My name is Tam. I’m 21-years-old and I came to Australia six months ago from Vietnam. I came here with my family because my father has to look after my grandmother. I remember the first day when I came here, everything was so strange here.
I had to learn everything and start a new life in a new country. Life is not easy like I thought. Sometimes it makes me tired and I just want to give up everything but, I know I must try my best to start a new life and that, eventually, everything will be OK.
I went to AMES to study English. I was nervous. Fortunately, they have good teachers who help me a lot. They not only teach me English but also they have helped me settle here. They gave me many opportunities to learn about Australia, showed me how to travel on public transport in Melbourne and even about Australian sports such as swimming, lawn bowls and football.
Now, I feel more confident about my English and about myself.
When I finish my study at AMES, I will go to university or TAFE and I hope I can find a good job in the future.
Thanks Australia for giving me many opportunities to settle here.
Questions about the closing of a refugee camp
What?
The refugee camp comprising about 1500 people from Liberia and Sierra Leone, including me, was being closed. We were still living on the camp.
Where?
In N'zerekory region, Guinea West Africa.
When?
In 2007 June.
Who?
Among those refugees, were women and children that the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) claim to protect. But they closed the refugee camp on us.
The abandoned refugees had their claim. They say: "we are undecided'' meaning that they are not certain to go back to their countries because they are not sure of their personal security.
Why?
But the thing about this story is that there was nobody to attend to their claims, not even the UNHCR.
They had no protection, food, or safe drinking water. Not even good sleeping place, school for their children and the worst of all is lack of security and health care.
I worry about them.
How?
Then there arose these questions ... How will they sleep? How will they eat? How will the women and children have protection and health care?
What is their hope? I kept on thinking about them as I was fortunate to travel.
Even now I am still worried about them, because there was no sign like help coming for those women and children. Oh how can that be?