Mini Garden

There are several things I able to do now, since I live in Australia. One of it is gardening. As far as I remember, before this I only plant one time. That was when I was a little girl, I put Galingal in a small pot and surprisingly it grows :D

My first plants this time are Bitter Melon, Katu (in Bahasa Indonesia), Galangal, Lemon Grass and so on. But then I need a mini garden near my door. So I went to my friend's house to ask whatever plants she able to give me. I took the one look dying :)) but that one of it; Lily is my favorite.

I dug the soil using spade then I put potting mix. I made some holes and put the plant in it. After that I put some natural fertilizer and cover the soil with mulch. I also put garden edge made of bamboo on one side. I won't know all these steps if I didn't see on tv. Back in my country we just put the plant in soil. Maybe give a fertilizer a little bit.

Anyway beyond my expectation, my mini garden grows quickly. Only about 2 weeks, one of the bulb grows two strange stalks. Then 2 weeks later those stalks became flowers.

I am so happy. As you can see below are the photo started when I just finished made the garden, then when it started grow flower.

Working with Bitch … but …

Do you know where I am working recently? In the childcare centre. A place where young Australian (in this context) went to a wider social environment outside his/ her family circle for the very first time in his/ her life.

Me? I am just a worker. I started working in this industry while I was still studying certificate 3. I was lucky (or bad luck?) I got a job straight away in a childcare centre manage by a religion background organisation. But don’t think that whole staffs are religious persons. I think there are only 2 or 3 persons there, are still do praying. I was with a funny funky tomboy girl (or woman?) as my group leader in the room. One of her joke is: when most of babies are in the cots room, there is one baby stand up on her cot. The group leader talk on the baby monitor “Lie down” and this baby look confuse looking for the source of the voice. Once again, the group leader said “This is God speaking” and make her voice more bass.

Quite funny actually, I was laughing all day when I remember that. But that day, I can say I know nothing about working in the childcare centre. I also hardly express something when talking to a judgmental person especially in a rush situation. Unfortunately, childcare centre is the place where accident happens all the time. One second my attention attract to something and my eyes do not cover through the whole room, already a baby fall from her chair, or a baby bite other baby. Apparently this group leader aware of my raw-skill less experiences. She is really good in checking that … really good.

One day, some babies in the cots room are crying. The group leader asked me to go to the cots room. I rock two of the babies (using my two hands) because that what we used to do. She told me not to rock the baby. She gave codes from the window. The baby keep crying louder and louder, I was in the situation where any person will react, “must do something.” Just when I touch one of the cot, the group leader’s 14 years old daughter give me a sign with her hand not do that. I said to her “Is not you telling me what to do here.” This is the first time (and last time) I talk assertive to this girl. That is after I got the entire childcare staff acting like a mean teacher to me, telling me what to do every 5 minute.

There is a moment when one of them comes to talk to the group leader “We have a concern of Theni mopped the toilet floor using the blue mop (for general cleaning) instead of red mop (for toilet).” The way she tells the group leader is like a big outbreak just happen because of me and they have been talking about it for a while before come to my group leader. For your information I use it in the baby toilet which never been use, because the centre was brand new that day and that room is for baby less than 18 months old and all of them not toilet training yet. I will be more appreciating, if they say to me not to do it. Then I won’t do it. This is not a matter of I ignore what have been told.

Do they have to treat me like this to show me how to work? Maybe. I have no idea about how to teach a new carer in the childcare centre according to Aussie’s rule. Does these ways making me a good carer in the childcare centre? The answer is: not. This is stressful, depressing moment for me and it has impact to the way I work.

Anyway, after this centre I moved to other centre which has been operating for years. Everybody seems know what to do, compare to my first centre which was brand new and everybody still in process to find best way of do something. One thing better in this centre is that my colleagues trust me, I can do the job. I mean, most of the time, not all the time. This gave me self-confidence.

