Fortunately this three-year-old boy* (pictured) from Kurdistan will never remember the ordeal he and his family went through to find the safety of Australian shores.
His mum and dad risked his, and their lives, when they climbed into a boat fleeing their troubled country two years ago.
Yesterday, as part of AFL multicultural week, Ivan Maric, whose parents migrated from Croatia before he was born, and team mate Will Young, visited the Inverbrackie alternative detention facility to teach the skills of AFL to more than 20 young children aged 3-12 years and their very excited parents.
Choosing their day off to travel the 35km of windy hills roads to Inverbrackie, just outside Woodside, Maric and Young were overwhelmed by the experience.
The highlight of the visit was an incredibly spirited and competitive "match" played between parents and children as well as Immigration officials and female Muslim interpreters.
One of the young male adults took the opportunity to show everyone that the rumours about his athleticism and ball skills were all true.
He gave up his position as the number 2 goal keeper in the Iranian national soccer side to seek a better life for his family.
A situation not lost on Maric and Young, who were the first professional athletes from any sporting organisations given permission to visit Inverbrackie.
"It's just been sensational," Maric said.
"To see so many happy faces and hear their laughter has been so rewarding.
"It certainly puts life into perspective. Footy is so insignificant compared with this!
"They have risked their lives for a better life - one we take for granted most of the time.
"And yet they are so positive.
"I wish everyone could see and feel what we have today - it would certainly change public perception."
The majority of the families at Inverbrackie arrived in Australia by boat and are waiting for their claims for asylum to be decided by the Immigration Department.
The Inverbrackie community, made up of families mainly from Iran, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Kurdistan and Afghanistan are housed in 76 former defence force family houses set among three kilometres of rolling Adelaide hills.
Activities Officer Michael Newlands said the parents and children would be talking about the visit for months to come.
"They all know about the Adelaide Crows," Mr Newlands said.
"There are televisions in their homes and they would watch the Crows games.
"Especially the children as they go to public schools in the community and hear the other children talking about the Crows.
"They are really like any other children- they enjoy the same activities, have the same day to day issues, and as you can see are just as cheeky."
Mr Newlands is one of six fulltime activities coordinators whose job it is to make sure the adults and children have plenty to do both inside and outside the grounds of Inverbrackie.
"Our main focus is to take their attention away from their personal situation, their impending immigration case, how they got here, and help them focus elsewhere.
"We want to make their time in the Inverbrackie community as easy and fun as possible.
"And this is one activity they will never forget," Mr Newlands adds grinning from ear to ear as he watched the young children hit the tackle bag.
"They all love sport. It is unifying - but also this type of activity builds confidence, and is very good for their health and wellbeing."
* None of the asylum seekers in this article can be named. This is to ensure their identity is not disclosed while they are awaiting their immigration outcome.
