Everyone belongs!

Hello,

A week ago, after I had a swimming lesson, a lady talked to my mom. The lady asked my mom whether I can be interviewed for DIAC's (Department of Immigration and Citizenship) project on Harmony Day. They needed people from different backgrounds to be interviewed. My mom told the lady that I had two best friends, so my best friends were going to be interviewed, too.

Last Friday morning my friends and I gathered at the North Ainslie Primary School playground for interview and shooting. There were two ladies, two cameramen, the interviewees: four teenagers, Sophia, Trinh, me and our mom/dad. The lady explained to us what we should do and gave my mom a list of questions that we have to answer during the interview. It was our first experience to be interviewed!

The questions were quite difficult for children, but my mom wrote down the answers for me. She made easy and funny answers from children's views. The questions were: 1). What is your cultural heritage? How important is your cultural heritage to you? 2). What does harmony mean to you? Why celebrate harmony day? 3). What does it feel like to belong? How do you know you belong? Do you think that Australia makes everyone feel that they belong? 4). Why is it good for Australia to have people from different backgrounds living here?

My mom was glad, because I was the last second to be interviewed, so I had enough time to practice. My mom reminded me to be confident, relax and smile! She also taught me to use body language.
This is me.

This is Trinh.

When it was time for action, all cellular phones had to be silent. When the crew was not satisfied, then we had to do it again. The shooting was paused several time, because there were airplane, helicopter and car with a loud horn disrupted us.
On the first shooting, we have to say: "Help us celebrate Harmony Day. Everyone belongs!"
Wow, it was really a wonderful experience!
Well, if you want to see the results, you can open the DIAC website in March!

A play day

Hello,

This afternoon I had a play day at Trinh's house. We went by bus to Hackett. We had to get off at Blue Gum School, walked along the pine tree park on Mitland St until Stanley St.


Trinh has a tree house. Her grandpa built it for her. We played at the tree house. It was really fun!


These are some flowers at Trinh's house.


These are some toys that are very interesting


We went home walking and it took us around an hour to get home, cause we walked along the long path. We found many beautiful flowers. Today the weather was so perfect for playing and walking. Alhamdulillah.




Thank you for having me, Trinh! See you!

Happy New Year 2011

Hello,

Yesterday, for the first time, Budhe Iwu, my mom and I went to the city to see the fireworks. We waited for midnight in Ali Baba restaurant. Budhe Iwu and my mom said that it was totally different world outside. We saw so many young people gathered in Garema Place. They wore many kinds of summer clothes and accessories, funky hair cut and color, smoked and drank alcohol. The music was so loud and the light made us dizzy. However, we felt safe, because there were many policemen and fire fighters around.


Around quarter to midnight we walked to a place close to Canberra theatre and Civic library, where the fireworks were held. Five minutes to midnight the loud music was stopped. Ten seconds to midnight, all people counted backward 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 ... "Happy new year!!!" and the fireworks began. It was beautiful.



Happy new year, everybody! May it bring happiness to us all.

Cockington Green Garden

Hi,

We have ever visited Cockington Green Gardens in Nicholls, Canberra. It displays a crafted miniature buildings and beautiful landscaped gardens. It was amazing!
We often go by bus. The Action bus is my mom's friend. When she wants to go somewhere then she will call her friend: 13 17 10, and the Action bus will tell her what bus number she has to take .....^_^.

Kangaroo and emu were chosen as coat of arms of Australia.

A miniature of a train. It can move along the miniature of a lake.

A miniature of Godmanchester shop.

A miniature of St. Marks's church in Croatia.

A miniature of Leander's tower (Kiz Kukesi) in Turkey.

Ais had little lambs.

A turf maze.

Chaga chaga choo choo ...

Ginninderra village.

National Museum of Australia

Hi,

Yesterday we went to the National Museum of Australia in Canberra with Budhe Iwu and her grandchildren Andra and Asha.
The National Museum of Australia is a social history museum. We can learn about the land, nation and people of Australia there.
We can find Indigenous histories and cultures, histories of European settlement and the interaction of Australians with the environment.

This is an "Uluru (Ayers rock) line" on the main entrance, an ancient mystery, spirit and wonder.

I am with Andra and Asha

Inside the museum




"When you look at this painting, don't read it like a whitefella map. It's a Martu map: this is how we see the country, this is how we use a painting to tell stories about our country". Ngalangka Nola Taylor (an Indigenous woman), 2009.






Old Australia





Shearing machine

"Little red riding hood" wall-hanging was created by Olga Basylewycs, a Ukranian refugee, using a United Nation issue blanket and scraps of fabric and fur.

Circa is a rotating theatre located at the entry to the National Museum of Australia's permanent exhibitions. It tells a chronological narrative from the old Australia's time to contemporary Australia.

Outside the museum. The museum is facing Lake Burley Griffin. Yiiii hiii we can have a picnic here!