On my first week, a girl called me to change junior kindy’s nappy. She shows me the nappy changing paper and tells me “I have already written my name … so you just need to change them.” This paper is a data which shows what time children got their nappy changed and who change them. In other word this girl wanted other people think that she does the job, not me.

After working for a while in this centre I know more about my colleague and of course the job. But that does not mean I save from their mean manner. The same girl, asked me do you empty the feminine napkin bin? I said “no I didn’t, I just empty the other bin in the toilet.” She called me to look in the bathroom, she standing on the door and point inside the bathroom insisted me to come for a look. I was really tired, we were in the late shift that day and our job to close the centre which means we have to pack all toys and cleaned up. I was on my way to the big bin outside with garbage on my hand. This girl standing there, thinking that she is the most knowledgeable girl catches me napping. Who she thinks just a dumb staff who doesn't know anything, including a caution on a feminine napkin bin not to empty it. I came to the bathroom, submissively and I said “Yes, this bin … I didn't empty it.” Then I did a long exhale.

I worked with bitch but on the end of the day … (most of the day when I worked there), when I met some colleagues who are nice persons. All those rubbish washed away.

Working in the childcare centre is not a job require an intelligent full of book reference. It is a job involving “mental” how to cope moments when most of children are being challenging for example. Is not like a lawyer job or something… and while my colleague thought that I just a dumb person from a third world country, I was thinking what they know about public relation job, my previous occupation.  

Murray Street

This particular street located not so far from where I live. It is also relatively not far from the center of the city (Cairns). In this “special” street there are some houses which are dwelled by people by the financial help from the government. What is the criteria to get this financial assistance, I don’t really know. But, what I know is; most of Murray street dweller are Indigenous. Indigenous is the word to refer Australian original people, who were there before European come to this continent. There are 2 main people in Australian Indigenous category: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. They are all has the same race, even some of East Indonesian have the same race.

If you got a chance to visit Cairns or Darwin, both of it are in North part of Australia. You will see Indigenous people walking in every corner of the city and sleep in the park. These people are unemployment. Although I didn't quote from any sources, if you ask about this to Australian they will vote “yes” as harmony as a choir :D But, this condition is not for all Indigenous. Some of them are working, and even have careers.

Back to Murray St. in this street, physical fight is often happen, worse when those who hate each other are drunk. Several times I read in the local newspaper, there are robberies in the public bus when passing this street. This is not a common thing in this city. I couldn’t even imagine how, since every time I take a bus everything seems organize, much more organize compare to public transport in Indonesia.

 This street is also famous for the inconvenience and insecure situation. The result? Property in this street is really cheap. A house was advertised for Au$ 299,000. In other area, the same kind of house will be priced Au$ 400,000 – 500,000.

Coincidentally when I worked as a volunteer in a visitor information centre, one of my colleague who later on become my close friend live in that street. She is from Papua New Guinea, her name is J. Another coincident, I have other friend live in the same street. Her name is Y, we met in the church. 

From all address in this whole city, if I have to choose, I won’t have anything to do with Murray St. It is my nature that I will avoid problem if I could. Especially I am in a foreign country. But, this life is not as that simple. Who will thought I knew two people (families) from this street?

J once (or even more) is frustrate living in this street. She got broken into at least twice. In those events her family lost (for temporary) three of their cars. Money and everything in the wallet are gone forever. Police caught the thief who is J’s next door neighbour. Cars are returned. But, who in this world want to have this kind of event, more than one time? It is understandable her anxiety, having these people as a neighbour. According to her, in one day there could be three household having a fight. She knew it because they make a lot of noise. With all of what happening, J sometime look really upset to the Indigenous.

Different story with Y. When city where we live (Cairns) has its annual festival, one of it is Cane Field Burning Festival, I saw her two kids amongst hundreds of people there. I said hi to them. I was in that festival with a friend Jn, her daughter, her mom and her partner. After a while, I saw Y was talking with someone, maybe her extended family, … I said to her too from a distance.

