When Poonam Sherma, her husband, Ajay Kaushik and children Vanshika and Daiwik migrated to Australia from India in 2017, the Wyndham family didn’t know what to expect.
“We were excited that we would explore new opportunities, we were a bit nervous because we had no idea how it would be like here,“ Ms Sherma said.
“It’s very different here in Australia, and kind of better in terms of safety and security.
“We had a plan that we would try and explore for six months, and if we didn’t like it, we would go back.“
On Saturday, January 28, the family officially became Australian citizens.
“It’s a feeling of honour and privilege,“ Ms Sherma said.
“It’s a bit emotional, but at the same time, the comforting thing is you don’t have to give up your culture and who you are. I am who I am.
“You‘re not losing anything, you’re gaining an additional identity.“
The couple worked in the I.T industry in India and say the miss the big weddings back home and all the family they left behind.
“[When we lived] in the city I used to miss India more,“ she said.
“It’s a beautiful council, all very well structured, and we feel more like home here. You have the food and all the facilities, and libraries and parks.
“Our living style is almost exactly the same, all these festivals we celebrate, we get together with our friends and we go to the temples, and celebrate out there.“
Ms Sherma said she’s grateful for the acceptance the country provided her.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, we were welcomed here,“ she said.
