Coming to Australia was a journey of unlearning and relearning. I arrived with some stereotypes shaped by movies, media, and second-hand stories: Australia was a land of constant sunshine, kangaroos hopping around every corner, it is infested with a lot of poisonous animals, and people speaking in endless slang. Nevertheless, I also came with the mindset to unlearn, relearn, and embrace Australia’s potential. While these images and stories I have come across painted a lighthearted picture, they barely scratched the surface of Australia’s rich and complex culture. There are even more goodies in Australia than what we just see on the internet. The food, the music, the welcoming spirit of Australians, the fresh air that feels so light and refreshing to breath in and out, and surprisingly, their best of the best tap water I have had in world, all give you the true definition of what it means to be in Australia.
One of the first surprises was the incredible diversity. I discovered a multicultural society where people from all over the world lived, worked, and thrived together. For instance, I have had the opportunity to try many local cuisines from African and Asia just in the course of one week. This was far from the homogenous image I had envisioned. Meeting individuals from different backgrounds helped me appreciate Australia’s identity as a melting pot of cultures.
The most transformative part of my first week experience was learning about Indigenous Australian history and culture. It shattered my preconceived notions and taught me about resilience, wisdom, and the deep connection to the land that defines First Nations communities.
Each day in Australia challenged me to step outside my assumptions and embrace learning. The experience showed me that no country can be boxed into stereotypes—it’s the people, their stories, and their shared struggles that truly define a place. Australia, like every nation, deserves to be understood in its full, authentic complexity.