Today is Thursday, April 15th and it has been a beautiful day here on Paradise Island. Busy but delightful week and I hope each of you are enjoying the same.
Seeing as how we are such a diverse group I thought it would be a great time to discuss Immigration. Are you an Immigrant in the your country of residence?
Probably a good idea to define Immigration:
"the movement of non-native people into a country in order to settle there"
and Emigration is:
"to leave one's country to permanently resettle in another country."
What country do you live in? Did you emigrate from another country to live there? Did your parents? Do you know of someone who has immigrated into your neighbourhood?
From what I have researched most people immigrate seeking a better life in another country and I think it must take unbelievable strength (physical and mental) to successfully accomplish this. It is difficult to imagine not only the cultural differences immigrants encounter but also language barriers which make daily communication a struggle.
I would like to share an experience I had with you. I went on the most memorable trip last fall to visit with Daphne and her family and friends in Argentina, South America. Regretfully I did not make the effort to learn Spanish before I undertook this adventure and I deeply regret that I had not.
I was in a very different land ... so very far from home. I felt at times that I was deaf and unable to speak because I could not understand the language being spoken around me and people could not understand me so in a strange way it was like I was unable to hear or speak. This could of resulted in isolation but I was blessed to be surrounded by many of the nicest people on this Planet.
People who loved to laugh and hug and their kindness translated (without words) into acceptance. Speaking of translation ..... these ongoing displays of acceptance re-inforced a very important lesson in life -- the power of kindness.
A second lesson would be that of courtesy .... if you are going to another country which speaks a language other than your own -- take the time to learn the basics of that language!
I do digress ..... sorry.
Back to Immigration and Emigration. Have you ever thought of selling off everything and starting fresh in another country? Where would you go and why? If you have immigrated -- are you glad you did?
hasta luego
Sharon
Everyone knows I am an emigrant/immigrant!, I emigrated from my homeland, Portsmouth, UK, two weeks after my marriage in January 1975, and arrived in Argentina 2nd Feb that year, and thene went straight to Salta, North Argentina to meet my in-laws. In those days a sleeper train operated to take us there, pity that doesn't run any more. After that we returned to Mar del Plata on the Atlantic coast 400km to the south of the capital of Buenos Aires, where we have lived since. Mar del Plata is a huge seaside resort and it is the home of the country's submarine base - husband being now a retired submariner, but in full activity we I arrived. We have two children born in this city but who now have dual nationality, they are both married but so far only one granddaughter. We are going to see if she can also apply for dual nationality.
ReplyDeleteSo, I have been an immigrant in this land for 35 years but still maintain my original nationality ..... you cannot deny your roots!
Very interesting topic, and also your observations, Sharon. I enjoyed your story too, Daphne.
ReplyDeleteI think people know that I am a First Fleeter by now..... two of my paternal ancestors came on the First Fleet to Australia in 1788, and the women they married the second.
I only know about my maternal side back into the 1800s and they were in Australia then.
Have a good week!!
First Fleeters you say. Some background that I have discovered on this .... The Fist Fleet of ships to carry convicts from England to Botany Bay sailed from Portsmouth, England (same place oddly enough where Daphne used to live before she married Leo and moved to Argentina), on 13 May 1787. It arrived at Botany Bay on 18 January 1788. When that place proved unsuitable for a settlement the fleet made its way a short distance up the coast and on 25 January 1788 entered what is now known as Sydney Harbour and anchored in Sydney Cove. There is an interesting page here containing statistics relating to the people who made the voyage and details of the ships of the fleet, etc.
ReplyDeletehttp://gutenberg.net.au/first-fleet.html