So this is my first time in jail. I reside at DPFC and have done so for the last 18 months. I never would’ve thought I’d be in a place like this in my life ever! However my choices I went with landed me right here and now. The worst thing is I could be getting deported back to NZ, so I am fighting that as well. I haven't been home for 20 years now and have six kids here in Melbourne who come and visit me on the regular but it still doesn’t or won’t ever make up for the time I've missed out on with them while being in here.

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Before jail I actually never pictured what it could be like and now being in here I’ve learnt a lot and I most certainly have learnt my lesson!

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I'll never come back to this place, but I’ll always respect the time that I’ve spent in here, and I understand now how and why people return to this place.

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It’s easy, you don't have to pay rent, you get fed, you have a job, you learn how to live without a lot of things, but you also learn about yourself in so many ways. My fiancée had always told me about the lifestyle and I always wondered why he went back in so many times and only now do I understand it for myself. You’re routined in here. It’s actually easy and like a camp, no you can’t smoke, drink, or go out whenever you want but the constant uniformed way of things you become accustomed to and did I say it’s easy... There are days where I wake up and think OMG I’m still here and days I don’t wanna get up to make it go faster and closer to the day I leave this place and boy have I learnt my lesson…  

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Some days time stands still and sometimes it flies by, the excitement of getting my meds at 5pm are the highlight of my day as is receiving mail from my gorgeous man as interprisons are the only thing that we have to keep in contact with each other, but the love I have for him goes deep as we are both going through jail time realising the time we have missed out on with each other. The things I’ve learnt in here are crazy – from how to make jail donuts to making fitted sheets, utilising velcro and ordering special spends to make my room seem not so jail-like. God I miss home and my family.

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I felt like I needed to write in here to say I totally understand now how jail is, but more importantly I’ve def learnt my lesson and cannot wait for all this to end. Much respect to all who are incarcerated; this journey has most def charged my thoughts. My way of thinking allows me to respect people regardless of how their lives have been, or turned out and most importantly what they’ve gone through and came out of after being in jail, but learning my lesson was the best of all and I’m thankful that it’s only one I needed to learn by never coming back here. So yes, I’ve most definitely learnt my lesson.

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Thanks jail.

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Kind Regards,

Wendy