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My First Year on Aussie Soil
My First Year on Aussie Soil
What is it really like to start calling Australia home? My First Year on Aussie Soil is an SBS podcast hosted by comedian and actor Suraj Kolarkar. As a youngster he moved Down Under from India and has been obsessed with immigrant stories e
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Episodes
Comedian Peter Meisel came to Australia on a two year teaching contract and never left
Jewish comedian Peter Meisel arrived in Australia in the 1970's on a two year teaching contract. He never expected to still be here decades later.
Comedian Peter Meisel came to Australia on a two year teaching contract and never left
Jewish comedian Peter Meisel arrived in Australia in the 1970's on a two year teaching contract. He never expected to still be here decades later.
33:16
25 Aug 22
Everyone deserves a second chance: Former child soldier Grace Arach finds solace in helping others
Grace Arach grew up in the northern part of Uganda. When her parents separated, Grace's father took custody and she was subjected to harsh treatment by her new step mum. In 1995 Grace's dad was killed by Joseph Kony's rebel group. A year later she was kidnapped by the group and forced to become a child soldier. This is the story of Grace's journey to find safety and purpose in Australia.
Everyone deserves a second chance: Former child soldier Grace Arach finds solace in helping others
Grace Arach grew up in the northern part of Uganda. When her parents separated, Grace's father took custody and she was subjected to harsh treatment by her new step mum. In 1995 Grace's dad was killed by Joseph Kony's rebel group. A year later she was kidnapped by the group and forced to become a child soldier. This is the story of Grace's journey to find safety and purpose in Australia.
40:37
18 Aug 22
When Mack Okine migrated from Ghana, 1970s Townsville wasn't how he had imagined Australia
Mack Okine was born in Ghana and raised on cocoa farm. As a young man he studied chemical engineering, but on a whim applied for a dentistry scholarship to Australia. Expecting a city that looked like those he'd seen in the movies, Mack was instead greeted by Townsville in the seventies.
When Mack Okine migrated from Ghana, 1970s Townsville wasn't how he had imagined Australia
Mack Okine was born in Ghana and raised on cocoa farm. As a young man he studied chemical engineering, but on a whim applied for a dentistry scholarship to Australia. Expecting a city that looked like those he'd seen in the movies, Mack was instead greeted by Townsville in the seventies.
35:40
11 Aug 22
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.
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.
38:06
4 Aug 22
From war-torn Lebanon to Townsville: Tala Amhaz found peace, freedom and equality
Tala Amhaz witnessed and experienced some horrifying things growing up in Lebanon during the Civil War. She then went on to great professional success in Dubai, but was still feeling unfulfilled. She has eventually found peace, freedom and equality in regional Australia.
From war-torn Lebanon to Townsville: Tala Amhaz found peace, freedom and equality
Tala Amhaz witnessed and experienced some horrifying things growing up in Lebanon during the Civil War. She then went on to great professional success in Dubai, but was still feeling unfulfilled. She has eventually found peace, freedom and equality in regional Australia.
36:08
28 Jul 22
Moving from PNG to Australia gave Helen a new perspective on her culture
Helen Malarekere is from Papua New Guinea. She was raised by her close-knit extended family. When she moved to Australia with just her mother and sister, she had to find new ways of relating to family, and to a whole new culture.
Moving from PNG to Australia gave Helen a new perspective on her culture
Helen Malarekere is from Papua New Guinea. She was raised by her close-knit extended family. When she moved to Australia with just her mother and sister, she had to find new ways of relating to family, and to a whole new culture.
39:49
21 Jul 22
Ali Bahnasawy moved from Egypt to America to Germany. Ultimately Australia became home
Ali Bahnasawy was born in Egypt and spent his childhood in Dubai. His passion to work in media led him to America and Germany, but it was Australia that has ultimately become home. Ali now works with SBS News as a senior journalist and TV presenter.
Ali Bahnasawy moved from Egypt to America to Germany. Ultimately Australia became home
Ali Bahnasawy was born in Egypt and spent his childhood in Dubai. His passion to work in media led him to America and Germany, but it was Australia that has ultimately become home. Ali now works with SBS News as a senior journalist and TV presenter.
41:51
14 Jul 22
Anne-Emilie chased love all the way to outback Australia
Anne-Emilie Perol went from an easy life in France to living out of a van in outback Australia, working with her hands for the first time in her life. This is the story of how she fell in love with Australia.
Anne-Emilie chased love all the way to outback Australia
Anne-Emilie Perol went from an easy life in France to living out of a van in outback Australia, working with her hands for the first time in her life. This is the story of how she fell in love with Australia.
36:24
6 Jul 22
‘Oh my god, this is heaven!’: Ali found safety and connection in Australia
Ali Sina Yousofi spent his childhood in a part of Afghanistan where terror attacks were commonplace. He carried the emotional scars across borders, and struggled to relate to the children at his new school in Australia. Ultimately though Ali was able to find connection with other immigrant kids who shared similar experiences.
‘Oh my god, this is heaven!’: Ali found safety and connection in Australia
Ali Sina Yousofi spent his childhood in a part of Afghanistan where terror attacks were commonplace. He carried the emotional scars across borders, and struggled to relate to the children at his new school in Australia. Ultimately though Ali was able to find connection with other immigrant kids who shared similar experiences.
46:29
30 Jun 22
How long does it take for Australia to feel like home when you migrate as a child?
Suraj Kolarkar moved from India to Australia with his parents at 11 years old. He sat down with them to ask about their migration journey for the first time, to try and learn everything he could about those first days adjusting to life in Australia.
How long does it take for Australia to feel like home when you migrate as a child?
Suraj Kolarkar moved from India to Australia with his parents at 11 years old. He sat down with them to ask about their migration journey for the first time, to try and learn everything he could about those first days adjusting to life in Australia.
43:54
22 Jun 22
Introducing My First Year on Aussie Soil
What is it really like to start calling Australia home? Hear inspiring, funny and heart-warming stories of people finding their feet in Australia on a new SBS podcast hosted by comedian and actor Suraj Kolarkar.
Introducing My First Year on Aussie Soil
What is it really like to start calling Australia home? Hear inspiring, funny and heart-warming stories of people finding their feet in Australia on a new SBS podcast hosted by comedian and actor Suraj Kolarkar.
01:12
16 Jun 22
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