When the skies are the limit, a flight attendant grows his dream of moving to Australia while working in the air.
Yung Jai is a young Hongkonger who found his dream amid the chaos of the pandemic and turned his passion into a career.
After the Australian government announced the Hong Kong Safe Haven Policy launch in October 2021, Yung decided to seize the opportunity to pursue his dream: Moving to Australia.
At 30 years old, Yung emptied his savings accounts of 10 years in Hong Kong, moved to Australia alone to study, and was ready to make Australia his new home.
Yung Jai studied for the IELTS test in May 2022 at an education center, where he did some graphic design work.
In September of the same year, Yung was informed his school application was accepted before getting his visa in November 2022.
A New Safe Haven
Yung’s decision to study in Australia was mainly due to a new policy of Australia for Hongkongers since the implementation of the infamous National Security Law.The Australian government signed the Hong Kong Safe Haven Act, The Skilled Independent Visa.
Hong Kong Stream has been added to the Skilled Independent Visa, also known as the 189 Visa, and the Permanent Residence Visa for Skilled Immigrants in Remote Areas, also known as the 191 Visa.
Under the new policy, Hongkongers with a graduate visa can skip being scored and apply for permanent residence after obtaining a passport for 3 or 4 years and meeting the Common Criteria.
The policy came into effect in March 2022. Yung caught the train to Australia before the deadline to embark on an adventure as an immigrant.
Yung Jai explained he decided to further his study after carefully considering his financial ability and the minimum criteria for immigration to the down under.
“If I could choose something I love, I would have chosen art or design from renowned universities. But these courses would cost at least half a million Hong Kong Dollars, which is too much of a financial burden. But if I choose to study business, the tuition fees are half the price of those in art.”
Yung also added that his chance of being accepted was also higher.
Yung’s move was not a hasty one, and planning was everything a lifeboat scheme required for a new beginning.
On the last day of 2022, eight months after his prep work, Yung visited Wollongong, south of Sydney, along the east coast of New South Wales, Australia.
Love Was in the Air
Yung graduated from the design department at the Polytechnic University of Hong Kong. After graduation, he joined Virgin Atlantic Airlines as a flight attendant.Incorporating his love for design, he creates a social media account where Yung shares many illustrations, poems, and journals of his life.
Having worked at different airlines, Yung said the most joyful time he had was between 2017 to 2020 while working for Virgin Atlantic Airlines.
“I was flying mainly via Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Sydney, and I was the only Asian person among all my colleagues. After spending time with them, I became very fond of Australia; my colleagues were all kindhearted. It was a fun work environment, and they would invite me to meet their friends, their homes.”
Feeling included is something that makes Yung feel at home in Australia.
The sunny blue skies and fond memories of Australia have been imprinted on Yung’s heart.
But the coronavirus changed everything.
Virgin Atlantic suddenly canceled all the flights routing via Hong Kong. The continual downfall of the economy overcast Yung’s future in the air. Eventually, he had to part ways with his flying career.
Yung worked different jobs as an illustrator, graphic designer, advertising agent, and university administrative assistant for the following few years since he left the aviation industry.
But the dream of working and living in Australia has always been close to Yung’s heart.
Moving Castle With a Feline
Friends who know Yung online would remember his pet cat Mudyin. Mudyin was a big white fluffy cat that often followed his owner to picnics and the markets.The cat is a frequent flyer in Maid’s diary.
Taking Mudyin to Australia was no easy task. So Yung had to plan for his feline buddy’s relocation and his.
He was not going to leave his buddy alone.
Yung mentioned that Australia has a wide variety of species of animals. Australia is also known as one of the most strict countries in the world for live animal customs.
As far as Yung knew, Australian airlines do not allow pets on flights, and they must be checked in.
After arriving in Australia, a fur baby must be sent to an isolation center and be quarantined for ten days. In the ten days, there will be a physical checkup to confirm whether the animal is virus and germ-free before sending it off to the owner’s new home.
Another challenge Yung faced was whether his pet was welcome in an Australian home, and he needed a home that would also love his cat.
Fortunately, Yung is now living with a roommate with two lovely bunnies. The only thing missing now is Yung’s best travel partner, Mudyin.
A 30-year-old Dreamcatcher
Whenever Yung flew with the crew to Australia, it always seemed like a mini-holiday for him. But this time was different. He was about to leave a place he grew old with for 30 years.“I know I will not return to Hong Kong for a while once I leave. The feelings are different when you have to leave a place you know for 30 years.”
Stepping into the land of Australia again, he realized his dream had come true. Even though many known challenges are ahead, Yung was ecstatic about his future in Australia.
Traditionally, heading to the “big thirty” is an essential milestone. In many Asian families, they consider it to be the golden year to plan their future, like saving money and getting married.
That is why it was a shock when Yung quit a great, prosperous job to spend all his savings studying elsewhere while serving tables.
The Golden Year
“I am over the moon!” That is what Yung says to describe his feelings. It seems simple, yet so true. Listening to his gut and moving to Australia was one of the best decisions he has ever made.“I am so happy that I am one step closer to the life I have always dreamed of for myself,” Yung said. Although it is still early, being able to drive around the islands with his friends and swim on different beaches and sea feels like a dream come true to Yung.
At 30, Yung cares little about what other people say. He listens to his inner voice as he dream-catches and fills his life with joy.
He wakes up every day with a smile on his face.
