My Australia - Series 2 - Episode 8

Hello. I'm Vijay Khurana. Welcome to My Australia, the show about people from overseas having Australian experiences. Coming up today Shaiful and his wife learn to play golf, Jasmine dresses up as Santa Claus, along with thousands of others and Jason graduates from Uni. Somebody once said, 'Golf is a good walk spoiled,' so why do so many people love it? Shaiful and his wife are about to find out. My name is Shaiful Nizam Jaafar. I come from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I'm currently studying at University of South Australia, Magill campus, doing film and TV production. Can we do another one, with a bit more emotion to it? Yep. Right, thanks. My wife, Reen, and I decided to come to Australia in search of greener pastures. I also need to finish the final year of my Bachelor's study over here, and we were also hoping, if I'm lucky enough, to get myself a job. Ah, classes were all right, met a couple of new people. Both my wife, Reen, and I have changed quite a lot in a positive way since we came here. I think, now that we've been living here we are more confident. We are more socialising in nature because we were pretty timid and introverted people back home in Malaysia. I have no clue whatsoever about golf. I mean I know the game. I know a little bit about the rules but nothing about playing it. If I were to play golf at some stage in my life I might as well give it a shot here in Australia, especially since there are professionals who could teach you step by step so probably I could pick the game up from there. Good, so I understand you guys want to learn how to play golf. Yeah. Yeah. And we have had no experience whatsoever. Bring your left hand like that. My father is a really avid golf fan. For my 21st birthday he give me a whole set of clubs which now gathers dust in the storeroom of the house. Swing your hands out like that, on an angle, and when you come in you hit the ground. I believe that's also one of my goals today, to try and learn golf so that my father could be proud of me. That's it. That's it. The hardest part to me I believe could be trying to swing, just the technicalities of how to swing the clubs, that I believe would be the most challenging part for me. Well done. Finally. Well done. Finally. I've been golfing since I was three. I love it. It's a breath of fresh air. Yeah. Well done. Well done. Great shot. Horrible. For someone who hasn't played golf before, doesn't know how to hit a ball, I've actually managed to get 'em to hit a ball so I'm very happy and they should be very proud of themselves. Oops. He makes it seem a lot easier than it actually is. I reckon they're goin' great. I mean, for Shadder to hit a shot like that straight off the tee, first shot to go straight and hit is very good. I reckon that was very good. How did that feel? Great. Thanks a lot for your coaching, man. No worries. Cheers. Finally, for the first time in my life the ball went in the hole so, yeah. Nathan asked me whether I had played another sport and I said I used to be a rugby player and then he demonstrated to me with a rugby ball. The motions of passing a ball in rugby is pretty much the same way for you to get the perfect swing. So I incorporated that into my swing and yeah, it made it a lot better. Now we're getting' there. Nathan gave me a golf club that has a yellow plastic thing on it that's supposed to be a guide. Once I pull my swing back it should touch my left hand and then when I release it I should take my hand up above til it reaches, again, the wrists of my left hand. And that helped a lot in terms of getting the right wrist movement towards the swing and that made my swing a lot better. Okay man, this is you in action. Okay. Soon to be golf pro. Yeah, I think it's a lot different than how I swing before having ... without that. Without that. Sure, sure. There we go! Yeah! Mate you look like a golfer. You're one pair of chequered pants away from being a golfer. Okay, so this is the new you. The video technology, honestly, if there wasn't one, probably I would still be struggling with the swing right now b ecause through video technology he could show me what I did wrong and how I should improve in the next round and I did and he showed me the difference. There was a huge improvement before I saw what I did wrong so, yeah. That's a lot better instead of just talking about it. He's showing me exactly what I did wrong and how I could improve it. So that helps a lot. And this body motion looks a lot more coordinated, don't you think. Yeah, yes. Oh, Shaiful. How good was that? High 5. Mate it's just that simple. That was a good one. That must have felt good, yeah? It does. Yeah? Simpler? Simpler and released a lot of the tension. Yeah, yeah, so it's effective power now. Yep. It's a new experience for us because we've only been exposed to private golf clubs back in Malaysia. Over here I'm surprised that you have for example, the