Do You Think it's a Good Idea?

By Rachael Dumonic

My life has been a complex journey, and you may wonder at what point I was driven as a middle-aged woman to pack my bags, travel halfway across the world to China to teach English, not even speaking the native language, and all this right at the beginning of a pandemic. You may be correct in thinking perhaps I was insane. However, I was also opportunistic, hopeful, and somehow lost, chasing a dream to fill my soul.

When my son, Callum, passed away in 2015 at the age of only 18, I was so destroyed that I could not see beyond my grief and inconceivable loss, and all of what life was and what I knew was shattered. I had no desire to wake each day. I withdrew for many years and focused on keeping my mind active and blocking out almost everything and everyone as a coping mechanism. I constantly worked, studied and gained numerous qualifications, facilitated volunteer programmes and established a foundation; all of this back-to-back in a short timeframe. I was consistently evolving, but I was exhausted, both mentally and emotionally; avoiding the grief took so much energy. With the loss of Callum and the path that I have been forced to walk upon, I discovered an innate desire and determination to travel to China and teach.

Callum led me to all my achievements, and I hope that he will be proud of all that I have established. On my return to Australia, I decided to write this book and share the experience of my journey, which for the most part, was a challenge but also a heart-warming experience at times and one that taught me so much about resilience and strength. Being a foreigner in an unfamiliar country really opened my eyes to the challenges immigrants face and just how difficult it is to adjust. I hope you will read my story with an open heart, and I encourage you to step beyond your limitations and find your dream.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Mar 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781528931373

Rachael Dumonic

Rachael Dumonic lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, Robert, and youngest son, Jay. Rachael is a qualified florist and transitioned to a teaching role as a trainer and assessor at Holmesglen Institute of Tafe in 2012. She has been teaching students across all demographics, skills and abilities and has a passion for teaching adolescents, specifically with special needs. The tragic and sudden passing of her son, Callum, on November 7, 2015, changed her world and the family unit forever. After many years of soul searching and trying to make sense of loss, she embarked on many hours of study to keep herself busy. In 2018, she completed her diploma in TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Initially, her qualification enabled her to recognise the typical learning styles and improve her teaching abilities within Australia and her current job role. She harboured a personal goal to live and work abroad to help support others learning the English language. Rachael has worked tirelessly over the years within the community, contributing to numerous volunteer programmes, one notably the Chinese Community at Crossway Church in Melbourne. This project encapsulated teaching new immigrants English. Rachael, in addition, facilitated volunteer floral workshops at mental health clinics for patients and shared her skills to support patients in a small way on their journey of recovery. In 2017, she established SMUK Foundation Limited in memory of her first-born son, Callum. SMUK Foundation is a charity established solely as a not-for-profit organisation, and the aim is to assist and support other not-for-profit charities by assisting with funds to be distributed to vulnerable youth over numerous genres as required. Some of these areas within the constitution are mental health factors, youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds, those up to the age of 25 at risk of homelessness and educational programmes to assist young people with skills to integrate and function within society. SMUK Foundation has been supporting programmes, such as The St Duke of Ed Award and, in 2020, a local educational programme for youth at St Kilda PCYC to collaborate and learn basic everyday skills to function normally within society for job prospects, but also general communication skills to connect generally in mainstream. Her achievements have been notable and rewarding, although clearly, much more could be achieved. Rachael has requested that all proceeds of her book be donated to the SMUK Foundation Limited in memory of Callum. All aspects of the publishing process have been fully funded personally, and she wishes to continue to support programmes close to her heart. Rachael embarked on this project as a form of therapy, but also her philosophy has always been I cannot change the world, but maybe we can turn some lives around for the better. All proceeds from the book will be 100% donated to the foundation. www.smukfoundation.com.au [http://www.smukfoundation.com.au/]

Book preview

About the Author

Rachael lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her husband, Robert, and youngest son, Jay. Rachael is a qualified florist and transitioned to a teaching role as a trainer and assessor at Holmesglen Institute of Tafe in 2012. She has been teaching students across all demographics, skills and abilities and has a passion for teaching adolescents, specifically with special needs. The tragic and sudden passing of her son, Callum, on November 7, 2015, changed her world and the family unit forever. After many years of soul searching and trying to make sense of loss, she embarked on many hours of study to keep herself busy. In 2018, she completed her diploma in TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. Initially, her qualification enabled her to recognise the typical learning styles and improve her teaching abilities within Australia and her current job role. She harboured a personal goal to live and work abroad to help support others learning the English language. Rachael has worked tirelessly over the years within the community, contributing to numerous volunteer programs, one notably the Chinese Community at Crossway Church in Melbourne. This project encapsulated teaching new immigrants English. Rachael, in addition, facilitated volunteer floral workshops at mental health clinics for patients and shared her skills to support patients in a small way on their journey of recovery. In 2017, she established SMUK Foundation Limited in memory of her first-born son, Callum. SMUK Foundation is a charity established solely as a not-for-profit organisation, and the aim is to assist and support other not-for-profit charities by assisting with funds to be distributed to vulnerable youth over numerous genres as required. Some of these areas within the constitution are mental health factors, youth from low socioeconomic backgrounds, those up to the age of 25 at risk of homelessness and educational programs to assist young people with skills to integrate and function within society. SMUK Foundation has been supporting programs, such as The St Duke of Ed Award and, in 2020, a local educational program for youth at St Kilda PCYC to collaborate and learn basic everyday skills to function normally within society for job prospects, but also general communication skills to connect generally in mainstream. Her achievements have been notable and rewarding, although clearly, much more could be achieved. Rachael has requested that all proceeds of her book be donated to the SMUK Foundation Limited in memory of Callum. All aspects of the publishing process have been fully funded personally, and she wishes to continue to support programs close to her heart. Rachael embarked on this project as a form of therapy, but also her philosophy has always been I cannot change the world, but maybe we can turn some lives around for the better.

