Anne-Emilie Perol lived a comfortable life in France, the daughter of a French father and Madagascan mother. Chasing love, she made a spontaneous decision to leave her job, friends and family behind.
It was the start of many adventures travelling Australia in a van, and Anne-Emilie often found herself way out of her depth. She picked up rural farm jobs and learned to work with her hands for the first time.
It was the first time I got my hands, and everything else, dirty. We were covered in dust the whole day long... I was stronger than I have ever been in my entire life.
When the relationship that brought Anne-Emilie to Australia ended and she went back to France, she found that her love for Australia was more alive than ever. It felt like she was away from home.
Anne-Emillie had felt like an outsider in France because of her Madagascan heritage and the colour of her skin. In Australia, she didn’t feel this judgment.
Australia is now Anne-Emilie's permanent home, and she's eager to pass her Madagascan heritage on to her daughter.
Anne-Emillie shares her story in episode three of My First Year on Aussie Soil.
In this podcast series, comedian Suraj Kolarkar delves into the stories of people who have found their feet in Australia, as they share their first impressions, and the highs and lows of life in a new country.
Follow My First Year on Aussie Soil in the SBS Radio app, Spotify, Apple podcasts or wherever you listen to podcasts.
