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Author: Rachel Pierce
Storyteller: Rachel Pierce
Community Language School: Japanese Community Language School
Main School: Kent Road Public School

The story of a family migrating from Wales to Australia.

Life in the UK

My dad was born in Portsmouth in England. He has two older brothers, Martin and Neil. Everyday he took a train with tis friends to school until he went to University in Cardiff, Wales. He met my mum there, got married and moved to Newport (Wales).

I was born in 1990 and my brother was born in 1993. We lived in a two storey, four bedroom house. In front of our house was a big, peaceful river and beyond that were hills with sheep and the occasional sheep dog.

My dad went to work, where he designed optical fibre cables.

The most special day of the year was Christmas. The family got together at my dad’s dad’s (my Grandad’s) house. We would eat roast diner and give presents to each other.

Life in Australia

My dad was transferred by his company. He’s a Chief Engineer. He came to Australia two years ago, three months before us. He said the journey was boring but he was excited when the plane finally got to Sydney.

When my dad first arrived he stayed in a unit in Manly, by the beach. He said the view from his window was magnificent. He wasn’t quite used to the heat though, because the UK was a lot colder.

He felt strange that Christmas was in the hot summer here because in the UK Christmas was in the cold winter and sometimes it snowed.

Today

My dad thinks the UK and Australia are similar but the weather is much nicer here.

He always wanted to come to Australia because his dad had come to Australia when he was smaller and said it was really nice.

He’s used to the heat now and when we went to England for a holiday, at the beginning of this July, it was pretty cold even though it was summer in England.

My dad and the rest of us think Australia is great and we’re glad we moved here!