Looking back at me, now a 3-mth old Aussie PR, I couldn't help but reminisce when I read this very well written blog post about a new minted Aussie PR-Malaysian girl who settled in Gold Coast.
Pre PR, Ernest and I used to see all these Asians, these foreigners, working in resturants and checkouts at the supermarkets and wonder why in the world they manage to stay in Australia and even get jobs considering their almost non-existent spoken English. There is no doubt in our minds that a large percentage will be working illegally, we know, but we always felt it is so unfair when they can hold down jobs while we have to ride out month after month with job insecurities and fear in our mouths constantly.
But I always always have this strange bitter sour aftertaste in my mouth too not unlike bile when I compare how easy it is for Singapore govt to accept foreigners to work in Singapore, dishing out PRs and work and benefits to them with ease; versus Australian govt thriftfully holding and guarding their PRs as though they are national treasures.
I totally get these admiring eyes when we start to introduce ourselves rightfully as PRs, cos alot of our foreign friends here are not and is feeling the pain financially or emotionally to ride the PR application train out.
So when we heard of so-and-so who gave up their PRs and went back to Singapore because they missed their loved ones/work didn't work out/feel lonely, I really wonder why they apply to get out of Singapore in the first place. Dun they get it? Once you reject the PR, there is no way you can come back again.
I am going to treasure my PR no matter what. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.
On a lighter note though, I was particularly amused when my Aussie colleague got off the work phone extremely fustrated because he got a Thai lady on the other line with a very thick accent. He tried to take a piss at me,'Oh Eliss! So fustrating! I CANNOT speak to her, your, your cousin from Thailand!'
What? You mean as long as you come from Asia, you automatically becomes my cousin? Even though you are shades darker than I am? LOL....
2 comments:
hello there, thanks for linking my post! :D it's great to know there's someone else who feels the same way around.
What a surprise! Thanks for coming by. You were highly recommended by Jenny in her blog, so I had a very good read yesterday afternoon. Thanks.
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