Joey Yadao is a first year student taking up Masters of International Accounting at Deakin University. After finishing two accounting degrees in the Philippines, he moved to Australia right after graduating to continue a further study.
It's Joey's first Christmas away from his hometown Davao City and he believes that compared to the usual frisky celebration back home, this time, things will be different.
"I think its gonna be a little different compared sa Pilipinas kasi back sa atin you can really feel the Christmas maybe in the months of September. Dito kasi konti lang nakikita kong decoration. A lot of people are not really into the spirit of Christmas. You can really tell that they're so busy, everybody is working and everything is moving fast that we can't really feel the spirit of Christmas."
Joey adds his first Christmas in Australia is not what he originally expected.
"I imagined Christmas here to be very cold and it's summer time here, I can't really feel the Christmas spirit kasi mainit po. We tend to have white Christmas and then it's really hot here po hindi siya Christmasy feeling."
Although he has always dreamed of living in a fast-paced metropolis, he realized how it can be very lonely at the same time.
Source: Supplied- Joey Yadao
"At first I think ito yung gusto kong lifestyle. It's really fast and I feel like everything can happen. But now that I see it, kind of feel like really sad coz everything is so fast na hindi na natin na-apreciate yung mga little things around us and I thinks that's what's important."
While money is not something that he worries about, as he is being fully supported by his parents from the Philippines, he cites that his major struggle in the country is loneliness.
"I think one that I struggled with really is loneliness. I think lahat naman po tayo na hindi from here struggle with loneliness kasi there's always gonna be a barrier sa ating language kasi English is not our first language. We can't really express ourselves to others. Sometimes, you could be funny in our language and it doesn't translate really good when you try to tell it to other nationalities."
He also believes that living with a friend helped him cope from all the trials in his first year.
"It's a good thing that I'm living with a friend that I know back in the Philippines. She taught me everything and helped me with my transition. And I think you have to set your mind na you have to leave those lifestyle back in the Philippines. Pagdating mo palang sa Australia dapat alam mo na ano pinasok mo. So you have to mentally prepare yourself."
Without any work experience in his chosen field, Joey hopes to finish his internship as soon as possible for him to be able to land on a good job and gain experience in the country.
Source: Supplied- Joey Yadao
" I'm trying to do my internship as early as now so I can land a job that would get me somewhere. I don't have any experience even in the Philippines. I wan to be exposed a little bit more sa industry na I'm in. If opportunity reveals itself po then I will definitely take it."
His Christmas wish and prayer is to succeed in his studies, live a healthy life and the safety of his family back in the Philippines.
Although his first Christmas in Australia is not what he imagined it to be- stunning lights, flashy decorations and a cold breezy air, he is still positive that he will enjoy the holiday season because of the mere presence of his good friends.
