Secret rebels

Updated

Chinese students in Australia are challenging expectations, personally and politically.

At a karaoke bar in Sydney, Viola Yao and Sophie Lin escape study for a while to share their love of hip hop.

Sophie says hip hop can be a platform for young Chinese people to raise their voices.

Viola says her parents expect her to marry by 30, earn a good degree and make money.

She hasn't told them she's making music, because they'd disapprove of her not earning money from it.

In the past decade, as China's middle class has flourished, the number of Chinese students coming to Australia has grown.

Education is Australia's third largest export — and Chinese students now make up 30 per cent of international students in the tertiary sector.

The current generation is different from their parents.

They're breaking from tradition and expectation to speak their mind and challenge the status quo — not only in China but Australia too.

Clément Sun wouldn't be in Australia if the decision was up to his father.

Clément and his friend Abbey Shi are running for student representative positions at the University of Sydney.

They want to be a voice for students.

Abbey says she has become more outspoken since coming to university in Australia.

Some Chinese students here have been accused of stifling debate on sensitive topics about China, and peddling the government line.

"Sarah" Li isn't one of them. She's critical of her government and didn't want to be identified.

Rico Peng says many young Chinese people don't care about politics "because [in China] they don't have the voting rights".

In Australia, students like Xu Xiong, who is openly gay, say they have escaped some pressures and restrictions from home.

"I think if I had this hair in China … people would be more surprised, they would be like 'oh God, you have blue hair or green hair'. But people here are more chill about that."

- Xu Xiong

"I feel like generally being gay is more accepted here. And people talk about this more often, and people are very conscious about LGBT rights and women's rights and other social issues."

- Xu Xiong

Students also have more freedom to access sites blocked in China.

Instagram and Facebook offer a perspective into their lives in Australia.

But Australia presents its own challenges and restrictions for students.

Anthony Hou says cultural differences and difficulty speaking English can be a barrier to making friends.

Sarah has a mix of friends here.

Still, she feels caught between two worlds.

Abbey says Australia could make life easier for international students by alleviating their financial burden.

"We're paying five times more tuition fees. Transport NSW still won't give concessions on Opal cards for international students."

Abby Ran's parents spent 10 years saving for their daughter's education.

To help pay her way, she works up to eight hours a week at a restaurant in Chinatown.

She enjoys being busy but it can be tiring at times, physically and psychologically.

But the students want Australia to see them as more than dollars and cents.

They want to be given more opportunities to be part of society.

Credits

Reporter: Alexandra Fisher

Alexandra Fisher Producer, video and photographs: Jack Fisher

Jack Fisher Developer: Nathanael Scott

Nathanael Scott Design: Alex Palmer

Alex Palmer Data: Inga Ting

Inga Ting Research: Grace Feng

Grace Feng Editors: Stephen Hutcheon and Monique Ross

This story is part of RN's China in Focus special.

Students

Rico Peng , Masters of Finance at University of Technology Sydney

, Masters of Finance at University of Technology Sydney Abby Ran , Bachelor of Commerce, University of Sydney

, Bachelor of Commerce, University of Sydney Xu Xiong , Masters of Arts, Melbourne University

, Masters of Arts, Melbourne University Anthony Hou , Bachelor of Social Work, University of New South Wales

, Bachelor of Social Work, University of New South Wales "Sarah" Li, Bachelor of Communication, University of Technology Sydney

Sophie Lin , Bachelor of Nursing at University of Technology Sydney

, Bachelor of Nursing at University of Technology Sydney Viola Yao , Diploma of Graphic Design at Nepean College (TAFE) in Penrith

, Diploma of Graphic Design at Nepean College (TAFE) in Penrith Clément Sun , Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International and Global Studies, University of Sydney

, Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International and Global Studies, University of Sydney Abbey Shi, Bachelor of Arts/ Bachelor of Laws, University of Sydney

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Topics: education, university-and-further-education, immigration, community-and-society, australia

First posted