Kian Ang feels sad.
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The Malaysian-born University of Wollongong student just wants things to go back to when he first arrived in the city almost 18 months ago.
Back in July, 2019 the 23-year-old was welcomed with open arms by fellow students.
The Bachelor of Commerce student also had little trouble making friends outside of university and enjoyed travelling around different parts of the country.
But earlier this year Kian noticed a "shift" in the way people treated him.
One particular incident in March "shocked him to the core".
"My friend Dickson and I were in Wollongong walking near Woolworths one day when these older ladies started screaming at us," Kian said.
"At first I didn't know why they were screaming but I soon realised they were saying some hurtful things and telling us to take off our face masks.
"I was shocked. I was doing the right thing. I was wearing a face mask primarily to protect others. I didn't want someone to get sick and catch the COVID-19 virus, especially the elderly and young children.
"Wearing a mask is part of my culture. I tried to tell them why I was wearing the mask but they wouldn't listen, they just kept saying go back to where you came from.
"We didn't know what to do so we just put our heads down and kept walking. It wasn't a good feeling."
This incident of racism isn't an isolated case unfortunately.
New research shows discrimination against Asian Australians has risen during the coronavirus pandemic.
The study, completed by Australian National University's Centre for Social Research Methods and Centre for Asian-Australian Leadership (CAAL), has found Asian-Australians have faced the highest levels of discrimination since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The findings from more than 3000 respondents show 84.5 per cent of Asian Australians, which include those of East Asian, South East Asian, South Asian and Central Asian descent, had experienced at least one instance of discrimination between January and October 2020.
It marks an increase from 82 per cent during August 2019.
This has come as no surprise to Kian.
"While things here in Wollongong aren't too bad, many of my friends who go to universities in Queensland and Sydney, say they get harassed all the time," he said.
"I've had one or two bad moments but my friends say they feel judged all the time.
"I hope people realise that we are in this all together. This pandemic has been bad for all of us.
"I haven't been back home for a long time and I miss my family and friends a lot. But, I understand there are lots of other people in the same boat."
Earlier this year hundreds of people contacted various media outlets, including the ABC and shared their experiences of discrimination during the pandemic.
Asian Australians, particularly of Chinese heritage, reported an increase in abuse and racist attacks because the coronavirus was first detected in China.
In addition to the COVID-19 crisis, Australia's politicians have further stoked tensions with the increasing focus on foreign interference, which largely focuses on the Chinese government.
CAAL director and study co-author Jieh-Yung Lo told The Canberra Times it was not helpful when racism and discrimination is already at a high due to the health crisis.
"It creates a sense of division and a sense of doubt in the minds of all Australians that we, as Asian Australians, are not part of this country, which as a matter of fact, we have been for hundreds of years," Mr Lo said.
The disinformation shared on social media or spoken by leading figures has also played a big part in worsening the situation and with limited outlets to counter the narrative, it's meant many claims have gone uncontested.
"Disinformation from leading political figures, like Donald Trump, has been especially damaging," Mr Lo said.
I tried to tell them why I was wearing the mask but they wouldn't listen, they just kept saying go back to where you came from.
- UOW student Kian Ang
UOW chaplain Doo Ah Leeming said the COVID-19 pandemic had been very hard on international students.
The ordained minister at Wollongong Uniting Church added Asian students were particularly struggling.
"Many students feel comfortable coming to me to talk about any problems they are having," she said.
"Because of COVID-19 early on many couldn't work part-time because there wasn't any jobs.
"I listen to their concerns and try to help as best as I can. Sometimes that involves me giving them food vouchers for groceries from an Asian grocer at Keiraville.
"But with the pandemic they've also felt isolated from their families.
"While there are less Chinese students here than usual, it has been really hard for the ones that are here.
"Even a Chinese research fellow at UOW has been targeted. She felt uncomfortable talking to the media but told me that when she was in a toilet at the university, a young Australian student said 'virus' to her.
"Another one of her colleagues was abused by teenagers when she was at a park with her child."
Meantime, the ANU survey also found Asian Australians were more likely to have their livelihoods adversely affected by COVID-19 and they were more anxious about the pandemic than Australians overall.
Michael Li, the co-owner Food World Gourmet Cafe in Wollongong, said business was down 30 per cent on this time last year.
"Obviously there weren't as many Chinese students this year and I think it will be the same next year," he said. "This pandemic and the politics around it is hurting everyone. We need to stick together."
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