About 3 hours we were there, waiting the burning of the field. When finally they burn it, only took a minute for the fire reach the other side of the field. It is also very quick to extinguish. Before the fire off on the last flame, we were in a hurry ran from the field before smoke fill the air.

When we finally in the car, my friend’s daughter tried to find her i-pod in her bag. Then, she realize that is missing. She cried. We ran back to where we were sitting. We didn’t find it. The next day , Jn text me ; “your friend” contact me about the i-pod. Her kids found it. She went to Murray St. to pick her daughter’s i-pod. She giving a comment to me “I was surprise someone from Murray St. return the i-pod."  This thing would possibly price Au$ 400. Well, I was surprise too … I mean, from hundreds people in that festival, the only people I knew (other than Jn) found it. By the way, Chelsea, Jn’s daughter said she put her i-pod in her bag’s pocket but maybe it was missed and fall on to the ground. When we were sit on our camping chair, no one approach us. So, maybe it is true that what made the i-pod missing. 

Jalan Murray (: ma-raey) alias Murray Street

Jalan yang satu ini terletak tidak jauh dari tempatku tinggal. Juga relatif tidak jauh dari pusat kota (Cairns). Di jalan “spesial” ini banyak rumah dihuni oleh orang yang mendapat bantuan pemerintah. Apa saja kriteria untuk mendapat bantuan ini, aku tidak tahu. Tapi yang aku tahu adalah sebagian besar penghuni Murray St adalah orang asli Australia (Indegenous). Istilah indegenous di Australia digunakan untuk menyebut orang Aborigin dan Torres Strait. Mereka memiliki ras yang sama, bahkan keduanya sama ras dengan sebagian orang Indonesia Timur.

Jika kalian mengunjungi Cairns atau Darwin yang mana keduanya terletak di bagian utara Australia, maka kalian akan menjumpai orang Indigenous berjalan kaki di setiap sudut kota dan tidur di taman-taman kota. Mereka ini tidak bekerja. Aku tidak mengutip sumber apapun, tapi kalau kalian tanya pada orang Australia tentang hal ini maka jawaban mereka akan kompak mengiyakan sekompak paduan suara :D Tapi tidak semuanya demikian, ada orang indigenous yang bekerja bahkan memiliki karir.

Kembali ke Murray St di jalan ini sering terjadi perkelahian fisik, terutama kalo pihak-pihak yang berseteru sedang mabuk berat. Beberapa kali aku baca di berita lokal, di jalan ini juga terjadi perampokan terhadap bus umum[1]. Ini bukan hal biasa di kota ini. Aku bahkan tidak bisa membayangkan seperti apa dan bagaimana, sebab setiap kali aku naik bus semuanya berjalan teratur jauh lebih teratur dibanding angkutan umum di Indonesia.

Jalan ini jadi terkenal karena ketidak-amanan dan ketidak-nyamanannya. Hasilnya? Properti di jalan ini sangat murah. Sebuah rumah diiklankan dengan harga AU$ 299,000. Di lokasi lain rumah dengan kriteria sama dengan iklan tersebut, dihargai sekitar AU$ 400,000 - 500,000

Oya, secara kebetulan saat aku bekerja sebagai sukarelawan di sebuah pusat informasi turisme, salah satu teman kerjaku yang kemudian menjadi teman dekatku tinggal di jalan tersebut. Dia seorang perempuan Papua New Guinea, bernama J. Secara kebetulan, teman lain, yang ini kenal di gereja, seorang perempuan Aborigin bernama Y tinggal di Murray St bersama 2 anaknya.

Dari seluruh alamat se- kota ini, kalau aku harus memilih, aku tidak akan mau punya kaitan apa-apa dengan orang yang beralamat di Murray St. Sudah sifat alamiku bahwa aku tidak mau cari perkara. Apalagi di negeri orang. Tapi cerita hidup tidak sesederhana itu. Saat kenal J, tinggal dimana menurutku bukan hal yang penting. Dia orang yang baik dan ramah, enak diajak ngobrol. Saat tahu dia tinggal di Murray St, itu bukanlah masalah sebab aku sudah kenal seperti apa dia. Hal yang sama terjadi dengan Y sewaktu aku baru kenal dia di gereja.

