An Interview with Ji-hyun Moon
Q. Could you please introduce yourself? I’m Ji-hyun Moon, born in 2001. I’ve been in Brisbane for about six months now.
Q. How would you describe your life in Brisbane so far? To be honest, every day is pretty much the same. I work, go home, and work again—it’s a cycle. My feeling after six months is that “living in Australia is actually harder than I thought.”
Q. What did you do back in Korea, and what brought you to Australia? In Korea, I graduated with a degree in Food Science and Technology and worked as an analytical researcher. I was doing lab work, like nutritional analysis, but my daily commute was four hours round-trip, which was exhausting. I kept asking myself, “Is this the life I really wanted?” I decided to come to Australia because I wanted to experience life abroad while I’m still young and find a direction that truly suits me.
Q. How did your actual life in Australia compare to your original plans? At first, I had big plans—I wanted to try marketing, start a YouTube channel, and do something different. But once I got here, reality hit. Paying for rent and living expenses came first, so I ended up focusing on part-time jobs. Currently, I work as an all-rounder at an Indonesian restaurant and also work at a takeaway shop. My daily routine is quite repetitive. The funny thing is, even though I’m living this “boring” life, I would still recommend experiencing Australia to others. I think there are many international students out there struggling with the same worries as me, and I’m trying my best to push through and find my way.
Q. Were there any parts of Australian life that were difficult due to your personality? I’m quite introverted, so I’m not very good at speaking up in crowded places. Because of that, “small talk” with foreign friends felt pretty challenging. I tried to pretend to be an extrovert at first, but it felt so awkward that I just gave up with a laugh. (Haha) Now, I just stay quiet and do things my own way.
Q. Do you have any memorable experiences from your homestay or daily life? There haven’t been any huge, dramatic events, but I think that is my Australian life. Overall, my homestay experience was great. My host gave me a small gift for Christmas and invited me to their family gatherings. Those experiences were very warm and I’m grateful for them. I think doing a homestay is definitely worth trying at least once.
Q. I heard you are active on YouTube and social media? Yes, it’s a bit funny. (Laughs) I’m introverted, but my goal is to gain more subscribers. I initially started to build a portfolio, but once I set such a big goal, it stopped being fun. So now, I’m just uploading things as a way to record my life. Eventually, I’d like to use these experiences as content to move into the marketing field. Looking back, it’ll be a nice memory and a portfolio… but secretly, I’m still hoping the subscriber count goes up!
Q. You mentioned earlier that you’d recommend this life. Why is that? Yes, I do recommend it. However, if you’re expecting a dramatic, movie-like experience, it might be different. There are many people like me who just work, go home, and repeat the cycle. I think that’s actually the realistic side of living here, and there’s meaning in experiencing that in Australia. So, I think it’s good to try it, even for a short time. I bet extroverted people would have even more fun experiences!
Q. What are your plans for the future? I think I’ll finish my one year here and then head back to Korea. I don’t want to leave with regrets, so I’m going to keep building experiences that I can link to a career in marketing. Also, I want to be a source of encouragement for other quiet, introverted people living in Australia. I actually applied for this interview with that in mind, though I was worried I wouldn’t have much to talk about. I want to tell those who have similar worries that “you aren’t the only ones,” and I hope we can all do well together.
Q. Finally, a word to your parents back in Korea? I’m quite shy, so I’m not good at saying things like “I love you,” but please wait for me—I’ll come back healthy and well. I’m not great at expressing it, but I’m always so grateful for you both. ^^