Adelaide Shores. It's a public golf course. Anybody can come here and just pay a small amount of money, a very small amount ... whereas in Malaysia you have to become a member of this so-called elite golf clubs. Sometimes you have to pay tens of thousands every year just to become members there. I hit three holes and I'm very happy about it. And it makes me feela lot more satisfied inside now. I learned that golfing can be really fun if you know the proper techniques and if you have the right people guiding you and the right people playing with you. Yeah, we do a lot of stuff together and golf will just be another one on that list from now on so yes. It's pretty enjoyable. I think we both like it and we'll definitely give it more of a go after this. Well done Shaiful. I'm sure your dad will be proud. When you think of Christmas, do you think of a jolly fat man in a red suit delivering presents down a chimney? For some reason Jasmine has always wanted to dress up as Santa, and she's about to get her chance. My name is Jasmine Yow. I'm from Kedah, Malaysia. There's five of us in my family. I'm the eldest. I was fairly competitive as a child. I liked to learn new things. I worked very hard in school. I wanted to be accepted, liked by my friends in school and that was a bit difficult because I was ... I was doing well and I ... and I skipped a grade. So I had to make new friends all over again. So that was a challenge I had to go through when I was younger. I study journalism. I'm in my final year. I was already doing a Uni SA program in K.L. I had been to Australia before, for a month. I thought it was quite a nice place and also I thought it would be cool to experience a new culture, get a different perspective. I was basically just looking for the cheapest accommodation I could find. I can make do with anything. So, I didn't really consider the fact that there would be five other people in the house. The secret about doing chores in this house is that we don't do any. We only take turns to bring up the bins and bring them back. We're supposed to have a cleaner, but the cleaner ran away so ... What else belongs to nobody? Sometimes we just have to be really direct with one another and talk things through. The lemon juice. But the lemon juice is supposed to clean the microwave. When I was living in Singapore and in K.L. I didn't have a yard or anything like that. So now that I have all this space around me and I'm thinking, if I could plant my own vegies, I could save some money, maybe and I guess gardening's a good form of exercise as well. I just started volunteering at Amnesty International in Adelaide. I decided to volunteer there because I've always been interested in community and community issues, in social justice. I guess when you find out more and you really understand what's going on in the lives of other people, you can't just sit around and do nothing. I think it's our duty, in a way, to stand up for those who can't do it, to be the voice for the voiceless. I think it's important. I am participating in Variety, the children's charity fun run, on Sunday, at the Torrens River. I'm going to be Santa, gonna be dressed in a Santa suit. I'm here to register for the Fun Run. Yes, fantastic. It's for a good cause. It's to raise funds for children who are needy and are sick. So today I'm at the Variety's office to collect my Santa suit. That you very much for registering and make a difference in children's lives. Yeah, I'm really excited about being Santa. I've always wanted to dress up as Santa but I've never been able to do so in twenty years of my life. Ooh, pants. When I was young, my father would tell us that, you know, Santa's gonna come tonight. He's gonna put presents in the Christmas stockings. Finally the belt. And I've always associated him with someone who is loving and kind and generous. Santa Claus is coming to town. And I think it will be great to play a character like that. The new suit is big. It's loose, but it's really nice. Hello, Merry Christmas. So I've gone for a walk as Santa. Have you been a good boy? I'm always a good boy. So I've been to the university. I've met a couple of people, said Merry Christmas to them. It's really good fun. People are happy to see me. Don't leave. Santa's here to give you presents. Thank you. Merry Christmas. Definitely, I'm looking forward to this Sunday where I'm gonna be one of the thousands of Santas gathered at the Torrens River and it's gonna be a great day. I woke up at 6 this morning, and went to the bus station, took the bus into town. Merry Christmas. There were children on the bus and they were very happy to see me. It was really nice to see kids smiling at Santa and telling me what they wanted for Christmas. Bye bye. This event is a four kilometre walk or run and I've decided to walk, don't think I'll be able to keep up with the running plus my pants feel like they're gonna drop off so I think I'll stick with the walking. I think in general