The Price of Australia Voyage

 In 2023, I decided to embark on my journey to Australia. After completing my IELTS on March 19, I began the university application process through the Rigpa House Education Consultancy Firm in April. I received offer letters from both QUT and James Cook University. Following the recommendation of the consultancy counselor, I opted for James Cook University due to its 25% fee scholarships, which would ease the financial burden of paying fees each trimester.

During the summer vacation, I was able to lodge my visa application and received it on August 14, prompting me to submit my resignation letter to leave my job early. Just two days after handing in my resignation, I received a separation order, which made me realize that my sixteen years of civil service had come to an end.

I began packing and transporting my belongings to my village on August 21 but encountered a roadblock at Boxcutting, which delayed my journey. The road cleared the next day, allowing me to reach home. For three days, I unpacked and organized my things. On the 26^th, I bid farewell to my parents, knowing that I wouldn't see them for the next two years.

However, I encountered further transportation difficulties at Suray Samkhar and was forced to spend the night inside a fuel tanker until the next morning due to heavy rainfall causing multiple roadblocks. In the morning, a DCM vehicle traveling towards Gelephu provided transportation until we encountered another highway blockade at Ossy. With the help of a few fellow travelers, we hired a bolero to transit from one blockade to the next at box-cutting, where the conditions were even more treacherous. Despite the challenges, we managed to navigate to the next road point and continue our journey by taxi to Gelephu.

Upon reaching Gelephu, I immediately sought out a legal firm to draft an agreement with my defacto. The following day, we attempted to obtain a marriage certificate from the Gelephu Court of Justice but were unable to get it signed due to the absence of Dasho Drangpon, who was attending an important meeting. I then proceeded directly to my workplace, Gelephu Higher Secondary School, to bid farewell to the principal, vice-principal, and my teacher colleagues.

On the 28^th, I commenced my journey from Gelephu to Thimphu. On the next morning, I paid homage to the deities of Dechenphu, and then rushed back to finalize a land agreement with my uncle, with whom I exchanged a vehicle for 35 decimal lands at Chuzergang ten years ago. However, the land Lagthram transfer is still pending. Additionally, I had to complete some shopping. Around 1:30 PM, I departed Thimphu for Paro and boarded a flight at 4:30 PM on the 29^th of August 2023.

The flight landed in Bangkok at 9 PM, where I had a 6-hour layover before traveling to Taipei on the 30th, and finally arriving in Brisbane the next day morning at 9 AM. Until September 8th, I spent time acquainting myself with the new environment and processing necessary documents such as a bank card, police check, TPN, and ABN. On the 9th, I attended a day-long orientation and academic workshop. My first trimester of studies commenced on the 11th and concluded in November. From December onwards, I was on a trimester break and engaged in work.

On December 13, at 6 AM, I was inundated with multiple calls and voice messages from my cousin brother, informing me of the tragic passing of my mother. We swiftly arranged a flight from Brisbane to the Philippines, departing at 11:30 AM. My sister and I arrived in the Philippines at 7:30 PM and subsequently traveled to Bangkok, arriving at 11 PM local time. We waited until 6 AM the next morning before departing for Paro, arriving at 9 AM on December 14.

With no time to spare, we hastily started shopping in Thimphu and embarked on our journey towards the village at five the next day. We arrived home at 6 pm to find my mother's lifeless body lying peacefully as if she was sleeping. Despite it being the third day since her passing, she appeared serene, embodying the kindness and concern she always showed us.

As thoughts and tears muddled, I reflected on my mother's gentle nature. Even in her final moments, she shielded us from the burden of her illness. She had only mentioned a minor headache during our last video call around 11 AM Bhutan time before her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to her hospitalization at three in the afternoon and eventually her peaceful passing in the evening at nine O’clock. Her departure at such a young age left me with countless unfulfilled dreams and a profound sense of regret for not being able to do more while she was alive.

Though the pain of her loss weighs heavily on me, I realized that life must continue. Thus, we returned to Brisbane on January 25th, 2024. Life in Australia is never a bed of roses, but we have chosen this path, and there is no turning back.

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