Sisay

Hello every one My name is Sisay Mekonnen. I was born in Ethiopia in the Gondar region. When I was in my homeland I was in school up to 6th grade and I was 15 years old. In 1979 the political problems started in our country and my family and I walked to the neighbouring country. It was very hard to arrive at the Sudanese border, because the weather was very hot, there was no water and we were very thirsty and tired. When we arrived at Sudan’s border the UNHCR helped us with shelter and food. After three month we moved to a refugee camp in Um-racuba.We lived in Um-racuba refugee camp for more than twenty years. We suffered for long time with malaria and diarrhoea because there was Anopheles Mosquitoes and no pure water. I was working as an assistant pharmacist and assistant laboratory technician from 1990 to2000 in Um-racuba in refugee’s camp hospital. I’m married and I have six children one son and five girls. The refugee camp was closed in January 1st 2002. When the refugee camp closed we went to Khartoum Sudan and we lived for seven years in the capital city of Sudan. After seven years we came to Tasmania on June 4th 2009.When we arrived in Tasmania the weather was very cold and raining. We couldn’t go out of the house because we were used to being in a hot country. When we arrived in Tasmania all people spoke in English and we couldn’t understand them at that time. Now we are starting to speak and understand because we are going to school three days per a week to study English. We like Tasmania because there are many beautiful places like Mountains, Beaches and many forests. We like to live in Tasmania and I want to improve my English to speak with Australian pronunciation and to get work.

Hello Sisay, This is a wonderful story to read and makes me think how lucky some people are and what hard lives others have. Thank you so much for sharing your story. It is well written and very interesting for everyone to read. I changed a little bit and put the changes in red so that you can see where there was a small mistake. We are very lucky to have you in our class, Cheers Helen

**__ History about my daughter __**

When we lived in Sudan my daughter was hit by metal and she had surgery. Unfortunately the surgery was unsucceful l and she suffered pain on her leg for many years. We arrived in Tasmania on June 4th 2009 and after two months I took my daughter to our family doctor. When we went to the doctor she asked us so many questions about my daughter’s surgery and treatment. She investigated through X-ray, blood tests and urinalysis and after the results she referred her to hospital. She also gave her some pain killer medicines like paracetamol tablets 500mg to take when necessary and some antibiotic like Amoxilline capsules 500mg every 8hours for seven days. Then we went to the Royal Hobart hospital with her documents and appointment letter. On the first day we went the reception centre and we gave them the appointment letter and after that they checked on the computer about our address and her name. Then they told us to take a seat in the waiting area. After 20 minutes we went to the specialist doctor and he asked us about her information which had happened before .Then he sent her for another X-ray and blood test. Also he gave her medicine for one month. After one month we went to hospital to the reception centre and they checked the appointment letter and her name. We were waiting for 30 minutes at awaiting area and we went To the doctor and he saw her again. Still she had the same problem as before. Then he gave her Medicine for one month repeated for the next five months. After five month we went to for check up and she was not well and her problem was the same as before. Then the doctor decided to do surgery. On June 7th 2010 she surgery and now she has very good health and we are happy.

I will never forget the day I arrived in Australia. My wife, six children and I flew in to Tasmania on cool June after noon one year ago. When we landed were exhausted because we had been fluxing for three days and had very little sleep. We were very pleased to see my father and step mother who were waiting for us at Tasmania air port. They waved and smiled when they saw us and we kissed them and greeted the others friends. After greeting we went to the guest house and we were very tired and after half an hour the cent care workers and voluntary workers took us to each room and showed us about the equipments and how to use it. I would like to say thanks for to all voluntary workers and cent care workers.