MATÍAS HERRERO, AN EX DELIANO LIVING IN AUSTRALIA
Last 1st of September we had the opportunity and pleasure to interview Matías Herrero, an ex-student of the Ángel D’Elía Institute who used to live in Argentina and moved away to Australia in 2006. He shared with us his opinions about Australian culture, the Covid-19 situation as well as the story of his life since he graduated from school. It has been an honour for all 6th year students and teachers.
AUSSIE CULTURE
When asked about the Australian culture, Matias tells us that it has not been difficult for him to adapt. He shares the similarities with the Argentinian culture by saying that Aussies also love planning meetings outdoors and having barbecues or picnics. This is because in Australia nature is what they respect the most, so for them it is essential to be eco friendly and learn how to connect with the environment . For example, Matias explains that if someone dumps some rubbish in the streets, they will be fined heavily or discriminated by the society itself.
Regarding the personality of Australians, what best describes them is how open-minded and friendly they are, mainly because they got used to living in a multicultural country.
There are people from all around the world living there, who generally move around in groups and tend to reside in the same areas. Due to this cosmopolitan atmosphere, Aussies have learned to merge with different groups of people. Nevertheless, Matias mentioned that maybe if your level of English is quite poor, you could feel you are being treated differently or not included, but over time this can be improved.
In his house, they still preserve many Argentinian customs such as having dinner at late hours, drinking mate or organizing asados. Despite the fact that they are constantly speaking Spanish at home, their children feel Australian, and therefore their first language is English. Although Matías loves his life in Australia and the way everything is perfectly ordered, he will forever treasure his native culture.
EXPERIENCE IN AUSTRALIA
He tells us that at the beginning it wasn't easy to live there but with effort he was able to go ahead and added that the people there were very helpful and friendly to him. He also says that his family in Argentina accompanied him in his idea of moving abroad although her mother was shocked at first.
When we asked him what he missed the most about Argentina, he immediately said food and nice people. It is not that people there are not friendly, they are, but sometimes they may act differently when people have different accents or speak with a low level of English. He points out that the accent and English level is a little bit restrictive.
AUSTRALIAN CITIZENSHIP
Matías Herrero got the Australian passport in 2009.
In 2005, when he was doing paperwork Australia was in need of accountants, thanks to that everything was easier and he got the visa.
The requirements for having an Australian citizenship are:
§ If you are a holder of a permanent visa (temporary or permanent) you are allowed to be in Australia for a minimum of 4 years;
§ Having lived in Australia for at least three years out of the last four (they are cumulative);
§ Being a holder of a permanent residence visa for at least 12 months prior to applying for citizenship;
§ You are not allowed to leave Australia for more than 3 months in the last 12 months prior to the application.
§ You must be aware of your obligations as an Australian citizen, you should not have a criminal record, and you may need to take a citizenship assessment.
THE PANDEMIC AND HOME OFFICE
During the interview Matías explains to us that he works in a Bank doing financial analisys. Banks are crucial for the Australian economy and have loads of employees, it is well known that if they go bankrupt, the unemployment rate would grow tremendously. The country can’t afford the risk of having to close Banks doors due to Covid outbreaks within the staff so they have to make sure that all the employees are well looked after.
As a result, Since February Matías has not been able to go to his office and has been forced to do home working. the bank ensures that its employees can continue working quietly from home, thanks to the resources they have available Matías can connect to the bank's system and access to all the information he would have at his office . There are no plans yet for him to return to his working place due to the fact that he works in a skyscraper in the middle of the city and the risks of getting coronavirus in the lift are very high. A research was made at the building and it demonstrated that If the lifts were used only one person at a time, it would take 4 hours to get every single worker to their respectives' offices. Unimaginable. Nobody knows if they will ever return to the building since it is really expensive and they have proved that home office is both cheap and highly efficient.
PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC LIFE
Speaking about professional and academic life, we try to reach a point of his life quite important. First, we ask him about his native language. He gives us such a reach response that we are going to abbreviate that as much as possible. He tells us that his kind of “strategy” with his family. They all speak in Spanish and also in English, he’s trying to keep his Latin American roots as much as he can in Australia. But actually, he is much comfortable speaking in Spanish. Talking about an “Academic way” in Australia, he recognizes that the academic system of Latin America, at least the Argentinian one, is much rich and better than the Australian one. Being an accountant, he can notice some differences between those careers in different countries.
Reaching the final questions, we ask him about his recommendations, if it's secure and if worth to travel to Australia and start a "new" life there.There is a lot of professional demand there. Actually, he obtained the Australian nationality because of that. So he really encourages us to go to Australia searching for work because of the huge demand that it offers.
WHAT ADVICE HAS MATÍAS GIVEN US ABOUT OUR FUTURE?
The only thing that he suggests is that we should be committed to our own choices as well as strongly focus on what you would like to do. It won’t be easy to fly but the sensations will be extraordinary.
AND DOES HE STILL FEEL ARGENTINE?
He feels Argentinian, he is an Argentinian man, and he has the Argentinian sense of humor. He will be Argentinian all his life. And in the end of the interview he added that he is Deliano too.
WHAT ARE HIS MEMORIES ABOUT HIS TIME AT D’ELIA SCHOOL?
Many and beautiful memories of an adolescence full of everything, dreams, friends, girlfriends, encounters and misunderstandings, illusions and disappointments. For him, D'Elia was part of a dreamed youth. “I am fortunate to have been part of its history.”
A team of teachers phenomenal and many of whom were mentors who shaped my personality… among which are Silvio Peralta, Elisa Garat, Elsa Neira, Norma Giana and Elba Raciatti. “But above all the most important person of that It was a beautiful school for me Liliana Carballo”.
This article has been written by OSINALDE Lautaro, FLORES Marina, BARBIERIS Agustín, RUÍZ Athina, LEDEZMA Candela, PEZZOLO Candela, SMARIO Carola, ROJO POLERO Delfina, REARTE Francisco, AGUIRRE Lautaro, HANRIQUEZ Luciano, GASTALDO María, ARAGNO Nazareno, MÜLLER Valentina and MÚGICA NANO Javier