When Taquerias El Mexicano moved into my Little Havana neighbourhood, nobody thought it would last. That wasn’t because it was the first Mexican eatery en el barrio or because nobody wanted it; you’d have to be crazy not to want a taqueria in the neighbourhood. It wasn’t because it was bad. It was good. It … Read more
I’ve been living in Australia for almost six years. I still get homesick around the holidays. This time it crept in and caught me by surprise. I thought I was coping well this year with the lack of gifts, decorations, or gatherings. But on Sunday, I spoke with one of my best friends in Miami. … Read more
When I first moved to Australia in 2012, a lot of things were hard. I didn’t know up from down. I didn’t have friends. I have written before about culture shock and feeling homesick. This all gets easier with time. But there are some things that don’t ease up, at least, not if you have ties to your homeland … Read more
One of the first things I noticed about Melbourne when I moved here are the beautiful homes: cottages, terrace homes, California Bungalows, charming little houses and grand estates. In recent weeks, I’ve been learning more about Australian home styles. Australia has a rich and eclectic urban landscape influenced by English and American architectural styles that … Read more
Tell me about your home. My partner is binge-watching the new season of Orange is the New Black. Since I was on my own last night, I decided to watch something I hadn’t seen before. I started watching Outlander. Based on a series of novels, it’s about a Second World War-era English nurse named Claire … Read more
On Saturday, 1st April – April Fools’Day – I received an email from my migrant agent with the news. I am a permanent residency. The PDF from the Department of Immigration and Border Protection was attached. It took three years. I applied for the temporary residency visa in April 2014. Two years later, in April 2016, I became eligible to … Read more
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We aim to provide an inclusive service.