Sister's Vero and Siti’s time in Brisbane

Srs Vero and Siti arrived from Indonesia on 24th May to begin their English course on 29th May. Vero and Siti studied at the Griffith University English Language Institute (GELI) for ten weeks. This course has proved to be very beneficial for the sisters from Indonesia and Thailand who have stayed with the sisters in Brisbane over the past few years.

Vero and Siti were very enthusiastic and conscientious students who thoroughly immersed themselves in the life of the university as well as with us here in Brisbane. They were very willing to share in my life and we spent much time talking together and learning about each other's life and culture. They proved to be very good cooks and whenever I thanked them they answered, “no worries” or “it's a pleasure”.

As the weeks went by their growing confidence in speaking English allowed them to share much more of their experience at GELI as well as their life in Indonesia. They enthusiastically took part in extracurricular activities provided by the University which included tours of the Art Gallery and Museum, Coffee and Conversation, visit to Lone Pine and volunteering at a day of activities for disabled children and their families. They both enjoyed exercising which for Siti meant a brisk 50-minute walk home from Uni while Vero did exercise at home and took part in a basketball game at Uni. Climbing up a steep hill from the bus stop to our home is no mean feat but to do it daily is quite an achievement.

Annette Hartland, one of the teachers from St Ursula's Toowoomba, hosted Vero and Siti for a weekend and showed them many of the sights of Toowoomba as well as taking them around St Ursula's where they met some of the staff and students. They particularly enjoyed this visit. Annette has graciously offered hospitality to other sisters when they have been with us.

It was a pleasure to have Vero and Siti stay here and to be enriched by their enthusiastic response to the experience in Brisbane and to journey together along the path of mutual understanding, cultural diversity and shared Ursuline life. 

Sr Anne Cougle osu