Zhen Pu finds a home under southern skies
Murray Bridge News’ Mannum correspondent reflects on becoming an Australian citizen.
The following is the author’s personal opinion, and is now free to read. Help Murray Bridge News tell more stories like this by subscribing today.
On June 16, I celebrated my birthday.
By a remarkable coincidence, it was also the day of my Australian citizenship ceremony.
Becoming an Australian citizen was not an easy decision.
My birth country does not allow dual citizenship.
Under its current laws, the moment we become a citizen of another country, we automatically give up our citizenship of our mother country.
I have lived in the Australian bush for almost nine years.
In the end, I made my decision, even though it was a difficult one.
The reason is simple: I have spent these years studying Australia.
I am a soul writer, and I am also a soul reader.
What I discovered is that Australia has a soul I have been searching for all my life – a soul that is kind, open-minded, connected to nature, accepting of differences, and willing to celebrate them.
It is a country that encourages people to follow what they love, rather than simply chasing material success.
Of course, Australia is not perfect – just like people, no country is perfect.
But when there is a beautiful soul underneath, we can work things out together.
Over the years, I have met so many talented people scattered across Australia, including in the smallest country towns like Mannum: people who paint, sing, write, create, play music, hike, sail, volunteer, and quietly lend a hand whenever someone is in need.
Yes, we have our ups and downs – we disagree, we debate, and sometimes we argue.
But we do so because we care about building a better Australia.
We are fortunate to have a democratic system where every voice matters and where there is always hope.
I absolutely love life in the bush.
I love being out on the water with my sailing friends; I love sitting around a campfire, singing, dancing, and playing music under the stars; I love watching the sunrise and sunset, seeing kangaroos hopping freely across the horizon, hearing birds sing in the morning, and watching white clouds drift through an endless blue sky.
I love Australian coffee.
I love food from every corner of the world.
I love breathing fresh air.
Most of all, I love that people come here from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds, and somehow we find a way to live together.
We celebrate our differences rather than fear them.
Many times I have found myself thinking: “I don't need to go to heaven. Here I am.”
Along the way, I have found a true part of myself; and now, after all these years, I can finally just be myself.
I have made wonderful friends.
I found my beloved Aussie husband, my lovely Aussie ma and pa; I found sisters and brothers from different mothers, and so many kindred spirits along the way.
Together, we have become a family.
And deep in my heart, I hear a quiet voice saying: “Zhen, this is where you belong.”
