"Losing my religion"

I know there are a few people on this forum who are immigrabts to whichever country. I am curious as of how did living in another country change you? Are you still fairly or maybe mostly traditional to your homeland's ways and culture? Or have you adopted the local way of life, belief system, and societal norms? Do you cherish your heritage or do you shun it for whichever reason that may be?

I don't feel at home in my native country, and I am unable to relate or connect to the country that's been my home for the past 22 years. I don't have a place I call home in that aspect... spiritually and culturally I feel sort of like a ghost .

Posted by enfant_terrible
I don't feel at home in my native country, and I am unable to relate or connect to the country that's been my home for the past 22 years. I don't have a place I call home in that aspect... spiritually and culturally I feel sort of like a ghost .

Gem and I had that exact conversation back in December actually. Except, in us it has been something we wee born with. The concept of hime and feeling at home is warped, and the abstract idea of what home should feel like to either of us - is something perpetually out of reach. Either can make a temporary "home" pretty much anywhere. He hasn't been around as much as I though. Aside from the motherland and USA I have made twmporary homes in Spain and also in Canada during my lifetime.

There are certain places I leave my heart at as in getting spiritually attached to them, and retaining the longing to come back. But once I visit, the need to go back somewhere else is apparent. Ultimately, I guess the road is what I call "home", at least at this point in life.

Posted by Arielle83
I'm honestly over ppl asking where I'm from and then referencing stupid butter off South Park.

Or they know so and so from BC, and I'm meant to know this person.

I'll always be that Canadian.

Australia has made me blunt and sarcastic, so yeah, more Aussie.

I get the negative reaction, and can relate to an extent. For a couple of years I've been ignoring crowds that ask idiotic questions and make dumb references though. With time you sense which introduction to a fellow human just won't cut it.

@RamOfPeace: I've spent a short time in the States and that felt more like coming home than I've felt anyplace else.. an eerie feeling like I've been there before. Also feel a strong pull towards Canada (same difference).

Posted by enfant_terrible
@RamOfPeace: I've spent a short time in the States and that felt more like coming home than I've felt anyplace else.. an eerie feeling like I've been there before. Also feel a strong pull towards Canada (same difference).

Well, someone wise said about USA once "Out of all hells on Earth, this one is the best one to be in"
Do visit BC, particularly Fraser Valley. I've spent 1.5 years there. Nothing like waking up and sitting in the fog at 5am by a semi arctic lake, with wildlife prints on the shore, and huge ancient cedar trunks growing about. Drinking tea or coffee and reading a book, enhaling the primordial serenity.

Awesome thread topic. I've always wondered how long or how many generations it takes for an immigrant to completely nationalize to a new country.

Posted by truecap
Awesome thread topic. I've always wondered how long or how many generations it takes for an immigrant to completely nationalize to a new country.

When it comes to US, our kids that are born here, typically are mostly American, depending on how much heritage parents pass on (also whether they visit extended family in the old country, language, etc)

Actually I was talking about the changes that come from within after "ripping thyself from the nest" with an Aries pen pal from Skopje, and he put it in simple words "You have lost your soul"

It's both equally offensive to me, and fascinating at same time, because he's partially right.

Fellow Russian immigrant friend showed me this last summer, and it's somehow relevant

"Every plase she's been - a reminder
She must let go.
And she goes"

https://vimeo.com/123181839

I was born in Denmark, spent a little of my child hood in Taiwan and Germany and didn't really settle down in Sydney til about 17 and onwards. I've definitely spent the longest here in Australia but there's very little in the way that I can relate to 'aussies'.

Sure I can speak with the accent, I do all the things an Aussie would do but I definitely still feel like a foreigner. Moving between the cultures really makes .... weird. I remember being made fun of in Taiwan because my hair was lighter and I didn't have brown eyes. They called me a Ghost (their term for a white person). In Australia you have your wonderful terms for Asians and their stereotypes too.

Also being torn between so many different places you could never really relate to anyone or anything. So rather than being proud of my heritage, it's hard to say that because I never knew it, I do find it all fascinating whenever I visit me 'homes' once more.

When you break it down, racism exists everywhere, religion all teach the same things, behind all the different skin colours and culture, all I see are the same patterns. It's humbling but depressing.

Now? I guess I live by what I find the most inspiring of each culture. To me identity isn't about belonging.

I already fit in the US, I was born here. My family originated from Japan. They were non-religious. So no change really.

Posted by aquasnoz
I was born in Denmark, spent a little of my child hood in Taiwan and Germany and didn't really settle down in Sydney til about 17 and onwards. I've definitely spent the longest here in Australia but there's very little in the way that I can relate to 'aussies'.

Sure I can speak with the accent, I do all the things an Aussie would do but I definitely still feel like a foreigner. Moving between the cultures really makes .... weird. I remember being made fun of in Taiwan because my hair was lighter and I didn't have brown eyes. They called me a Ghost (their term for a white person). In Australia you have your wonderful terms for Asians and their stereotypes too.

Also being torn between so many different places you could never really relate to anyone or anything. So rather than being proud of my heritage, it's hard to say that because I never knew it, I do find it all fascinating whenever I visit me 'homes' once more.

When you break it down, racism exists everywhere, religion all teach the same things, behind all the different skin colours and culture, all I see are the same patterns. It's humbling but depressing.

Now? I guess I live by what I find the most inspiring of each culture. To me identity isn't about belonging.

This post is my morning coffee, sir. Indeed, moving between cultures makes weird. I will sign under that.

Posted by RamOfPeace
Fellow Russian immigrant friend showed me this last summer, and it's somehow relevant

"Every plase she's been - a reminder
She must let go.
And she goes"

https://vimeo.com/123181839

Posted by lisabethur8

Posted by RamOfPeace
Fellow Russian immigrant friend showed me this last summer, and it's somehow relevant

"Every plase she's been - a reminder
She must let go.
And she goes"

https://vimeo.com/123181839

class="bqfade">click to expand

Lol. The stereotyping is strong with this one.

How do you know where you're going if you don't know where you're from?

I lived in three different countries, learning, speaking, dreaming and THINKING in three different languages, immersing myself in different cultures. Not bad for a triple mutable 🙂. I felt like a different person in each one of them, and it took time to accept my new me. I like very much who I am now.

I left a few places behind and still feel a vague emotional connection with some of them. But at the end of the day, or at end of this life, home is/was where the heart is/was.

Posted by tiziani

Posted by enfant_terrible
How do you know where you're going if you don't know where you're from?

It starts today.

Hi, I'm Trent.

click to expand

Hmmm.....Another shape shifter. What are your mutable credentials, please...?

Posted by tiziani

Posted by Undine

Posted by tiziani

Posted by enfant_terrible
How do you know where you're going if you don't know where you're from?

It starts today.

Hi, I'm Trent.

Hmmm.....Another shape shifter. What are your mutable credentials, please...?

Mutable dominant


(royal flush)

😄

click to expand

The starting point has little relevance to destination, if abstractly put... being a highly mutable person as well, I can say that the road is almost always more entertaining than the destination. I'd like to finish my life, in the most interesting place on the "road" to somewhere, preferably with someone by my side towards the same goal