8:29 PM
Monday, July 02, 2007
Migration and National Identity In this lecture, please refer to your Geography lecture notes under migration. Refer to the chapter of population.
Seen this article before? Our country is trying to introduce foriegners (aka professionals and talent) to work for us. This is accompanied by a wave of campaigns to encourage them to stay and become citizens. This is where the trouble comes. So what are you now? American or Singaporean? Or in my case, Singaporean or Hong Kong,Chinese?
This happens when migrants either lose identity of the source country and have no sense of belonging to the destination nation OR the migrant has a sense of belonging to both source and destination nations. Regardless of which scenario, this creates a phenomenon where the migrant feels confused with his/her identity.
(Melting pot of cultures...melting pot of national identities)
Take Wada Hiromi for example: Hiromi is a Japanese born singer who migrated to Hong Kong with her family at a young age. She studied in a Hong Kong school and is currently taking her A-levels( she's 18 this year). So where is she chosing to stay after graduation? Simple: "I don't know." She currently has a booming career at TVB and has started quite well with her career in the Chinese entertainment scene. However, she has strong feelings for her home in Japan. This was why she agreed to host the Japanese travel show for TVB. In conclusion, what is she? HongKonger? (She speaks very fluent cantonese) or Jap?( Her Jap is nothing but perfection). Simple: "I don't know"
This phenomenon happens to many people who undergo voluntary international migration. Unlike forced migration, these people have every right to choose which country to reside in at any point in time be it job related or family related. And when you have a choice, you have no idea which choice to make because you have too much freedom to choose. As a result, like Hiromi, most people choose to be both. They identify themselves according to....well..depends from person to person, but most identify themselvs according to mood.
This applies to me as well. Having grown up in both locations, I have developed a sense of identity for both places. Which explains why I use "us" when referring to Singapore as well as Hong Kong. As to where I think I belong to, my answer is the same:" I don't know"
(Some info about national identity: Having a sense of identity to a paticular country does not mean that the persons concerned agrees with the policies of government or authorities concerned. Which explains why I have been critical of both governments.)
Labels: Geography, Hiromi, Migration, Population
7:22 PM
Sunday, July 01, 2007
It's July 1st!What does July means to you? Alot!!!
To Hong Kongers:
July 1st obviosly means 2 things: Time for celebration, while watching reomantic fireworks and...yes! We are most proficient in this! Protest! Ask for more democracy!
(For those who watched Channel News Asia, here's a correction: Hong Kong NEVER had a democracy in its entire history..that's why we are asking for it..duh..)
So why protest?
Very easy. Hong Kong never had a democracy in its entire history from the days to Chueng Po Tsai(aka Sao Feng) to the days of Chris patten and Donald Duck. Seeing everywhere else got democracy..so everyone also curious..and desperate..so we asl for more lor..Besides, protesting shows that we still love Hong Kong. We protest to let the government know our feelings and force them to govern us better..protestors can be patriots okay..
Why watch fireworks with 'special" friend?
Fireworks very romantic mar...somemore all of us worked so hard these 10 years..we fought together over many storms and thunder..obviously it's time to have a break and spend time with someone special to you...(private business yea...)
To Singaporeans:
July means one very special event for all of us! NGUM!National Go-Up Month!
In July, many things in Singapore is going up. GST go up,StarHub go up,Kopi go up,Canteen Food go up. Other things recently go up is Bus fare go up, MRT fare go up, food stuff go up, condense milk go up,rice go up,petrol go up,car price go up,Milo go up,bread go up,electricity go up,house go up..and most importantly, minister salary go up. So what's so good or bad about this craze?
The good:
My mother has no excuse to shop. So she can no longer drag me to shop with her.
My wife also no more excuse go shopping..heng ar...if not so sian ar..so boring
One more excuse not to have kids! Wife happy! Can keep herself slim..
Next time election can down everything big big...so we will vote for them.
The bad:
My girlfriend go out ask me pay 4 her..now everything go up..I broke liao..
My girlfriend dump me because I no money go pay for her..go find foriegn talent boyfriend.More richer.
My everything go up but my salary never up. Sian..now I poorer liao
Cannot afford taxi..take bus..bus brake very hard..break leg...become lame..
The ugly:
My neighbour go pokai..now owe loan shark money.."tiao lou" die liao..
School no money to maintain..starts to leak in the rain..then collapses..
We all go buy the cheaper "Made in China food"..later kena cancer at 65..
Go buy 4D to win more money..then owe some more from loan shark..sian..
Labels: Hong Kong, July 1st, NGUM, SAR reunicfication, Singapore GST
3:44 PM
