Refugee masters the art of learning

By STEPHEN FORBES

Diem Mai could not speak English when she arrived in New Zealand as a refugee from Vietnam in 1981.

But, against the odds, the 24-year-old graduated yesterday from Auckland University with a masters degree in audiology.

Diem's family left Vietnam to escape poverty and for a better standard of living.

They reached a Malaysian refugee camp in 1981, and were then sponsored by an Invercargill family to come to New Zealand.

They settled in Invercargill and her father found work as a mechanic.

Soon after, the family moved to Auckland and started a bakery in Mangere.

Diem said that in Vietnam women were not encouraged to get an education.

"You just don't get the same opportunities over there.

"Money was always a problem. If you live in a village it's very hard to go to a university in the city."

But she said her parents had always encouraged her to take opportunities they did not have.

Diem has two brothers, Thong, aged 20, and John, 18, and a younger sister, Nhung, 21.

She was educated at Auckland's Mt Roskill Grammar school where she won an award as the student most likely to succeed.

She graduated from Auckland University in 1998 with a BSc in Physiology, and is pleased to have finally completed her studies.

Diem will continue her work for Auckland Healthcare, where she helps run a hearing treatment and rehabilitation programme.

Herald Online feature: the immigrants

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