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| Perth Airport |
The anniversary of a year worth of adventures was certainly worth mentioning. Ironically, I am writing this one away from Perth.
When I first began blogging, I could remember readers noting my refusal to let go of my Singaporean identity and embrace a new life in Australia. One reader commented about my counter, the one which marks how long I have been away from Singapore by the second. According to him, I shouldn't even be taking a count. for that represented a link to the past. Another reader advised that I should focus my mind entirely on Australia because that is my new life and future. To put it simply, I will be 'Aussified' as long as I do not talk, read, breathe and think about Singapore.
When it comes to 'Aussification', confusingly, on the other side of the balance, the last comment I remember Steph gave was something along the line of, "You are really suitable for Oz life, bro." Another was went like this, "You have been to more places in 6 months than my entire life in Perth."
I don't get it.
Well, to quote the judgmental anonymous chap, "You have a lot to learn." Yeah. Who has really learnt it all and has 'not much to learn' anymore anyway? Seriously, I can't see how brainwashing Singapore out of myself is critical in my assimilating efforts in Perth. It was as good as saying you need to forget how to speak Singlish to speak perfect English. In practice, it is not the case. There are so many people I've met who excel in both. The key to mastering a new way of life is to recognise the way, and have the willingness to follow it. Having said that, even if I don't think or blog about Singapore, give up my citizenship for a blue passport, forget my family and friends in Singapore, speak perfect Aussie slang, drives a yute with a girl in wet t-shirt in it and knows how to burn a sausage over a barbie, it doesn't make me a cultural converted hero.
Fundamentally, with an Australian passport, one can hope to be recognised as an Aussie. In reality, most wouldn't, be it the locals or foreigners. I will not be 'one of the mates' by a mere change of a nationality. It isn't determined by the amount of time I spend in Australia either, and definitely not how much I show interest in everything Australian than Singaporean.
It takes a lifetime to forge an identity and probably takes another to lose it. If you could read this, chances are that you are delusional to think it can be done. Our children will, but we don't stand a chance, not a chance in hell. It is futile to attempt to shed our identity tattoo, we will only be close enough at best. I hear of ex-Singaporeans declaring they are citizens of Australia, the UK or Canada once too often. Citizens, yeah sure. Australian, no way.
I don't think that there is any reason you should stop being Singaporean just because you live here. Lots of Aussies have a prefix to being Aussie, Irish Australian, Italian Australian, Chinese Australian etc but it doesn't mean they are not Aussies. French Canadians are still Canadian. The whole thing about Australia, is that each person brings their own cultural flavor to add to the mix. Hence the term melting pot. You cannot, and should not, stop being yourself, just because you moved. Would be a very dull life if we were all the same :)
ReplyDeleteAs the product of an 'ex British colony' to the son of another, our umbrellas may be the same but they are individually decorated :)
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost, be yourself; your unique individuality.
ReplyDeleteTohave a Spore identity or an Oz identity is to have a herd mentality and identity, the complete loss of individualty.
To thine ownself be true. Shakespeare.
congratz on hitting 1 yr Down Under! =D
ReplyDeleteNo 'Y' in ute, it is short for utility truck.
ReplyDeletehaha,that caught my eye too. he's not too aussie yet :)
DeleteI don't think your Missus would be too happy about the girl in the wet t-shirt, either! Haha:)
ReplyDeleteYou are still very far from being aussified... Mind u.
ReplyDeleteI'm not believe in Aussification. Mind you.
DeleteHow do you define 'aussification'? I think of it more as values and beliefs
ReplyDelete