Marina

AGE 17

My name is Marina. I am seventeen years old. I was born in Iraq. I lived there for seven years. I stopped school in Iraq when I was in Grade 5, then I went to Syria. My father and I went to Syria while my mum and my sister went to Egypt to get medical help because my sister is disabled.

When I was in Syria my grandpa passed away in Iraq. I was very sad. I met new friends in Syria. My best friend died in Syria. I was very sad. My mother then came to Syria because she didn’t find any medical help in Egypt. When we came to Australia we hoped to find medical help for my sister – and nothing could help her. I am very sad when I see my sister like that without medical help, and now my mother has cancer. I’m worried about my mum and I’m so scared about losing her. I wish my mum would get better and I wish that my parents could live a better life because they’ve already lived such a hard life.

Here in Australia when I am bored I go to my bedroom and cry and listen to music and sometimes I speak to my best friends. When I see my parents are not feeling that good I feel very sad. But when I go to school I feel better ’cause my friends make me laugh and we do many new things. I really love them and without them I would never be happy. I like to go shopping with my friends on the weekend and go to the swimming pool and have fun there.

About three days ago my mum had an operation. She was very bad but now she’s feeling better day by day. In Syria I was happier because I had my friends there but we couldn’t stay because of the war. So that’s why we came here to Australia. Here it’s better and safer, and you feel free with everything.