rose, and my hand recoiled from the heat, but I didn't stop; I continued to iron the second, the third... At first, my movements were clumsy and frantic, but gradually, I mastered some techniques, and the rhythm became smoother. However, this mechanical repetition soon made me feel suffocated; the iron in my hand seemed to turn into a heavy lead weight, and with each press, it felt like it was extinguishing the passion within me. Two hours later, I stopped my work and looked at the pile of collars beside me, but I felt no sense of accomplishment. Sweat trickled down my forehead, and my arms ached from the repetitive motions. I glanced around, and the workers were still keeping their heads down, focused on their tasks, as if they had long since become accustomed to this monotonous rhythm. This is not my life. I took a deep breath, walked up to the person in charge, and politely told him that I didn't want to continue. He was taken aback for a moment, perhaps not understanding why I was giving up so quickly. I shook my head, thanked him, and turned to leave. Back at the residence, the hostess saw me return with a hint of surprise on her face and asked, "Why didn't you continue? This job is very simple, and if you work quickly, you can earn quite a bit in a day." I smiled and replied, "This is not the life I want." She sighed and told me earnestly that in their circle, the highest earner is a Chinese person who has been in the garment industry for over a decade and has become extremely skilled, earning much more than others every day. She and her husband have been working hard for many years and have long been accustomed to this rhythm. They believe that as long as they keep working hard, life will get better and better. She also told me that they are close to paying off the mortgage on this villa, and all of this has been achieved through their own hard work, bit by bit. I admire their hard work and fighting spirit, but I still shook my head firmly. This is not my future; I cannot confine myself to repetitive mechanical labor. I want to seek a direction that truly belongs to me. Reject mediocrity, seek breakthroughs That day, I realized for the first time that my purpose in going abroad was not to spend my life doing manual labor in a factory. Although the life of the Vietnamese couple was stable, it was not the goal I wanted to pursue. I was unwilling to confine my life between an iron and a collar; instead, I sought to find a broader horizon. Later, I began to fully enhance myself, learning English, researching business opportunities, and trying to enter new fields. I knew that only by continuously breaking through could I escape the ordinary trajectory and truly create a future of my own. Looking back on that day, I am glad I made that decision. Every path in life is a choice of my own, and I have never been content with mediocrity. Three Moves: Turning Points in Life Upon arriving in Melbourne, I had not fully adapted to life here; everything was filled with the unknown. At that moment, a friend from my home country introduced me to her relative—Mr. Zhang. He also lived in Melbourne, and upon learning that I had just arrived, he took the initiative to call me. On the phone, his tone was warm and friendly, as if he had brought a touch of familiar warmth to my foreign surroundings. First Move: Stepping into a Broader World A few days later, we agreed to meet in the city. He was a few years older than me, dressed appropriately, and his conversation revealed his shrewdness and competence. After we met, we talked for a long time, discussing everything from domestic affairs to the environment in Australia, and then to future plans. He told me that in Melbourne, although the pace of life is slower than in China, there are still many opportunities; the key is how to seek them out. At the moment of parting, he suddenly asked me, "Would you be willing to move to a place closer to the city? This way, it will be more convenient for you to attend classes and you can better integrate into life here." I agreed almost without hesitation. For a newcomer like me, moving to a location closer to the city means more opportunities and a quicker adaptation to the new environment. Perhaps, this is another important milestone on my path of growth. That weekend, Mr. Zhang drove to pick me up, bringing my luggage, and we moved to South Yarra together. It is only a few stops away from the city center, with a bustling environment, restaurants, supermarkets, and shopping malls all available, making it a relatively ideal place for international students to live. However, the new residence was somewhat different from the life I had imagined—it's a very small one-bedroom apartment with a separate kitchen, and the bathroom is in the master bedroom. There were already several international students living here, so I could only find a spot to settle down in a large dormitory. Although the environment is more crowded than before, I don't mind. For me, moving means a new beginning, and I need to adapt to the surroundings as well as to the life of wandering. Second Move: Adapting to Wandering After moving, I immediately wrote a letter to my family, informing them of my new address. My family back home was very worried after hearing this. According to their perspective, moving is a significant event in life, and most people only move once or twice in their lifetime. However, I didn't think much of it at the time; in Australia, moving is almost a routine occurrence, especially for international students, who may change their place of residence every few months. This mobile lifestyle, while unstable, is also full of opportunities and challenges. A few months later, I moved again. This time it was because I wanted to be independent and could not always live under someone else's care. By then, I had developed a new understanding of moving; it no longer felt like a major event in life, but rather a part of living. Mr. Zhang: From Friend to Partner During my days in Melbourne, I kept in touch with Mr. Zhang. He not only gave me a lot of advice in life but also inspired me in my career. As time went by, our friendship grew deeper, and he even became my later business partner. Looking back, it was a phone call from him that initiated our friendship and influenced many of my subsequent decisions. Moving means new possibilities. In Australia, moving does not mean drifting, but rather seeking better opportunities. After several moves, I began to understand that life is essentially a journey of constant searching and adjusting. Each move may be a new attempt, a step forward. Once I became accustomed to this change, I gradually learned to adapt and to find a certain direction amidst uncertainty. Mr. Zhang later became my partner. We not only helped each other in life but also had more intersections in our careers. His assistance made my life in a foreign land smoother and strengthened my sense of direction. This moving experience made me realize that adapting to a new environment requires courage and flexibility. Every move is a new beginning, filled with uncertainty, but it also brings new opportunities and growth. Mr. Zhang's help made my life in Melbourne smoother and strengthened my determination towards my goals. Source: http://www.australianwinner.com/AuWinner/viewtopic.php?t=696482 |