Anna, 24
Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Came to Australia in November 2009
What is your occupation?
I’m in digital marketing at one of the Big Four banks, looking after social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin) and interacting with customers there. It’s a 24/7 job as people post things at all times of the day. The thing I like most about working at a bank is that you are always upskilled; you never stay in one role for too long. I want to work in financial crime. It’s all about acquiring knowledge.
I have a dream to one day become an actress. I used to be in feature films and commercials before I had a baby. I played a minor role in the movie Christmas Down Under. Two of my biggest inspirations are Viola Davis and Denzel Washington.
Why did you come to Australia?
I came to Australia because my parents wanted me to. My dad was already living in Australia and wanted me to join him. I was actually very resistant because I had lived my whole life in Ethiopia and didn’t really want to go to a faraway land that I had no idea about. I also considered my father a stranger at the time because I was raised by my maternal grandparents and had only met him once previously.
When I arrived at Addis Ababa airport, it was so surreal to receive two kisses from my mum and then be escorted onto the plane by a tall, white gentleman called Abraham. My dad picked me up from Sydney Airport.
I have no regrets coming here as I obviously have a better life and standard of living here. At the same time, I felt like part of my life was robbed from me. People decide what’s best for their children but the children are never given a say in the decision making. Even if I came to Australia with my elder half-sister, it’d have at least been a reminder of my past life. Now all I have are memories.
What do you like about Sydney?
It’s very multicultural. I can learn about cultures I’d never heard of before: when I came to Australia, I had no idea what Asian culture was about. I went to an English Learning centre and I was exposed to kids of different backgrounds there.
Everything that I want or need is accessible. I can find a job easily. There are hospitals down the road. I grew up in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia and the nearest hospital would be days away.
What don’t you like about Sydney?
Something simple I miss is not being able to swim in the Nile river and lakes back in Ethiopia. Back when I was young, we would swim and eat mangoes. It was quite surreal as we’d see crocodiles and none of us would be fearful. Apparently there is an urban legend that the crocodiles won’t eat people from the Gambela Region, but they would eat foreigners.
What would you like to say to Sydneysiders?
Speaking as someone from a different cultural background, I’d appreciate it if people removed their implicit biases when they talk to me. Build a connection with someone first before digging into their background/past. It can be very sensitive to some people so it is inappropriate to immediately ask questions like “Where are you from?” as a conversation starter.
What languages do you speak?
English, Arabic, Amharic, Anuak
I speak Arabic fluently - I speak to my mum in Arabic, Amharic and Anuak.
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia and Anuak is my mother’s tribal language.
Teach us one word/phrase from your native language.
Tadiyasi inidēti newi
This means how are you in Amharic.
What is one thing you want us to know about your native country?
When I say I’m from Ethiopia, please do NOT think I’m from the World Vision Sponsor a Child ads!
Ethiopia has its own calendar, making the country one of a few countries in the world with it's own calendar. The Ethiopia calendar has 13 months, 12 of which have 30 days and an intercalary month at the end of the year called Pagume which means 'forgotten days' in Greek. This last month has five or six days in a leap year.
Ethiopia is considered the birthplace of coffee: it is thought that coffee was discovered in Ethiopia as long ago as the ninth century.
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa. It was also never colonised by any European power.
Erta Ale is notable for holding the longest-existing lava lake in the world.
It also has a 12 hour clock system.
Who is the most famous person in your native country?
Haile Selassie
He was the last Emperor of Ethiopia and ruled from 1930 to 1974. Haile Selassie is widely considered a defining figure in modern Ethiopian history, and the key figure of Rastafari, a religious movement in Jamaica that emerged shortly after he became emperor in the 1930s.
He is part of the kingdom that shaped Ethiopia till this day.
What is the best dish in your native country?
Injera
Injera is a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread with a slightly spongy texture, traditionally made of teff flour. Every meal you have in Ethiopia you have with injera. My favourite meal is injera with doro wat, a slow-cooked chicken stew.
It takes forever to cook though, so I haven’t had it in a while.
Disclaimer: All posts are personal opinions and perspectives of the interviewees and are not a perfect representation of the whole country/experience.
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