My story: A Sri Lankan student living in Australia

Calling another country “home”, whether temporarily or permanently is very challenging. The decision to move to Brisbane was not an easy one. It took me a lot of courage, spending many days and nights contemplating if it is truly the right decision.

Having been here over 8 months, I can confidently say that it has been a good decision.

If one were to guess what happens in a day in the life of an international student from Sri Lanka, what do you reckon your guess would be?

What I get up to…

As a Sri Lankan student living in Brisbane, the first thing that would have come to your mind would be exploring! Within the first week of moving to Brisbane, having visited #CQUni, I was very eager to visit the Queensland Cultural Centre including the Museum and the Art Gallery. It is astonishing and one would need more than a day to truly absorb it all.

I must add that the Marvel Art Exhibition was absolutely incredible!! It is a must visit for all Marvel fans.

I enjoy visiting the South Bank Parklands. The beautiful gardens, the walking paths, the riverside cycling, the inner city beach are very pleasing and because it is so family friendly, it makes you nostalgic.

Occasionally, I would visit the Fortitude Valley. This entertainment precinct remarkably brings out the nightlife and certain locations give an incredible view of #Brisbane City at night.

The attractions…

The city of Brisbane is so culturally diverse and for this reason, it makes me feel right at home.

Sri Lanka is generally endowed with a warm climate. Having said that, Brisbane also has more sunny days a year than any other capital city in Australia, which makes it attractive to Sri Lankans.

Having lived on a tropical island with breathtaking golden beaches, the Coasts in Brisbane are a perfect match and a getaway when I yearn for Sri Lanka.

These are only a few of the attractions for an international student living in Brisbane.

There is literally no shortage of things for an international student to do in Brisbane. It is an exceptionally inclusive city, and international students will feel right at home here.

For these and more reasons, I am pleased to say that Brisbane is my second home.