Emily Waru is a country girl a long ways from home.
The 15-year old Australia native, who has been in Goodrich since late August as an exchange student, grew up in Wallerawang, New South Wales, a small rural community about two hours west of Sndney
‘I was born in Sydney but lived on a farm near Wallerawang,? said Waru, who is living with Jenny and John McKenzie of Goodrich until January. ‘It was out in the bush’we played outside in the dirt. I truly loved the freedom we did as we pleased. Dad was a hobby farmer we had all kinds of animals geese and ducks. There were wildlife too’there’s often a mob of kangaroos out in the field along with the wallabies and wombats.?
The area is also home to the duck-billed platypus and was visited by naturalist Charles Darwin in 1836 when the HMS Beagle arrived at Sydney Cove.
‘It’s cold here in Michigan,? added Waru. ‘There are a lot of trees and I can’t wait to see it snow. I’ve only seen it happen once in my life. Americans also drive on the wrong side of the road and over here I look the wrong way when crossing the road’it could get very dangerous. But, the food is great everything is sweet tasting. I had my first breadstick here in America. I just love them. Also, just can’t get over how big dinners are either’especially the pizzas.?
Waru moved to the City of Lithgow with her mother Kim along with brothers Peter and David at age of 11. Lithgow is about 100 miles west of Sydney on the western edge of the sandstone country of the Blue Mountains. The area of Australia was once the home of Wiradjuri Aboriginal Australians one of the oldest cultures on earth.
‘Lithgow is a bigger town than I was used to with a population of about 12,000’I miss the countryside,? she said. ‘I have two dogs an Irish wolfhound and a Kelpi, plus cats. There’s not a lot of room for them in Lithgow.?
Waru is a sophomore at Kelso High Campus located in Bathurst. The school has an enrollment of about 800 students.
‘We have uniforms to wear each day at home,? she said. ‘Here in Goodrich we don’t’but then you don’t have to decide what to put on in the morning. It’s a lot easier with the uniforms. The classes here are a easier but there’s more homework to do it seems. But everyone in Goodrich has been very nice to me and I really don’t get homesick. Probably the most difficult obstacle has been the amount of slang Americans use. I’m always asking the meaning of words.?
Waru is planning a career in accounting or law.
In addition to mother Kim and brothers Peter and David, her father Tom has two children Eli and Tiaani.