I had some vague memory of visiting Canberra as a lad when we came up with my father by car. But when I made the long train journey from Sydney to Canberra and arrived at the little stop I did wonder slightly whether this really was the national capital.

The alarm rings 4:45 again at 5 but I wake up 4:30 naturally. Shower shave orange juice perk my own coffee hear the news and the CBS car arrives 5:30.

I arrived in California with no job no car and no money but like millions of other girls a dream.

I'm the one who gets called up about a problem. I'm the one who gets called up about the street lighting and the abandoned car. I'm the one who gets blamed if the police don't arrive. I'm the one they blame if a city truck is broken down.

I was always interested in fashion and beauty. I was fifteen when I was scouted in a flea market. Two years later I arrived in New York. I was in awe because it was like another planet.

It's important to debunk the myths of Africa being this benighted continent civilized only when white people arrived. In fact Africans had been creators of culture for thousands of years before. These were very intelligent subtle and sophisticated people with organized societies and great art.

I was planning to go into architecture. But when I arrived architecture was filled up. Acting was right next to it so I signed up for acting instead.

In grade school I was taught that the United States is a melting pot. People from all over the world come here for freedom and to pursue a better life. They arrive with next to nothing work incredibly hard learn a new language and new customs and in a generation they become an integral part of our amazing nation.

My favorite designer is Christian Lacroix not just because his clothes are amazing and I love them but because he's so nice. When I did his fashion show he was the first one to arrive there and he helped everyone.

Being on 'Glee' was amazing. I remember my first day on set my first day I arrived to the set I was in my trailer and all of the actors came and banged on my door - Lea Michele Chris Colfer Amber Riley Naya Rivera. They all welcomed me with open arms so it was a great experience. It felt like family and I miss them a lot over there.