Our Faces, Our Stories - Stockland

Larsa BijanLarsa’s journeyGood friends are likestars, you don’t alwayssee them but you knowthey’re always there…I was born in Baghdad, Iraq in1992 into a simple Assyrian familyof six people. I was the firstgranddaughter in my parents’family and everyone was happyto have me.I grew up with my grandmother,Nanajan. I stayed with her becausemy parents had to workfrom early morning until 7pm.Nanajan took me to kindergarten,then to primary school. Shewas the one that picked me upfrom school and took me homeeveryday. In 1999 my grandmother,Nanajan, passed away.Everyone was sad because theyloved her dearly. I cried a lotwhen she passed away, and I stillcry when I remember her. Shemeant everything to me; she wasa very good person and I lovedher very much.In 2003, the war started in Iraq.Every day we were anxiousabout what was going to happenand if we were going to stayalive. My parents were scaredto send me to school becausethey worried about me being kidnapped.There was no future forus in Iraq, so we had to leave ourcountry and go to Syria.When I started school in Syria,I found it hard because I didn’thave any friends. The schoolwas large and I didn’t have anyoneto help me to find my class.However, after one week I foundmy old friend, Helda. We grew uptogether and were best friendsback in Iraq. I was so happy tomeet her again in Syria.We lived in Syria for five years,and we applied many times to migrateto a safer country, like Swedenor Australia. We kept hoping,but were rejected time after time.My father couldn’t find work andwe decided to go back to Iraq ifour last application to migrate toAustralia was unsuccessful. Finally,in 2007 we were acceptedby the Australian Government aftertrying seven times.We arrived in Australia in 2008.At first I was scared becauseI couldn’t go anywhere and Icouldn’t speak English, but I wasalso happy to meet my relatives.I’m now in the Year 11 Accessclass at Fairfield High Schoolwhere I have many friends. Iused to go to Fairfield IntensiveEnglish Centre where I learnedhow to read, write and speakEnglish.Despite feeling sad to leave myfriends, relatives and neighboursin Syria; I now feel happy with myfriends andfamily, andcomfortableto be in thiscountry becausehere,we have agood andsafe future.6