For today’s feature, we have with us Kristina, who will graciously tell us a bit about her life and journey in Australia.
Kristina is one of the few people that I actively follow on social media and YouTube. So naturally, when I saw her post about her being officially an Australian citizen, I had to ask her if she’d be willing to share her journey with us. Of course, she was kind enough to say yes. So here she is, sharing with us her Aussie story:
A bit about me (Kristina)
I was born in China and migrated to the Philippines when I was 8 years old. I grew up in Binondo (Chinatown of the Philippines) like most Chinese who immigrate to the Philippines, with my dad, stepmom, Lola and siblings. I attended primary and secondary Chinese schools and graduated with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional management in DLSU- CSB (De La Salle – College of Saint Benilde).
I built a career in the contact centre industry and my last role was a Quality manager. I lived a very independent life and lived in different cities (Makati, Mandaluyong and Quezon City) as I would often move when I changed jobs to be closer to my work location. I worked between 12 to 14 hrs a day and was doing different shifts (night, afternoon and morning).
Aside from working hard, I also liked to go clubbing with friends every weekend which was fun, but I often felt like I had no work life balance and no direction. When I met my husband, I knew our relationship was the real thing and my perspective in life changed for the better. Quality of life became a top priority for me and for us and so everything changed when we moved to Australia.
On migrating to Australia
I migrated to Australia because my husband was originally from Adelaide, South Australia. I met my husband in the Philippines when he was working as an Expat for an Australian Telco company. He was based in the Philippines for 6 years and during that time we were introduced by a mutual friend and the rest was history. When he proposed and I said yes, I knew when his work contract in the Philippines was going to end and I would need to move to Australia with him, so I applied for a De-facto/ Partner Visa. My Partner visa was granted a few months after we got married and in February of 2017, we moved to Adelaide which was the beginning of my journey in Australia. I have been here about 5 years and 4 months, and I love it here.
At first I was unsure of what was going to happen as I left everything behind when I moved here, my family, friends, career and most importantly a country I called home for 28 years.
But as time slowly passed by, I was able to adjust and now I can say that I love living in Australia, especially in Adelaide because it’s a peaceful (not too busy) city, clean, and the people are warm and accepting. I was also able to build a new career, gain new friendships and found a place to build our little family. If given a chance, would I still have chosen to migrate here? Yes, I would always choose to migrate to Australia. For me, the quality of life here is better overall.
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The first couple of years
My first few years here in Australia was great. I had some challenges in the first few months, everything was unfamiliar, but I was able to adjust quickly. The most challenging part for me was trying to find employment. I did not expect it to be that hard to find a job given my work history. The second was being away from my little Icey (our dog) who had to go through a 60-day quarantine period as we brought him with us to Australia. And lastly, not having friends in Adelaide who I could chat or meet up with.
It took me about 3 months to land a job. Despite sending my CV online to countless employers over 3 months, only 3 responded but giving up was not an option. I knew starting work would be key to me being able to adjust quickly in Australia as a part for just having some income, I would be able to meet people and learn new skills to engage my mind. I had also explored Adelaide during that period to get to know the city, become more comfortable, adapt to the culture and find my favourite spots.
My husband and I decided to live in the city when we moved here so that it will be easier for me to adjust as we can just walk to restaurants, supermarkets and shops which made it easier for me get to know the city. Icey on the other hand was delivered to our doorstep when he completed his final quarantine period in Melbourne. I was able to overcome those challenges through perseverance and focusing on what I wanted to achieve and work towards it and most importantly, staying positive.
Anything I’d do differently?
I don’t think there’s anything I’d do differently. Even though I had struggled in the beginning, I feel like, those struggles actually helped me appreciate what I have and achieved today.
What Australia taught me
Australia taught me the importance of having a work life balance. It is important to work hard but it is equally important that you make time for family and loved ones. I used to work long hours and work was my life which was unhealthy. When we moved to Australia, work became an extra activity that I do for myself to still have my own thing and to not lose my sense of independence and individuality. I also noticed that companies here are very big when it comes to personal time. I work full time which entitles me to different types of leave and benefits.
I am currently on Maternity leave and was able to extend it to 7 months on half pay with a portion of it being subsidised through government supported parental leave. As a first-time mum, it has been a huge help to be able to spend longer time with my baby. Just to share, our son is an IVF baby and the IVF process is not easy. It was physically, emotionally, and financially stressful. We are truly grateful that healthcare in Australia is one of the best in the world and that a percentage of the IVF cost is covered via healthcare. In addition, the amount of support we received from our places of work has been overwhelming. People have been very understanding hence I feel very lucky that we have migrated here.
My life now
I can say my life now is more than what I hoped for. Living in this beautiful country with my husband, Icey and the newest addition to our little family, our son Kaiden. I could not ask for more. We are living comfortably in our apartment in the city. I have a permanent office job to return to when my 7 month long maternity leave ends. With everything that’s happened in the past 2 years, the pandemic, it taught me to appreciate what we have now. I am especially grateful and honoured when I got my Australian citizenship a couple of months ago. The process has been very straightforward and quick as long as you provide all the requirements and pass the test. Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi! 🙂
A piece of advice
Anything is possible as long as you work hard for it.
By taking small steps toward your goals and persevere, I guarantee, you will get there. In terms of career, there are programs/ certifications available to upskill which will aid you landing that job you want. Be patient, work hard, save and it won’t be long until you are able to buy your first home, build your family, etc.
Check out one of Kristina’s YouTube videos
Kristina’s Instagram
Kristina’s YouTube
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Authors: Kristina x My Aussie Story
About the “Your Aussie Story” series:
Immigrants in Australia, though from different cultures and backgrounds, tend to have similar experiences and common ‘struggles’ as they build their new life here in Australia. Through My Aussie Story, I’ve been trying to help out people like myself to be able to navigate the Australian way of life a little bit easier by sharing my own experiences.
I’ve always believed that every migrant’s journey would be less challenging if we learn from each other. This is why we’ve created Your Aussie Story. Your Aussie Story is a ‘series’ in our website where we feature inspiring stories of immigrants in Australia.
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Disclaimer All content and information in this post is for purposes of sharing my experiences only, does not constitute professional advice and does not establish any kind of professional-client relationship.
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