Re-thinking....

Since I posted my last post, I met several Sri Lankans who had taken advantage of the service provided by places like Salvation Army. I asked them (with very carefully selected words) why they went for that service. They told me different stories some are really sad and some are really disgusting. 

But, most of the people had got that service due to their financial difficulties. They had spent about Rs. 200,000 for PR process and another Rs.200,000+ for their air tickets and had been in a bad situation when they came to Australia. So they had not been in position to buy anything and had taken the easy path. Well, I do not like to blame them for what they did. Some had come here with their wives and children, and some in the middle of the winter etc etc. But in the same time I think its part of their stupidity to jump in to such difficulties. 

When most of the people get their PR, they tend to forget everything and start counting dates to migrate. This is the reason for most of these difficulties. I heard about a person who had come here with his wife and the small child without knowing anyone here and without having a place to stay. He must have been thinking Australia as a country which dying to get people in, providing them with food and shelter etc.     

This is a country which has more than enough wealth. But it will not provide much help to the people with PR. PR is like a probation period and once you get citizenship only, the government is concern about your job, studies etc. (I think it is because the govt. has to provide 'doll' otherwise.... fair enough). So basically you will be on your own once come here. 

So for people who do not plan their migration, there is very less chance to stand up on their own without getting help from the charity organizations. 

So my conclusion for today is, if you get help (begging in my terms) from charity, you should not be ashamed of what you did, but ashamed of not planning your life properly and put yourself in a position of begging.   

Moral Issue...

Well yes... its after more than two months. So many things happen during these period but things are going on well now.

Thought of writing this today due to constant suggestions from friends, relatives on something I don't like to do. First of all, I moved to a new apartment.Since I did not have anything on my own had to buy everything from A to Z. Believe me, its costly. To give you some understanding, following are prices of few low-mid end appliances in Sri Lankan rupees.

• Fridge - 45,000 upwards
• Microwave Oven - 9000 upwards
• Washing Machine/Dryer - 60,000 upwards
• Computer - 110,000 avg
• Bed/mattress (Double) - 50,000 upwards
• Iron, Rice Cooker, Toaster, Kettle - 10,000 upwards
• Table - 10,000 upwards
• Sofa set (Low end) - 50,000 upwards
• TV - 20,000 (CRT), 80,000 upwards (LCD - current trend)
  

Since I had to spend money for all of the above, several friends & relatives suggested to go to places like Salvation army where they provide these free of charge. BUT.. I decide against it. Well, why.....Following is my logic behind it.

First of all we should re-think why we came to Australia. I personally came to live a comfortable life. But expecting that comfort, should we loose our dignity? When I first came I didn't want to do an odd job like cleaning etc. Why should I clean someones dirt when I could have done a respectable job back in Sri Lanka without coming here. Not that I put people who do the cleaning to a lower level, but the job itself.

Well this might not be the case for everyone. But I am sure people who are migrating under Skill migration program are having some standard of living in SL. So why do they put them in a relatively lower position. How many of these people who suggested to get things from Salvation Army would have done the same in Sri Lanka. None.... why.... because back there we were used to live respectable lives. Getting something like that would have been feel like a refugee. But same person when migrated put their mind in to refugee mind-set. Really interesting how mind works, isn't it.

If people are worrying about above cost, the best thing is to bring things from Sri Lanka. If people send their appliances via sea freight I think it will cost them about Rs, 100,000. But for me spending that is better than begging.

You must be thinking I am a really proud person who write this with my ego. Well yes... I am proud of what I am doing and not begging someone for things I want. I am sure someday in future I will be able to look back and have a satisfied mind.

So no sofa, no TV... for another couple of months ... :)

Bithu Sithuwam Roo Wani... Oba Kothanada Mithurani.....

Hmm.. its about two months after I came to Australia. Initially I was getting as same amount of emails from my friends in Sri Lanka. But now the inbox has almost dried out. Getting a mail once in a while from very limited number of friends and even some of them are just because I am in their mailing lists I guess..

Thats the reality ......Even though how much you have spent with them, how much you have helped them, they will tend to loose interest in you once you are not around. I am not blaming them because I might have do/done the same. Its only that you feel it more when you are away from your beloved ones.

Feeling sleepy .so end of post ! :)

Needs, wants and desires

At the moment I am looking for an apartment to stay. It has become a nightmare to find a good place. In the mean time I need to buy a vehicle and the priority has swing one to the other during last few weeks. If I find a place in a convenient location I do not need a vehicle for some time and if I buy a vehicle I can look for apartments in not so convenient places as well. But again I need to have some money in my bank account to show I have the ability to pay my rent. Otherwise it is difficult to get a apartment.

While I need an apartment and a vehicle i want to buy a computer as well [this computer is not mine..shh... don't tell anyone]. I want to buy fairly a good one so it will at least cost me about A$1000 (about Rs. 100,000).

With all these needed and wanted expenses are there in my vicinity, I like to watch some movies at the upcoming Melbourne International Film Festival. It will cost me some money as well. So many needs, wants and desires ....so many decisions to take .........so many trade-offs to be done ...............

Super Star Concert

Last week end, I went to watch the Sirasa Super Star concert at Monash University. It had been organized by Sirasa/MTV and the money collected will be donated to Lady Ridgeway Hospital. Five finalist, Pradeep, Surendra, Amila, Gaamini and Nadini were there singing in front of a full house of Sri Lankans. Believe me their voices were not as good as we heard in TV but, I have to say they have got the talent.

Anyway it was a stunning scene to see so much Sri Lankan at the same time (and they were dressed to kill). If fact it proves that they still live in Sri Lanka in their mind. As I think their inner most desire is to live in Sri Lanka in their mind while enjoying all other luxuries offer by Australia physically. So one day, one day in future when Sri Lanka become war-less country with good infrastructure all these people will definitely come back. Well we all should wish it to be happen soon ...............................................(and I want to be the first to come back) :)

Whether it is the right decision?

The first mind blowing question when someone comes to a new country is whether it is the right decision he or she took to migrate. Unless otherwise he (sorry ladies 'or she' will be omitted and implied hereafter within this blog) had a miserable life back in Sri Lanka, the new environment might be seen as a unnecessary headache. Almost all the things will be different from Sri Lanka and almost all the things have to be started from scratch. Getting driving license, opening a bank account, getting a mobile phone connection, find a place to stay, finding a job, buying a vehicle ..... so on and so forth.Well I think its all depend on your attitude. One can take it as a opportunity to start it all over and another can think of it as what the hell!!!

But as time goes on when everything is getting done one by one, life again jumps in to an endless cycle; Wake up in the morning-cooking something-getting ready-go to work-return home-watching TV and going to sleep [of course after brushing teeth :)]. Well then why people migrate and was it the correct decision?..... BINGO....Coming back to square one !!!!!!

Well I am not going to answer the question as I don't know the answer yet.... instead I will post things I do, thing I think through ou my stay here...so readers (if there are any) can decide themselves... (Hope I will not feel home sick and get things pack to go back to SL soon). :)