Sarah Yahya, BA IS/ B Communication (Journalism), ICS Colombia

“My fondest memory was when I went to visit a little town called Villa De Leiva, in Boyaca, Colombia. I was strolling through the streets admiring every art piece, jewellery, and clothing on display. I came across an old man who was selling his paintings of the nature and beauty of Colombia. I conversed with him in Spanish, and he ended up talking about his love for his country, for his art, and his hopes. I learned more about the history of Colombia, and the little traditions they have. It was a wonderful exchange as he thanked me and my friends for studying in Colombia and speaking Spanish instead of stereotyping the country. I wanted nothing more than to share his stories with everyone I know. It made a difference in my life by allowing me to discover my capabilities as a student and as a person too. I found out that I can study in other settings and in another language. I found out that I can live and survive on my own and that I can depend on myself. Perhaps the biggest difference is that it reminded me to never, ever forget where I came from, and the privileges that I enjoy everyday in Australia.“

Sarah Yahya undertook her ICS year in Colombia. Having been born outside Australia and migrating as a young person, she brought her own prior experiences into In Country Studies. Sarah has recently joined the public service.

“Living each day in Colombia, I recalled many flashbacks of my own childhood in Iraq and Jordan. It was a reminder that we should appreciate the little things we have in life, and to be open-minded of the different worlds that exists outside of our own. BAIS has made me realise that I should take pride in being someone who was born and raised in another country, that I should never be ashamed of my ethnicity and that I can and should always celebrate and carry on my traditions.”