In Papua New Guinea, your grandparents raise you while your parents go out and work. They become the providers for the extended family.
When her mother received a scholarship to study in Australia, Helen was separated from her for several years, and was raised mostly by her Grandmother and Aunties. They lived in a rough neighbourhood, but had a strong community around them.
Eventually Helen's mother was able to take her and her sister to Australia. It was the first time she was away from the extended family.
And it was just like this gigantic place and everything that we ever prayed about and wished for we had, and yet we were so homesick. We didn't have our family, we didn't have community, there was nothing familiar about it.
It was a difficult transition, but ultimately one that brought Helen and her mother closer together. Understanding her mother's difficult experience in Papua New Guinea helped Helen to appreciate her perspective.
Helen could only speak Pidgin when she first arrived in Australia, but over time she lost her childhood language. In order to help her children to start a new life in Australia, Helen's mother had encouraged them to only speak English. As an adult, hearing some women from Papua New Guinea speaking Pidgin brought back many memories of her early life.
And I just remembered the joy that came from speaking my language. And I just thought, I'm going to speak my language...so I think it's rediscovering my culture again and telling myself it's okay.
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.