the Australian community is very generous, very open to the idea of fundraising and helping their community. But I think when you have a fun event, it's easier to get everyone on board, to join in the fun. I was really pleased by the different people that came to support the event. Families, with their children and grandparents. And I met a careworker, participated in the event last year. There you go. You're on camera Margie. How's that? She brought a client of hers which was really nice of her. So she pushed her client all around the river. I met this family and they have a sick child who can't walk so they applied to Variety for help. They were able to get a wheelchair for their child and he's doing well now and the family's really thankful for the help that they've received from Variety. Hello. This is Matilda. Matilda. Are you carrying her the whole way? Ah, listen, she walked a good three hundred metres. A good effort. I think charity events like these really help foreigners like me sink into the Australian society. Hah! Two km to go. I think Australians are very welcoming and when it comes to events like these, it's just a nice community event where everybody can get involved, whether you're Australian or not, because you're working towards the same goal. You're doing something for a good cause. Are you enjoying the day? Yes, we are. We're a bit slow but that's okay. I come from a Christian family so Christmas is important to us. It's a time for family to get together. As we grew up and moved away from home I guess we haven't really been doing the usual sort of Christmassy things anymore. So it's really nice that this year I get the opportunity to dress up as Santa. Merry Christmas! It's just fun. It's just fun to be a character that everybody loves and to be around a thousand other Santas here today. Oh, it was just great. Merry Christmas! Well, Santa's done a bit of work today, Beautiful. Thanks. so I think Santa's gonna go home and get some rest and, since I get to keep the suit, I'll be doing some more Santa work this Christmas. Jasmine, you make a great Santa and well done for raising that money for charity too. After the break we'll join Jason and his family at his uni graduation, and ask some people how they felt on their proudest day. Stick around. Hey guys. I wanna ask you - Hi - I wanna ask you about your finest moment in public. I'd have to say my niece being born, watching my niece. Seeing my children going to school. When I got my blue belt in tai kwando. Probably going to - travelling to Australia because this is what we always wanted to do. We're saving our money and working hard for it for a working holiday visa. Coming in to this world. When you were born? Yep. Okay, and how did it feel? I dunno. I don't remember. We went to Prague to represent Australia in the Dragonboat championships, World Championships, and we went as basically underdogs but we came out of it with a gold medal. So far, I think when I graduated from my Masters degree in Scotland. Birth of my son in 2002, May. Thank you very much. That's great. Cheers. Thank you guys. Have a good day. So public ceremonies can be really proud moments in someone's life. Let's go to one right now and join Jason and his family at his graduation. My name is Jason Lee Chin Jon and I come from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Yeah, when I was a kid I was like a young chubby kid and I was just enjoying life, just being very carefree and happy-go-lucky, played a lot of Lego and computer games. I remember memorising the TV schedule back to back once. And it was really, it was a happy moment. Kuala Lumpur is a bustling city. It's a city of two million or more people and it's a very exciting place to be in. On Sunday I visit, I go to church and I'm involved in the church back home and it's been really fun being in a youth group and having a sense of community over there. I like calling group photos So if someone hears the word 'group photo' they know it's Jason already. And that's where memories are made and and I believe that all this lasts a lifetime and my motto is always to meet people and to make opportunities. I'm studying law. I did my first two years in a college in Malaysia and the balance of my two years here in the University of Tasmania. I live in John Fisher College which is part of the accommodation services at the university. And I love my room, the views, the view of it's fantastic. When I came here it looked a bit, at first, when you come in it's a bit quiet and things were not happening, you could say, but actually when you know the people and when you know the activities around Hobart, it actually gets really exciting and really fun and I started to enjoy Tasmania. Actually I'm in love with it right now. After two years here, yes, I'm graduating in a single degree in a Bachelors of Law. I received a partial scholarship from a KDU college where I was studying. To come here though my parents have