Happy, excited, safe. These three words sum up the feelings of the Bloudani family as they adjust to their new lives in Australia, 12 years after fleeing war-torn Syria.
The family have wasted no time in the four months since their arrival. Sana (12) is excelling at maths and science at Mullumbimby High School, and Ghina (11) is so relaxed at St John’s Primary School that she’s started Arabic lessons for other students in the school library.
“About 10 students come each week,” says Ghina. “I start by getting them to say who they are and teach them to write their names in Arabic.”
Equally impressive is dad Ousama, who had virtually no English when he arrived. Thanks to TAFE English classes at Kingscliff and Byron Bay, he can hold basic conversations.
You can see that mum Walaa is the cornerstone of the family; she’s also the most accomplished English speaker, having studied at tertiary level.
Back in Syria, the Bloudanis grew fruit, herbs and flowers on their farm outside Damascus. But the war caught up with them and destroyed the farm and their livelihood. Ousama’s brother was arrested and jailed for four years ‘just for being the wrong kind of person’.
The family fled to Lebanon with baby Sana. While eking out a living in there, they welcomed Ghina into their lives.
Their application for refugee settlement with the United Nations took two-and-a-half years, and in May this year they found out they had been accepted into Australia.
The Community Support Group which is hosting them is Mullumbimby-based MRSG, who welcomed the Bloudanis in July.
“It was a close thing for them,” said MRSG member Jude Alcorn. “They got out the day before Beirut airport was closed because of the Israeli bombardment.”
So how do they feel now? That’s when Walaa breaks into a big smile: “Happy, excited, safe.”
The family feel accepted into the community, and now they face the usual Northern Rivers predicaments such as poor transport options. Ousama has his L-plates and as soon as he can drive solo, they hope to buy a car with the financial support of MRSG.
They’ve made several connections in the area, including a chance encounter with the Imam who holds weekly Islamic prayers at the Cavanbah Centre in Byron Bay.
And then of course there’s finding employment. Ousama has extensive agricultural and horticultural skills and is hoping for work in that line.
For now, he satisfies his green thumb itch with gardening in their tiny backyard and seeking space at the Mullumbimby community garden. He proudly shows you around his little plot and its myriad seedlings and cuttings.
“I just want to grow things, and share it around,” he says, running the soil through his fingers.
The Bloudani family have settled into their Brunswick Heads unit. From left, Sana, Walaa, Ousama and Ghina. Standing are MRSG members Jude Alcorn and John Purssey.