s-1
| My name is Martina. |
s-2
| I came to Australia fifteen years ago from Croatia. |
s-3
| I'm married to a great Bosnian man, which was the main reason I came here. |
s-4
| We tried to live in Bosnia but it didn't work for me and Croatia wasn't much easier for my husband. |
s-5
| We wanted to go somewhere where it didnt matter what nationality you are. |
s-6
| We just wanted to have normal life. |
s-7
| We had heard about IOM helping people find a better life. |
s-8
| We weren't too optimistic but we applied for the visa. |
s-9
| After almost two years nothing had happened and we thought that we wouldnt go anywhere, but just then things started to happen. |
s-10
| We had a first interview, and not very long after we had medical checks and just like that we had a call that said you are leaving Croatia on the 14th of February 2001. |
s-11
| That was a huge shock because we had only two weeks to prepare before travel. |
s-12
| It was hard but we knew we had to try. |
s-13
| Our baby was only three years old and we just wanted something better for her. |
s-14
| The 16th of February we landed in Canberra, we were tired, scared, didnt know what to expect, and knew zero English. |
s-15
| Luckily we had a group of volunteers, who we cant thank enough for all their help and support, and a translator who helped us through the first days, even months. |
s-16
| Australia was a country that I had only heard about in my geography classes, and suddenly it became my home. |
s-17
| Step by step, I started to learn about Australia and every day I liked it more and more. |
s-18
| I was amazed by all the tall, intimidating buildings that I saw on my first visit to Sydney. |
s-19
| Luckily people here are friendly and helpful. |
s-20
| My husband and I went to school to learn English while our daughter went to childcare. |
s-21
| I was and still am amazed by the opportunities that Australia has to offer if one only seeks them out. |
s-22
| Recently, we became Australian citizens. |
s-23
| We've been in Australia for fifteen years now and weve never thought about leaving. |
s-24
| Moving here has proved to be the best decision. |
s-25
| Australia is our home. |
s-26
| I miss my family and friends and would love to go visit them but now I say I go home to Australia. |
s-27
| Now we live in Perth and we love it. |
s-28
| My husband and I are working and our baby of three years has become a young lady of almost nineteen, she studies and works and loves Australia just as much as her parents. |