My limited English skills made adjusting to the new culture and environment challenging. Over time, I have become an author and inspiring speaker.

I miss the close-knit community of Indonesia where neighbours know each other, unlike in Australia’s fast-paced lifestyle, which often leads to social isolation.

In 2006, I relocated from Indonesia to Australia due to marriage, facing challenges with language and cultural adjustment. Despite missing the tight-knit Indonesian community, I’ve evolved into an author and speaker, bridging the gap between cultures. While I stay connected with my roots through regular video calls, my perspective has shifted, embracing Australian colloquialisms like “G’day Mate”. Supporting immigrants, I believe, involves English education and community integration.

Arriving at 21 and promptly becoming pregnant, I grappled with loneliness and sickness, compounded by language barriers and reliance on public transport. Enrolling in an English course helped, yet socializing was limited due to pregnancy. Childhood trauma exacerbated my struggles, leading to a fear of assertive male voices.

Despite adversities, I pursued self-improvement, becoming a fitness instructor and eventually establishing my own holistic counselling business. Escaping a mentally abused marriage, I navigated homelessness with my daughter, but refused to succumb to despair. Through therapy and personal growth, I overcame my past, embracing Eleanor Roosevelt’s wisdom: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent”.

Today, I thrive as a holistic counsellor, reverse mortgage broker, speaker, author, and meditation practitioner, embodying resilience and empowerment.