Better late than never - A proud AMEP grandma

Sandra & her grandchildren

My name is Sandra. I'm Italian, from Bologna, a Medieval town with the oldest University in the world.  I'm 70 years old and now (with my husband Luigi) I'm a DL student.  I think we are the only people so aged, but we must study English, having decided to live in Canberra because our only daughter and our only (for now) granddaughter live here.

At the moment however, we're waiting excitedly for the second baby!!

Writing about my experience in Australia is very helpful to calm our excitement.  I think that the many difficulties that I have to face is nothing compared to the happiness of living every day as grandparents, or 'Nonni', so it's worth the effort. 

It's very hard to learn a new language at our age. Someone said that it's a good way to keep your brain active, but I reply that my heart is suffering with the stresssssss!  Yes, everyone is very friendly and patient, but I feel embarrassed or stupid when, very often, I don't understand what they tell me.  Moreover we have to speak Italian with our 6 year old granddaughter, who is already perfectly bilingual. But we don't work, so our practice of English isn't intensive.

Luckily, we have met lots of Italo-Australian people who are very kind. Now our dear friends, who helped us to become integrated into the local community, and some warm neighbours are very curious and interested in the Italian culture (such as food, fashion, movies), so we are proud to add some little pieces to the Australian multicultural life.

Another big stroke of luck was to meet Christine, our DL teacher who is so patient and supportive when we make lots of mistakes.  Now, she's becoming a friend, because she knows our problems and our delights and she encourages us in our little steps to improve our English.

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While I was waiting for my blog post to be published, my second granddaughter was born.  Welcome my dear Audrey Alice!  Thank you for your red hair, like me!  This is another special gift and for that I love you much more!"

Congratulations to Sandra, Luigi and family on the safe arrival of your granddaugher and on being a good example for our more senior AMEP learners.

• Is age a barrier to learning English?  Why or why not?
• What are the challenges and rewards for the more senior migrants in Australia?
• Is it necessary for grandparents to learn English and how can they practise their English?

Why not share your views below!

My grandmother is my inspiration

Professor Dr. Suvajara
 Vajarasathira

Following the celebration of the International Women's Day last week we received this inspirational story from Ninn, one of our DL students.

Professor Dr. Suvajara Vajarasathira is my grandmother, I call her “Koon Ya” (Grandma) in Thai.  She was born in 1924 in Bangkok. She was an excellent student who topped her class in Thailand.  She won a KINGS scholarship, being in the top 5% of her final year at University. She graduated with a Masters Degree in Medicine from Mahidol University and then went on to study in New Orleans, America. 

In the 1950’s not many Thai women got to study in university. In Thai culture we thought girls didn't need an education because they would get married and become housewives.  It was very hard for women to get the scholarship and study overseas. Grandma was a trailblazer in Thailand, being only 1 of 3 girls in her field of medicine, and the only girl to receive a KINGS scholarship to study in America. 

In America she faced prejudice and discrimination from people, classmates and teachers. The other problem was because she was a very pretty girl a lot of men spoke amorously to her. However, the other 4 doctors doing the same scholarship looked after her and treated her like a younger sister. She graduated with a Doctoral degree in Medicine and finished her 5 year internship in an American hospital in Chicago.

After she came back to Thailand she went to visit her fiancé, but America was too far and she was gone for too long. He had married another girl. As a requirement, to pay back her scholarship she worked her state job as a Doctor in the countryside of Thailand. This made forgetting about her ex-fiancé easier.               

               

She worked in the countryside of Thailand for about 3-4 years. When Mahidol University started the “Faculty of Tropical Medicine” she was selected to come back to Bangkok to set it up in 1960.  As a researcher and lecturer, she travelled to many overseas countries. My greatest delight was when she brought home souvenirs for me.  But this meant I had to have been well-behaved and done well in school. The Japanese chocolate was my favourite. She was a working and practising doctor until she was 70 years old.

                

Koon Ya is 91 years old this year and although her body may be failing her mind is still very sharp. She is a great person who in her 50 years’ service to Thailand has given up much and helped many people. That is why I feel proud and privileged to help support her now.

Thanks to Ninn for sharing this wonderful story about a remarkable woman!

• Do you have someone in your family or your culture that you consider a "trailblazer"?  In what way?
• A lot has changed for women of this generation. What has changed and are the challenges the same?

Why not share a comment on the story or the discussion questions here!