J pernah sangat frustasi tinggal di jalan ini. Dia sempat kemalingan 2 kali. Di kedua kejadian itu keluarganya kehilangan (untuk sementara) tiga mobil mereka. Uang dan segala isi dompet lenyap selamanya. Polisi mengetahui pencurinya yang adalah tetangga sebelah J, dan menangkap mereka. Jadi mobil bisa dikembalikan. Tapi siapa yang mau punya kejadian seperti ini hingga lebih dari sekali? Sangat bisa dimengerti perasaan khawatir J tinggal bertetangga dengan orang-orang yang bisa

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[1] Di Cairns dan juga di kota-kota lain, bus dioperasikan oleh perusahaan bus Sun Bus yang melayani seluruh kota Cairns. Untuk keluar kota ada beberapa perusahaan lain tergantung kota tujuannya

Working in Australia (from an Indonesian perspective)

In Indonesia, I got my job using my qualification in communication. This qualification, which I got through whole process of schooling from early learning education to college. But due to relocating to Australia, an English spoken country, the story is changing. In here my qualification is recognized by the Education Department. But in fact I can’t get a job with it. First that is because of language problem; secondly I live in Cairns a relatively small city compare to state capital city. Cairns is a lovely relaxing tourism town. Not as busy as Brisbane for example. In Indonesia this will be comparable between Yogyakarta and Jakarta.

Cairns unemployment number, once as high as 7.9 % when the national number is 5.5 %. City with a low unemployment number is a mining city for example. Mining provides a lot different job for everyone.

Almost every job in this country needs a qualification. This is including a lollipop lady. Well, for this one because of safety issue. There are a lot of varieties of qualifications in Australia. Some of it just needs 1 or 2 days course, some of it needs more than a year.

This regulation has certainly make some people in the difficult situation. A person like me, a migrant has to get one of the qualifications if I want the job in most of industries. Unfortunately most of the course available only for citizens or permanent resident. Event if there is a course available for foreigner, the price will be 10 x or more. But in the other side, these regulations are made to “educate” employee and help them to adjust with Australian working condition. This especially, is important for migrants. Things like health and safety, work ethics, and of course how to do the job itself are taught in the course and placement (practice). These courses also provide employment, for trainer, instructor, teacher and the rest of college employees.

Certain job e.g. in the school, childcare centre, building project etc. the employee has to hold a first aid certificate including CPR. This kind of certificate has to be renewed regularly which means we have to do the course again.

Reference and experience is the main thing considered in the recruitment. These two things make Australian able to get job without certificate. But for a migrant like me, I have proved it … I didn't get any good job without certificate. Imagine if we are Australian and need employees, then come an Asian girl, talk with an accent … we will curious what is her skill, what is her background, what is her occupation in her country, does she know how to communicate with customer or other employee? It will be different when an Australian white girl come to apply the job. She talk fluently, she seems know how to greet people, she has no difficulties to read manual instruction, easy to reach her reference, etc.

Jobs which doesn't require any certificates are gardener assistant, driver (need a driver license), cleaning service, pool man etc. Wait person sometimes doesn't need a certificate but if she or he work in the restaurant with alcohol license she/ he will need RSA (Responsible of Serving Alcohol). Trading jobs; carpenter, tiler, painter, electrician all of them able to do the real job after done an apprenticeship and at least got their certificate 2.

School or college who assist students to get their qualification after high school (Not a University), in Australia called TAFE. Outside TAFE, there are a lot of private schools. TAFE is supported by government, soon it will be independence. In this kind of school level of education student can get are Certificate 2 to Certificate 4, then Diploma. This is different with what Indonesian have, where Diploma are D1 – D4.