My time at STREAT

Every day is a brand new day and a fresh start. Every day I get really excited when I wake up. I look forward to what I will be doing that day and I will be learning and gaining from it.

My life has changed from not wanting to really go anywhere or do anything, to being out there and looking forward to going to work and being out all the time instead of staying home.  Life was very tough where I came from and how I grew up but in saying that, it never stopped me from getting help and making friends.

When I say my life has changed from not wanting to go anywhere or do anything, I mean I didn’t like school so I was mainly at home and had no motivation to go out because I was always bullied. 

When I say life was very tough where I came from and how I grew up, let me explain a bit about my cultural background. I come from Iran and the cultural background is very different.  Growing up in Australia, I see myself as Australian. It is hard for some parents to adjust or to start believing in the Australian culture. For me, being Australian, and trying to live like a teenager in the Australian culture was hard for my parents.  In Iranian culture the kids always live with their parents and study hard until they get married.  They only move out of home when they are married.  For me and my family, it is different because I have moved out.  But on the other hand, I am studying and working which is great and I love it!

For my parents it has been really hard to understand that I wish to live away from the family home and continue to study and work.  They are trying hard to understand that I love what I do and that I am getting help and support. It was hard for me being a teenager and living with my parents because of how strict they are about the things I could do and where I could go.  I now understand that they are like that because they care about and love me and want the best for me.  I love my family. 

Like the saying goes “You can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family”.  Friends come and go in your life but family are always there no matter what.

I loved today.  It was funny how it all started but it was a great journey in the end. 

First we tried to set up the carts at Fed Square but we got rained on so we packed it all up.  I did get disappointed that we couldn’t trade but, come on, we can’t control the weather even though I wish we could. Ha ha ha.  My disappointment didn’t get my spirit down; I was still happy and giggly. We can’t always get what we want but there are other things you will be able to do if you ask around or do things that need to be done without being asked or told what to do.

The things I loved about today were going to Chef Hat, going to the market and eating a hot, fresh and spicy dim sim at the market.  The best part was getting a free apple.  It felt weird going into the kitchen where we cook and prepare our food but it was good to see the amount of food that we actually do prepare in two days.  I had a great time and it was fun.