Name:
Adlini Ilma Ghaisany.
Where were you born?
Lombok, Indonesia.
Where is your home town?
The capital city of Lombok, Mataram.
Where do the majority of your family live?
Mataram.
When did you come to Australia?
I spent some time here when I was two or three and then again from ten to around thirteen in Gattan, Queensland. My parents are lecturers in agricultural business and food technology. I then came to Melbourne in 2014 after being back in Indonesia.
Do you prefer Melbourne or Queensland?
Melbourne. They’re very different but I prefer the cooler weather and fast paced lifestyle of Melbourne anyway.
Why did you come to Australia?
Most Indonesians go to the United States or the United Kingdom to study but I was already familiar with Australia so decided to come here instead. I also was granted a scholarship by the Australian Government, funded as per they Aus Aid program.
What is your favourite thing about Australia?
It’s laid-back, open-minded and diverse culture. Indonesia (especially Lombok) is still quite close-minded and plagued by inter-religious tensions, especially in the more rural regions. My best friend is Hindu but, generally speaking, Lombok is predominately Muslim and that creates a lot of tension in the country. The old President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, said that “Indonesia is the biggest Muslim democracy” and, while technically true, I think that these statements widen these barriers of religious exclusivity.
What is your least favourite thing about Australia?
The food because there is no Australian cuisine per se. Also speaking of the education, Australian academic institutions aren’t that competitive.
What do you miss most about Lombok?
The food and the ease of getting food because of the street culture that thrives there.
What is your favourite meal?
Generally I like fried chicken but in Lombok Tamarind is incorporated into the recipe so it adopts a blackish colour. That is a very characteristic dish of Lombok that I have tried to replicate but it’s not the same.
How often do you go back?
Every semester.
Where do you consider home?
Lombok.
How did you make friends here?
Most of her friends are Indonesian but more recently through joining clubs and more actively going to the Australian Indonesian Youth Association.
What are you studying?
Master of International Relations at the University of Melbourne. Since I started the program they have introduced “strands” of study, whereas my course is still quite general (but I have focused on Security).
What do you wish to do with that?
To become a lecturer so I don’t mind my study having been so general rather than focusing on a specific strand. I want to return to Lombok to teach there. Jakarta is too intense and stressful.
If your friends were to describe you in three words what would they say?
Crazy (in a good way), loud and intelligent.
If there was one thing you could change about the world what would it be?
At the root of every conflict are individuals who are too power hungry and greedy. So closeting the dichotomy between the rich and powerful and those who are poor and underprivileged would have to be my answer.
What are the three values in a person you rate as being the most important?
Tolerance, open-mindedness and kindness.
This is terrific Sarah!