Being an immigrant...
...is weird, but at least I am not alone. I have been reading a book by an Englishman who came to New Zealand in the early 1980's, and his experiences are very similar, which is not surprising, but reassuring.
I think for me there are three things:
1. Roots - you don't feel you have any. Home is not quite here but also not far away either. For me, I have felt like this for a long time because I always felt like an incomer in Loughborough, even after living there for 25 years. Home, as my wife says, is where the heart is, and she is right. Geography is far less important than people. Interestingly, when people ask what do I think of when I think of home in England, it isn't anywhere I have lived, just somewhere that I am very fond of - Kinder Scout. Home to me from that perspective is sitting on Kinder looking out over the Edale valley.
2. Familiarity. Any one who has moved house more than a few miles will know it takes time to get used to a new place. Moving country is somewhat different, because things which you feel are starting to become familiar suddenly surprise you with their differences. I find this is particularly noticeable in peoples' attitudes and expectations. It is not a case of just getting to know someone, but you start to realise that to understand them you need to know so much more about the country in which you now live. I am just grateful that they speak a form of English here which is reasonably understandable, because every day presents a new challenge in understanding at some point.
3. Not being a tourist. I think I have figured out, for me at any rate, the difference between being a tourist in a place, and moving to that same place for the rest of your life. As a tourist, everything is new and exciting and novel, and you feel the need to sample it and try things because you know you only have a limited time. As a resident, you quickly realise that if you don't do it now, it doesn't matter because you are going to be here for years and can do it some other time. This can have the effect of making the place seem mundane, because your level of involvement is diminished. So, I am trying to compensate by doing kiwi-like things:
Last weekend I did a "water-walk" with Stephen, Nickys' brother. This was a 6km walk by a reservoir, along some tram lines (closed for the day) and through some tunnels. It was sponsored by the water company and happens every year. The aim is to raise money (it costs to participate) and to illustrate that for many people in Africa, the nearest water supply is 6km away. We have taps.
This coming weekend I am doing the annual Round-the-Bays run, which is about 8.5km. No I'm not running, I'm walking, which apparently many others do - we shall see. Again it is for charity, this time a range of childrens' charities, and the money is raised with an entry fee.
Now I know these are the sort of things that happen the world over, but doing them in the community where you live helps develop an insight into how that community works. At least that's what I think.
I will try and post again in about a week, because next weekend we will have been here 6 months!!!!
Rick
I think for me there are three things:
1. Roots - you don't feel you have any. Home is not quite here but also not far away either. For me, I have felt like this for a long time because I always felt like an incomer in Loughborough, even after living there for 25 years. Home, as my wife says, is where the heart is, and she is right. Geography is far less important than people. Interestingly, when people ask what do I think of when I think of home in England, it isn't anywhere I have lived, just somewhere that I am very fond of - Kinder Scout. Home to me from that perspective is sitting on Kinder looking out over the Edale valley.
2. Familiarity. Any one who has moved house more than a few miles will know it takes time to get used to a new place. Moving country is somewhat different, because things which you feel are starting to become familiar suddenly surprise you with their differences. I find this is particularly noticeable in peoples' attitudes and expectations. It is not a case of just getting to know someone, but you start to realise that to understand them you need to know so much more about the country in which you now live. I am just grateful that they speak a form of English here which is reasonably understandable, because every day presents a new challenge in understanding at some point.
3. Not being a tourist. I think I have figured out, for me at any rate, the difference between being a tourist in a place, and moving to that same place for the rest of your life. As a tourist, everything is new and exciting and novel, and you feel the need to sample it and try things because you know you only have a limited time. As a resident, you quickly realise that if you don't do it now, it doesn't matter because you are going to be here for years and can do it some other time. This can have the effect of making the place seem mundane, because your level of involvement is diminished. So, I am trying to compensate by doing kiwi-like things:
Last weekend I did a "water-walk" with Stephen, Nickys' brother. This was a 6km walk by a reservoir, along some tram lines (closed for the day) and through some tunnels. It was sponsored by the water company and happens every year. The aim is to raise money (it costs to participate) and to illustrate that for many people in Africa, the nearest water supply is 6km away. We have taps.
This coming weekend I am doing the annual Round-the-Bays run, which is about 8.5km. No I'm not running, I'm walking, which apparently many others do - we shall see. Again it is for charity, this time a range of childrens' charities, and the money is raised with an entry fee.
Now I know these are the sort of things that happen the world over, but doing them in the community where you live helps develop an insight into how that community works. At least that's what I think.
I will try and post again in about a week, because next weekend we will have been here 6 months!!!!
Rick
Comments
Immigrant... oh, I thought you said ignorant.
Thanks for the post, thought we'd lost you for a while.
Kev.