Tuesday 14 December 2010

On International Students - a contrast


The end of the academic year, international students are returning to their homelands, hopefully full of stories of a different country with strange foods and incomprehensible customs.

Many, however were achingly lonely in their student lodgings, not knowing how to integrate into the local networks, or if their hesitant overtures of friendship would be misunderstood or worse - rejected.

So they take the safe option, and eat alone in their rooms with computer games blaring to dull the pain of loneliness. Parents blissfully unaware of the suffering some endure.

Home, known, understood and loved has never looked so good.


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Muffled chuckles escaping from the lounge-room. The occasional chirrup of an electronic message, otherwise ... silence.

A comfortable silence, companionable, relaxed.

Not wanting to intrude, (but keen to snoop) I peek.
Our guests, curled comfortably on couch and chairs, reading happily. "Footrot Flats", "Asterix and Obelix", "Calvin and Hobbes", but some more challenging - "Guns, Germs and Steel" and "Myths and Legends of Australia".

The dusty television a mute testament to the power of the written word and the joy a book can bring.

Gen Y gets negative press

But these are our children

Our future

I'm proud of them.



Thanks to Teresa for the photo above.

A Drabble is a story told in 100 words. No more, no less.


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4 comments:

Michelle said...

u should write a book of drabbles !!
They make nice reading. Bit sad about the first one though :-(

Sue said...

Thanks Michelle, glad you're enjoying them, but they're destined to stay in blogdom!

Sadly international students have a lot to contend with, and overseas study is often not as rosy as it's made out to be.

Michelle said...

yeah it would be difficult and lonely, especially without family around you.

Sue said...

So true Michelle, and so many struggle with the language as well which makes it even harder. I hope to do more work in that area next year...