Catalina Rivera: From Colombia to Sydney, Rebuilding Love and a Nursing Career

In the Migration Matters podcast, Catalina Rivera recounts leaving Colombia to reunite with her husband in Sydney after two years apart, arriving on May 20 with two suitcases and about $500, feeling hope, excitement, and fear on her first overseas trip. She traces the decision back to 2007 when her boyfriend, later husband, committed to moving to Australia for better nursing opportunities, prompting a rushed marriage to simplify visas while she stayed behind due to health and financial constraints. She shares humorous advice from her 90 year old grandmother about keeping intimacy alive over Skype, and describes the challenges of reunion, cultural adjustment, and rebuilding their relationship. Catalina details starting work as a cleaner, then caregiving, improving her English, and later having her nursing degree recognized. In May 2014 they gained permanent residency via a skilled independent visa, became citizens two years later, and she has since worked over 10 years in a Sydney public hospital, valuing multidisciplinary work to improve patient safety.

00:00 Grandma’s Wild Advice
00:11 Welcome to Migration Matters
00:42 First Arrival in Australia
01:38 The Australia Decision
03:17 Rushed Wedding Plans
04:44 Long Distance and Skype
07:42 Finally Flying to Sydney
08:23 Reunion Reality Check
08:44 Falling for Sydney
09:31 Starting Over with Work
10:25 Permanent Residency Win
10:56 Building a New Life
12:02 Lessons and Thanks