Rough landing: Nine year old Julia arrived in Australia speaking no English

When Julia Mawande moved from Italy to Australia as a child she spoke absolutely no English. She was greeted by a very close-knit extended Australian Italian family, but couldn’t speak to anyone her own age. It made school incredibly challenging. Julia felt like a child of two worlds, belonging to neither.

Julia Mawande couldn't speak or understand English when she arrived in Australia as a child

Julia's parents met in Italy, where she was born. Her father was a professional wrestler and her Italian Australian mother was travelling to explore her heritage. After Julia was born they lived in Italy until she was nine.

Julia's mother always wanted to share her Australian life with her daughter, so when her parents divorced they moved. Julia found it very painful leaving her Dad, and despite the support of extended family she struggled. Not speaking any English made it even harder.

The language barrier put a huge target on my back

She learned to use humour to defend herself against schoolyard teasing, began to pick up English as a second language, and gradually found her feet. But maintaining a relationship with her father at a distance was difficult. When when she was nineteen, Julia returned to Italy to reconnect.

Julia had always felt Italian living in Australia, but in Italy she realised she felt Australian. She struggled for a long time with her identity, and has only recently come to terms with her dual sense of self.

I think the biggest thing for me was like, the moment where I heard myself speak Italian with an English accent. And I nearly vomited in my mouth. I was like, Oh my gosh, what is this?!

She found that the friends of her Zimbabwean partner could relate most closely to her experience. Sharing stories with them helped her feel more at home in Australia.

Julia takes comfort in knowing she'll always love visiting Italy and will always have family there, but it's not home.

In My First Year on Aussie Soil, 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.