Comments on: Where is home?

By: Wamut

Wamut — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:33:37 +0000

Another interesting post. I’m guessing there are parallels for many Aboriginal people who hear a lot of rhetoric about the need to develop English and/or academic skills and get good jobs, allowing them to somehow become more ‘acceptable’ citizens. But I’d say few are ever truly accepted by our Anglo-dominated society even after investing effort and energy in doing the ‘right’ things. (E.g. they could be perceived as holding tokenistic positions, or, if they’re assertive, they would be perceived as politicised trouble-makers). From Aboriginal perspectives, the threat of being labeled a ‘coconut’ by other Aboriginal people is real and of concern.

On the other hand, there are many who do great things in education and employment but chose to put their energies into working for their own community (rather than trying to appease Anglo ideals of a successful Indigenous person), are often overlooked or under-acknowledged.

By: Ingrid Piller

Ingrid Piller — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 23:43:00 +0000

In reply to Sheila Pham.

There is one quote from a Chinese woman with a British boyfriend in the paper. She says: “I live with my boyfriend [white British]. His mother says, ‘Take care of my son, you are so lucky!’ His friends are similar. From their views, I am so lucky to marry a British man, I should feel happy, not complain about anything.… I never cooked in China as my mother did, but now cook dinner two times – Chinese for me, Western for him. I thought Western men would cook. Is it because I am a Chinese woman? I am confused … do I really love him?” …. Quite poignant, isn’t it? A local partner can be alienating, too, I guess …

By: Sheila Pham

Sheila Pham — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:32:55 +0000

This is such an interesting post and I’ve had a lot of thoughts along these lines with people I’ve met…just curious, do things change when/if these women find a local partner? Because I imagine that would make a huge difference to a sense of belonging somewhere which is otherwise very alienating.

By: Hailin

Hailin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 10:34:18 +0000

Thank you for your post, Ingrid! We have the sayings: the grass is always greener. only when we are away from our home, may we fully realize the attractiveness of it!

By: Sudharani Subramanian

Sudharani Subramanian — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 03:38:44 +0000

Hi Kim,
I met you for a short while at the Chula Conference in Bangkok. Having lived in Thailand( originally from India) I feel like I have merged into the Thai culture and I feel like an alien from an outer planet when I go home.Yes, I love meeting my friends,eating good Indain food….but it stops there.I hate it when people start being judgemental about me! Of course I dont know how it feels when one moves from an Asian background to a Western Country.I havent taken that road yet.Just wanted to share this poem I wrote.

I do belong.
But now I can see
The inside from the outside.
Agree to disagree
Accept to be different.
The Land of Smiles
Taught me
To be or not to be
To smile not cry,
To live not die,
To give not to gain.
Gave me freedom.
I feel complete
I can find
Richness in simplicity,
Peace and happiness,
Within myself.
Now
I know
Where I belong.

By: Jean Cho

Jean Cho — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:47:19 +0000

This reminds me of the days that I and my friends were into the “Sex and the City” series. We yearned for the kind of lifestyle that the glamorous New Yorkers were leading… without realizing that things might not be the same for wanna-be New Yorkers, those outside the circle. I always thought that it’d be a good research topc to investigate the impact that this drama has had on young Korean females – the fantasy inculcated by this drama played a small part in me deciding to come to Australia for an unrestrained lifestyle and I was lucky enough to meet my husband – happy ending, huh? 🙂

By: F.L. Feimo

F.L. Feimo — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 08:14:47 +0000

Well said Ingrid. And I agree with Dionisio Francas comment – reverse culture shock is a natural outcome. One can never go back because the time and place has changed. The migrants almost live in a time warp; they retain an image of the home country as it was yet the people and places continue to march on. So when they return with their new found sensibilities yet expecting everything to be the same as they left it, they are greeted with the reality of a present day homeland. Both attribute to the reverse culture shock and there is no going back.

By: Dionisio Franca

Dionisio Franca — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 12:27:28 +0000

Great text Ingrid.

Its interesting to notice that some people have a hard time in order to adjust themselves to their homeland if they go back to their countries after living abroad for a long time.