Life in Ballarat is very different to what Lucy Xavier is used to.
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The lake, the shops, the language and the cost of living are just some of the things she is coming to terms with, having moved here from her hometown of Ainaro in Timor Leste.
Ms Xavier, 21, is spending six months as a teacher’s assistant at Ballarat Grammar where she is working in junior classrooms improving her English and teaching the school’s youngest students about Timor Leste.
The English program she has been part of is supported by Ballarat through its close friendship city ties with Ainaro, in the south west of the country.
Rob Gray, who is assistant head of administration at Ballarat Grammar and secretary of Teachers for Timor, has seen Ms Xavier blossom over the past five years that she has been involved the English program.
“Ballarat Grammar moved toward taking on 10 international gap assistants for 2018, up from five previously, and I happened to say instead of bringing a gap student in from a first world country, how about we have a look at someone from Timor.”
The school agreed.
“I had seen Lucy operating with young children, she’s got a good way with them, and thought she would be a great fit for the program.”
Ms Xavier helps the teachers with activities and lessons, reading, games and other tasks.
“I’m working with the preps and I very much enjoy it, they are so cute,” she said. “They are kind to me, welcome me and they help me.”
Mr Gray said Ms Xavier was a popular addition to the junior classrooms.
“She has a great rapport and helps the children with reading, she has been teaching them some Tetum, gave them an power point presentation and had them dressed up in Timorese costumes,” Mr Gray said.
Ms Xavier said there were many differences between her hometown and Ballarat, but the one she most enjoys is Lake Wendouree.
Her favourite Ballarat experience is to run around the lake. “We don’t have a lake in my town and your lake is very beautiful,” she said. “Ballarat is a very beautiful place and it’s a very interesting place to me.”
Because of the close ties between Ballarat and Ainaro, Ms Xavier had an idea of where she was coming to, and knew a few friendly faces from the school which takes a group of students to Ainaro each year.
