An Ordinary Life
A Migrant's True Story of Love, Endurance, and Hope
Author: Vera Culkoff
An Ordinary Life
Vera Culkoff came to Australia as a seven-year-old migrant from Macedonia, in the former Yugoslavia. Like many migrants in those days she experienced racism and a deep sense of not belonging and not being “good enough” in her new country. She recalls engaging in a fist fight on one occasion after being called a “wog”. And on another occasion swinging a plank of timber that had fallen from the front fence of her home at her perceived aggressor for also calling her a “wog”. She was 9-11 years old at the time.
As a much wiser woman, Vera went on to graduate in law and is now a practicing barrister. She drew much strength and resilience from her parents and the examples they set. They are two people who never gave up on their pursuits for a better life for their family.
Vera’s inspiration to write An Ordinary Life came from her father, Stefan. It was really his request. He wanted to leave behind a legacy of how wonderful and rewarding a bold search for a better life in a strange, new country could be. In the process, Vera and her family learned much about their Macedonian heritage and the joys and heartaches of a migrant’s journey into a new homeland. Stefan and his wife, Milica, are 88 years old now. From their humble beginnings, they forged a beautiful life together, a life filled with a very deep love for family and their new country.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Vera Culkoff came to Australia as a seven-year-old migrant from Macedonia, in the former Yugoslavia. Like many migrants in those days she experienced racism and a deep sense of not belonging and not being “good enough” in her new country. She recalls engaging in a fist fight on one occasion after being called a “wog”. And on another occasion swinging a plank of timber that had fallen from the front fence of her home at her perceived aggressor for also calling her a “wog”. She was 9-11 years old at the time.