Key Points
- Elias and Angelina Chambi have been married and living in Australia for more than a decade.
- They welcomed numerous Filipino international students in their home once in a while to help the people avoid the feeling of homesickness.
- The couple do not share the same ethnicity but they share alike values.
Looking for a home away from your country is tough, but finding a family is even rarer.
Elias and Angelina Chambi are a Filipino-Greek couple in Melbourne who embrace a lot of Filipino international students on every special occasion. The couple said they like hosting celebrations in their home while checking in with them about their lives.
Angelina is grateful to have a husband like Elias who she describes as hospitable, a Filipino trait that is also known for.
"I am lucky because more or less we have the same culture, hospitable, generous, very kind, welcoming."
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'I want them to be happy': Fil-Greek couple on making international students part of their family
SBS Filipino
11:10
Filipino and Greek connection
Having been married for more than a decade, the Filo-Greek couple believes that their culture played a part in their relationship with international students.
They welcomed those who were longing for their families in the Philippines yet needed to prioritise their goals in Australia.
"If you marry a Filipina, you marry the whole country," Elias humorously says.
Angelina and Elias Chambi | Photo from Angelina Chambi's Facebook
It was never the intention of Elias and Angelina to be considered the 'second' parents of some Filipino international students.
However, Erika Carreon and Alex Dela Cruz, two of the Filo students, could not help but acknowledge the efforts of the couple who guided them through their setbacks.
"My parents were grateful to Tita Gina and Tito Elias who helped me during rough times," Dela Cruz says.
Elias and Angelina Chambi with some Filipino international students and their families | Photo from Angelina Chambi's Facebook
Homesickness is inevitable for migrants and searching for ways to avoid this might make you feel inside a box.
Angelina shares that making an effort to connect to your roots may contribute to easing the negative feelings.
"You need to connect with people, especially Filipinos, to lessen your stress with homesickness and your academics as international students," Angelina remarks.
Elias and Angelina Chambi with Filipino international students and their families | Photo from Angelina Chambi's Facebook