funded for this and I'm really grateful for them. At first a bit apprehensive about me going away for two years but I guess as we grow up they have to let go and just teach me to be independent. Hello Jason, how are you today? Very well. Good to see you. Graduation day. Congratulations. Thank you. I'm actually gonna work part-time with the accommodation services. Yes, I really thank God for this. I'm really thankful that I've gotten this opportunity because this will help to pay for my tuition fees and a bit of the rent next year. So next year I'll be pursuing a Masters in International Business. And this would help me, with a law degree, to maybe work with an international corporation. Well, there's always that apprehension of being in a new country, new place, but we felt that he would be able to adjust himself to the new environment. He's always been a sociable boy and I'm glad he was able to blend in with the environment here, yeah, and be active at the university. I think it ... it broadens his mind and gives him exposure to a new cult, and new friends and I think that's important for him in his development. I think the overseas exposure will certainly help him a lot, you know, overall for the future. Yes. We feel good, I think he's gonna have a good future, from getting a good degree from this university so we're glad about that. We feel, positive and very happy. Yes, we're really excited to see him going up to get his degree. Okay, now I'm with all the other graduates. It's getting a bit scary yet exciting and nervous. But it's good to see all my classmates around with me, very happy. Definitely a moment to remember. Well, it's good to see Jason doing it in another country apart from Malaysia. It shows that he can succeed in a new place, a new environment and be able to be successful in this new country. That makes a difference I think, yeah, yeah, makes it special. Jason Lee Chun Jon. Yes, it felt amazing, coming over, just not knowing anyone and here I've built great friendships and, you know, just hugging each other and shaking hands, congratulating one another. He graduates now. I feel very joyful, you know joyful and just so very proud, yeah, that my little boy has really grown up to be a responsible young man. Yeah, we receive a lot of positive comments from his friends, from his lecturers, and I'm just so happy for him. He has been absolutely amazing in the work he has done in supporting international student causes. He officially was the International Students Supports Office and has just taken that to an absolutely new level in terms of social and other initiatives, in terms of integration and inclusion and not just for our faculty, but for the whole university, such as that Malaysian celebration, you know, illustrated. Well, we just want him to do the best that he can in everything, and just to realise his potential and that's what - we'll be happy if he can just be the best that he can be. Yeah, I think it's a worthwhile investment, even though it's more expensive to do it in Australia, the experience that he gets, the quality of the education is worth it. Yeah, it's worth the investment put in. Cool, how ya goin' mate? Hi. Cheers. How are ya man? It means a lot to me that my parents and my brother and my aunt could come here. It's a long journey and taking the time off, even my brother's skipping classes to come here. And I'm very happy for them to be there to celebrate this moment with me. Yes, it's important for us to come out of Malaysia to this graduation. I think it's to give him the support, to tell him that we are supporting him in what he's doing and we are really proud of him and I think that kind of moral encouragement is important to give him that boost to study more in his career. In the next few months I'll still be here and I've had opportunity to work for a law firm at a small internship for a month and then I'll start my course, the Masters in International Business. What I like about my life here in Australia is that I've been given the opportunity to grow and to be accepted in a community and I start to take up leadership positions. Celebratory drink. Yep, enjoying the Aussie beer right here, right now. Really broadens the mind and it gives them a whole new environment where they can learn to flow in, to blend in with a new culture and to, to realise their potential. I believe that being in a new country helps them to realise their potential better. One of the best moments of my life to see my son graduate and to see him be on his own, yeah. So, letting him fly and be what he wants to be. It's a great feeling. Yeah, very good. Huge congratulations Jason. A top lawyer in the making. Okay, it's time to say goodbye for today. Here's what's coming up next week. Jasmine has an up close and personal encounter with some giant pandas, Christina gets to meet some kangaroos and then eats one, and Frankey heads along to a parade at the Adelaide Fringe Festival. See you then. ]