Prasan Sharp

Story

I met my future Australian husband, Graham Sharp, an electrical engineer with Snowy Mountains Engineering Coporation (SMEC) in Thailand in 1981. SMEC was the principal consultant commissioned by Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to construct a large dam in Kanchanaburi Province (360 kms from Bangkok) near the Burmese border. I was an office manager based in Bangkok Office for almost 7 years while Graham was relocated to work at the Dam site.

In 1984, I moved on the take up a position as Senior Office Manager with a German Consultant, a principal consultant commissioned by EGAT for Flood Protection Project in Khon Khaen Province in the North East of Thailand for another 2 years. By this time, Graham came back to work in Cooma, Australia and asked me to marry him and live in Australia. It took me a few years and many trips to Australia to study and research about the new environment, new culture, new people and possible employment.

In mid 1986, I made a decision to leave everything behind; great job, wonderful friends, relatives, warm weather, beautiful Thai food and the lists go on. After discussion with my mum and dad of the intention to get married in Australia and thankfully they agreed. My mum and dad saw their youngest daughter of 7 kids off at the airport with their blessing. My mum said “I trained and gave you all the life skills you need to survive in any circumstances and in any country” and “when you continue to work hard, you will survive well.”

We commenced a long journey from Bangkok, to Europe, USA and landed in Cooma in October 1986. My new life began on the day I sat my small foot at Sydney airport. Although, I made many trips to Cooma in the past, I was only a visitor and I had the opportunity to go back to my beloved work, friends, Thai food, warm weather and speak my own language.

A new chapter of my life commenced in a sleepy and rural town called Cooma with population of 8,000. It was such a shock in my system. We shared a very cold Snowy house with Graham’s friend in Allambie Street. The town was so quiet, no friends, no employment, no people to visit, no car to drive, no Thai food, no networking, no family support group. My newly wedded husband was sent to work in Sydney of the first week of our marriage. I was left with a dog in the house!!! Where do I go from here?

My English was considered fluent in Thailand, but not in an English speaking world. I could not communicate in “Aussie” language; unable to read and write properly – what chances do I have? Nobody knows me in this adopted country apart from my husband who had already left to Sydney. I was so frustrated by the language barrier and I felt like here I am “from hero to zero”. However, I took all those obstacles as a new challenge of my life.

I started looking around for somewhere to study ie college, school and classes to learn English as well as jobs. There was nothing much around at that time of the year. I applied for everything in front of me and eventually got offered a clerical position with National Parks & Wildlife Service (NWPS) now Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC), located in Jindabyne – Snowy Mountains. I thought any job will do for the time being and once I get to know the place and more experience gained in Australian system, then I would explore other path.

I worked really hard to be accepted and recognised. I enrolled in any subject that TAFE offered and gained a Diploma in Management. As well as working full-time, my husband, partners and I established the first Thai Prasan Restaurant in the Monaro Region in 1990 and operated until 1993 and gave it up to have a family, but still continued work ing for NPWS.

In 2002 at the age of 50, I decided to take on a 6 years degree course in Applied Science in Environmental Health with the University of Western Sydney. With very little skills in reading and writing at academic level coupled with zero science background proved to be the most challenging journey I ever took in my life. It was not a smooth journey with full-time employment and 2 young kids in tow. However, with extreme determination to gain a degree in Australia, I completed a degree in 5 years – a year earlier than my peers and reached the top 10%. Nothing is really impossible for me. University of Western Sydney gave me the opportunity to prove to myself that I am a capable woman. Education will empower anyone who wants to be empowered.

I am now able to read and write a little bit better than 20 years ago. Without having been through university, I would not have been able to write my story at all. I believe that education has to be cultivated and I will keep learning for ever.

Australia is a lucky country.

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