All proceeds from the book will be 100% donated to the foundation.

www.smukfoundation.com.au

Dedication

My dear son, Callum, in memory of our sudden loss of you and just how much this has impacted my life and all future decisions. Sadly, this has been not only detrimental to the family and myself but also the extended family. It would be amiss to say that I never thought I could continue after your death; perhaps this may have been your life’s journey and, in part, perhaps the plan for mine… In truth, I have been forced to rise above past discretions and, in turn, accept. I will never forgive certain individuals that wholly contributed to my loss of you. Time allows grief to evolve; however, with the pain endlessly endured with the loss of a child is a lifetime, it softens somewhat. I do view each day as an opportunity for growth and solitude. You have given me hope that I can make sense of your loss to help others. This is your greatest legacy, Callum, through the SMUK Foundation Limited – Supporting and Mentoring Unique Kids.

Love and light until I see you next, my son.

I miss you always – Mum

Copyright Information ©

Rachael Dumonic 2023

The right of Rachael Dumonic to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528928199 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528931373 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my husband for the continual support, positivity and patience he managed to show throughout my journey away from home. You have always consistently supported many of the solo projects that I have participated in over the years, many of these assisting those less fortunate than ourselves. I am particularly thankful for the support I received to pursue my dream of teaching English overseas in China. Furthermore, to my family and friends who regularly contacted me throughout with calls and messages of support, for this, I am grateful, and it helped at times when I felt truly alone. To a wonderful, kind and generous soul, Dina Theodoropoulos, for sharing your ideas and suggestions and donating the illustrations; this is such a beautiful gesture, and I am so honoured. Adding to this, my valued colleagues and Holmesglen family who supported and welcomed me back with open arms. A special thank you to my fondly admired colleague for the fabulous comment in the staff room before my departure. Your words resonated magnificence in my ears throughout this journey. Thank you for the title, Mr Williams. It was a good idea but never quite took off.

Introduction

My life has been a complex journey, and you may wonder at what point I was driven as a middle-aged woman to pack her bags, travel halfway across the world to China to teach English, not even speaking the native language; and all this right at the beginning of a pandemic. You may be correct in thinking perhaps I was insane. However, I was also opportunistic, hopeful and somehow lost, chasing a dream to fill my soul. When my son, Callum, passed away in 2015 at the age of only 18, I was so destroyed that I could not see beyond my grief and inconceivable loss, and all of what life was and what I knew was shattered. I had no desire to wake each day. I withdrew for many years and focused on keeping my mind active and blocking out almost everything and everyone as a coping mechanism. I constantly worked, studied and gained numerous qualifications, facilitated volunteer programs and established a foundation; all of this back-to-back in a short time frame. I was consistently evolving, but I was exhausted, both mentally and emotionally; avoiding the grief took so much energy. I was in control in my professional life but not coping so well in my private life. That’s still an area that I constantly work through to this day. I know that as humans, when we suffer traumatic loss, it’s a journey that we endure alone, even with a room full of people or friends, and at times I have never felt so alone. The loss leads in certain directions, whether spiralling out of control or choosing to find some control or balance to continue living and find some small joys to celebrate. With the loss of Callum and the path that I have been forced to walk upon, I discovered an innate desire and determination to travel to China and teach what I had been studying and teaching at the time in volunteer programs, turning it into a career. Callum has led me to all my achievements, and I hope that he will be proud of all that I have established. On my return to Australia, I decided to write this book and share the experience of my journey, which for the most part, was a challenge, but also a heart-warming experience at times and one that taught me so much about resilience and strength. Being a foreigner in an unfamiliar country really opened my eyes to the challenges immigrants face and just how difficult it is to adjust. I hope you will read my story with an open heart, and I encourage you to step beyond your limitations and find your dream.

Chapter One

The Journey Begins

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’Feb 12, 2020: and my journey begins, for what lies ahead is a mystery.’ I take the opportunity for a new beginning in Changchun City, in the north of China, for a teaching position. I am leaving behind my husband and son back in Australia as I embark on this journey, hopeful I will fulfil my dream of teaching. This is something that has been on my mind for the past couple of years, and I feel it’s now or never; I would rather take a risk than never know.

After weeks of speculation due to the news of the coronavirus outbreak in China, I had to be optimistic amongst some negative thoughts that