Anh Nguyen Austen

Like nothing can match that level of despair.

Well, I think when they reflect upon it more so.

But I think it's really hard to understand the lethargy of losing so much hope along the way.

I think the rescue is just like an adrenaline rush.

I don't remember anything else that way.

Well, I think when you're at sea for those dark, dark nights and you haven't seen anyone.

And I remember going to the lower deck and then seeing the other refugees.

And you really understand yourself as part of this mass of suffering.

And there were so many other refugees because we were the last hundred amongst the 400 that were already rescued and in the boat.

And then you kind of understand your situation in that context.

And you really like are kind of thrown back in thinking, wow, like we're part of this huge condition and we don't know how to go about believing that, you know, what will be next.

Well, a lot of the research interviews and oral histories I've done, people really take it as a point of strength and a sense of like a post-traumatic growth moment that you never suffer in that way again.

And nothing could be that despairing or hopeless.

So different people experience it in different ways.

But overall, I think...

The majority of certainly children perspectives as refugees are extremely hopeful and forward looking.

So if you think about it, for the children, such a big adventure.

Me and my brother were very preoccupied after being sprayed in quarantine and everything with looking for dolphins, you know, or running around the ship.

And this was like a cruise liner for all we knew, you know.

I think they must have because, you know, there's a lot of risk and a lot of people's justifications for that level of risk is for their children.