The life in Australia- Reality versus Expectation

Well, its been 2 years since I am living in Australia now. By calendar, its 2 years but for my heart its many many more years. People in Pakistan think that life abroad is very easy, comfortable, lots of happiness and not heaven but heaven alike. It is just a baseless expectation. But, people are not be blamed for this misconception since their source of information about overseas are their relatives who live here and portray a false image of their lives. I remember when I was in Quetta, people who returned form Australia to visit relatives were seemed so happy and they were just telling the fairy tales about the place they live. For example, they talked about beautiful natural sceneries, big shopping malls, clean and wide roads, pure and tasty food and their big houses and big cars. That are the luxuries a common Pakistani dreams for. But, the expectation, the false image of "painted" western life is far different from the reality. 

The reality, is the people  who painted this image of Australian life back home forgot to tell you about the realities of overseas life. They forgot to tell you that life in Australia is not a hot cake. First reality you

have to face is the absence of your social circle. Imagine you just came to Australia you know no body

, no friends, no network of acquittances. Its like re-planting a tree. You have lived a successful life in your own country but here you are nobody. Your language is different from them. Your mindset, your culture and religion everything differs. You fail to connect with the society and it leads to a deadly end, a horrible sense of loneliness and being stuck. You may find temporary relieve by visiting the shopping centres, beaches, restaurants and every other beautiful place but when you are back you fall in to the same cycle of loneliness. Second reality is the life style. Here people are very career oriented. Money has more value than anything else. Relationships, friendships, family time all has some price. People are busy, if they are talking to you, you should take it as a favour. If you prefer money as well then this life style can suit you but if you are a family oriented person than you have to struggle really hard in order to find the warmth of real relationships. Third reality, you have to face is the process of making money. People in Pakistan think that earning money here is very easy and jobs just come and go. Its not that simple. Here, you have to work really hard to find some job and to let the ends meet. Without the support of family circle, in a stranger's country, people do heavy duty jobs like painting, tiling, lifting weights. People work on Eid days as well. Here in Australia, you can't get the taste of festivals as it was in Pakistan. If you celebrate Eid, its Eid. If not, its just another normal day. 

I believe just like our bodies, our souls need nourishment as well, a need to reconnect with our roots. Living abroad often snatches this chance of reconnection. Therefore, it is essential to respect and value our roots, our country, relatives, friends and family since not every one has this chance of meeting them here in Australia.