As descendants of immigrants from China, I understand the importance of respecting the original custodians of any country. My ancestors fled China to seek safety once, and they found it in Indonesia so as refugees it is our duty to respect their cultures, take care of their lands and learn to co-exist with each other. As I continue to grow, I continue to learn different cultures and diversities within Indonesia’s ethnic groups. I believe this reflected in the many tribes of the Aboriginal people and now studying in Australia, I believe it is just as important for me to understand to respect the different cultures within Aboriginal people. As custodians of this country, I would like to pay respect to them for providing me with an environment I can study further and safely with a diverse community. I believe that Aboriginals, the original custodians of this country are responsible for providing this kind community. As my family once seek safety through Indonesia, I now seek knowledge within Australia so I would like to thank the Elders past, present and future who provided me the opportunity to study in their land. I believe it is through the collaborative efforts of the elder’s past, present and future that have built and taken care of the land, water and community that I, an international student have the opportunity to study in this land.

As a double minority in my country, being both Chinese and Catholic, I understand the struggles of the people who are viewed as minorities. Even though I’m living in better times, I am not blind to the struggles my minorities group have to face for example the burnings of hundreds of Chinese Indonesian during the moneter crisis or the bombing in Catholic churches that leads to every church in Surabaya to close for over two weeks. I understand the feeling of being wary in my own community. I can only imagine it to be worst for the Aboriginals, as it is originally their land and they shouldn’t have to live in wary of their own land.