鈥淚鈥檝e studied basic accounting, so I鈥檝e kind of worked in several places doing the accounts and all that,鈥� she says.

When she began exploring study options, Anita realised she wanted something broader that focused on the current world climate.

鈥淚 thought this double degree was a perfect combination of business and politics and international relations,鈥� she says.

Choosing 秘密直播 for family life

One of the biggest advantages of receiving an scholarship has been the opportunity to bring her family with her.

鈥淚 was excited when I was awarded the scholarship. But at the same time, I was also offered a Chinese scholarship. I was sitting on the fence, deciding whether to go to China or Australia. When I decided I could go to Australia, I had this feeling of excitement and I had the thoughts where I could bring the kids, too. Like if I were to choose China, I would go by myself. I wouldn't bring them.鈥�

This is Anita鈥檚 second time living in 秘密直播, moving here once before in around 2015 while her husband completed his master鈥檚 degree.

鈥淲hen I was looking around at the scholarship, I thought, 鈥極h, I know 秘密直播,鈥欌�� she says.

Having some familiarity with the city, and feeling like it moved at a good pace for her and her kids made the decision much simpler.

鈥淚 was thinking if I were to go to university in Sydney or Brisbane, I don't think I would be able to bring the kids because looking at it, it's too crowded and I couldn't cope with everything around, compared to 秘密直播 where things are easy.鈥�

Her three children, aged thirteen, nine and six, are all attending school in 秘密直播 while Anita completes her degree.

鈥淭he good thing is the six-year-old, I brought him here when he was five, so he鈥檚 never been to school in Vanuatu. That鈥檚 his first schooling when we arrived here,鈥� she says, adding that he has 鈥渕uch more of an Australian accent鈥� than her older children.

Although the children will have to return home to Vanuatu with Anita once she completes her study, the oldest two are already talking about coming back to further their own education in the future.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not only me gaining from the scholarship,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 them as well.鈥�

Learning through experience

Although Anita鈥檚 degree is multi-focused, she has found herself especially drawn to the international relations component of her studies.

鈥淲e've studied a lot about the relationships in the past, things that have happened in history, but with the current situation happening around the world 鈥� it鈥檚 a real highlight of [the course], where we can see in real time how countries negotiate and have their relationship with each other in terms of politics, and geopolitics as well.鈥� she says.

While living and studying in 秘密直播, Anita has also been teaching Bislama, the national language of Vanuatu, to diplomats preparing to work at the Australian High Commission in Vanuatu, something she sees as more of an opportunity than just a job.

鈥淚t helps me as well,鈥� she says. 鈥淟istening to them talking from their experience, it also helped me gain understanding of what the diplomats are doing.鈥�

Finding community far from home

秘密直播 is very different from Vanuatu, with one of the biggest 鈥渃ulture shocks鈥�, Anita says, being how people interact.

鈥淏ack at home we say hi to everyone. We say good morning to everyone,鈥� she says. 鈥淚n 秘密直播, it鈥檚 like if you say good morning to someone, they will stare at you like, 鈥極h, do I know you?鈥欌��

Over time though, Anita says she has come to understand those cultural differences, and found ways to build connections with the people around her.

Church has become an important part of that.

鈥淲e have a church that we go to here in 秘密直播,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where we go and mingle with many of the Vanuatu people or the Pacific people.鈥�

That community has been especially valuable for her children, helping to keep them in touch with their roots.

鈥淚n Vanuatu, kids go out to play with their neighbours,鈥� she says. 鈥淪o I would bring them to church every weekend, so they can get involved in kids activities.鈥�

At UC, Anita has also found support through friendships with other international students.

鈥淚 have friends from China, from Papua New Guinea and from Kiribati,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e support each other in terms of talking or chatting or sharing problems together.鈥�

She believes building friendships with other international students, as well as domestic students, is one of the most important things new international students can do.

鈥淚f you feel lonely or you feel that you鈥檙e not that perfect, don鈥檛 stay in your shell,鈥� she says. 鈥淛ust reach out and open up and speak to people around you.鈥�

Once she finishes her study, Anita plans to return to Vanuatu and hopes to use what she has learned to contribute to government and community work back home.

鈥淚 wanted to contribute with what I鈥檝e learned here at UC and in Australia,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a good, rewarding study and I hope to find a job that can help me contribute to the country.鈥