Chindavone's Thank You Letter to the Australia Awards

I would like thanks to Australia Awards for giving me such a wonderful opportunity to widen my horizon about this world and thanks to Flinders University for accepting me to be a part of the university members.

When I was young, my dream was so small, I didn’t know much about the world because I only locked myself in the small town of Phongsaly City, in the northern most part of Laos. At that time, I only hoped that I had enough food to eat and had a peaceful space to live my life without any domestic violates. 

But I was fortunate enough to be able to sit in at the National University of Laos studying the environmental management, the major that I myself didn’t know what it was about. The only thing that I knew about was that the environmental major is internationally demanded, which meant I might be able to work with an international organisation. The only hope I had was that the opportunity to work with an international organisation might be translated into a higher amount of salary I could get, and this would enable me to take good care of my mother and myself.

Today, I feel extremely fortunate to be here in the land of opportunity known as Adelaide, South Australia, which made possible by the Australia Award. I have so many opportunities to see and notice the culture, the people, the hospitality, the land, the sea, the wildlife, the infrastructure, the educational system, the social system where people from all walks of life and all corners of the world play their parts in. I am fascinated by the strong connection between the people and nature here, all the green trees, a lot of birds, many beautiful beaches. I just arrived in Adelaide for two weeks, but I already fall in love with this city. All of these things are here for me to see, observe, reflect and learn.

Today, I feel extremely fortunate to be here at Flinders University. When I am introduced to the university’s facilities, I was amazed by how many Flinders University has to offer: the online-oriented education system, the computers, the beautiful and comfortable study areas, the very comfortable kitchens, the gym, the student assisting office (Flinders Connect), the student consultation office and many more. All of these being offered to me make me feel extremely special although I could not forget to think about there are millions of people back home who do not have this opportunity like me. Therefore, I tell myself no matter what happens, I am going to do my best, I am going to learn and give back to society. 

Today, I feel extremely fortunate and I reflect back on the Australia Day I joined a few days ago. In Australia Day, 26 January 2018, I went to the city of Adelaide. Everything was so beautiful, the people here put huge efforts to make the day happened and I could feel it although there may be some controversy over the selection of Australia Day. The city of Adelaide welcomes diversity and it seems like the contribution of everybody in the society is recognised. There were many communities taking part in the parade in the Australia Day ranking from Laotian Community, Russia Community, Vietnam Community to Italian Community and many more. After all, the parade was so spectacular with the mixture of different coloured costumes, the music, the arts and the performances. Plus, with a very wonderful concert and magnificent firework, this memory of Australia Day will be last forever.  Feeling in touch with all the beauty, I felt like I was on the top of the world and I am so thankful to the Government of Australia. Thank you so much for this privilege. 

Today, feel extremely fortunate because I am here still continuing to study the Master of Environmental Management, my major that I now know it better and love it even better. In the time when Laos is striving for the rapid economic growth, the environmental protection is highly necessary for the country to keep in consideration in order that in the future, Laos still has a pleasant environment in parallel with the economic stability. And I will try my best to grasp every knowledge both inside and outside the university in Australia so that when I go back to Laos, I can be a part of the solutions for the environmental problems in Laos. I will do my best to give back to Laos, the country that gives me so many opportunities to grow.