Imaginary Homes

It is impossible to describe living away from my homeland and family.

I cannot begin to describe the burden of leaving my home food,

For McDonald's food.

I do not want to answer when I am asked why I moved here,

 If I didn’t like it here.

I don’t want to share why I would rather skype friends at home,

Then go out on most nights.

There aren’t words for how I tell my mom I’m okay,

 When I just spent two days in bed.

I hope someday they will understand why I chose to come home instead of accepting the privilege of living in Canada.

Rationale/Artist Statement:  

Immigration is an experience shaping many lives today. With our modern technologies and growing attention to globalization, we are travelling within our countries and outside of our countries more frequently in masses than ever before. This particular writing piece is aimed at those international students that have left their home countries for international education and a future in a more economically, politically, environmentally and culturally secure country. As an international student, myself by my fourth year of study the excitement of travelling, the freedom of living alone, the fulfilment from academic merit has worn off. As I stand on the edge of graduation and my adult life as a tax-payer and single female in a country foreign to me, I am reminded constantly that I am alone. Although I come from a fairly privileged family, for the first time in my life I am facing the consequences of my third world passport, my minority status as a foreigner and so on. As I stand I am reminded of all the other students who are going through the same. If I had been home I would have been supported by my family till I was well into my 20s, I wouldn’t have moved out before  25, I would have been free to explore the world and my career under the supervision and care of my parents, and like my friends at home I would have grown up within my cultural roots. I am a dislocated individual, not quite fitting into either of the worlds I call home. My favourite quote to describe my identity is by Salman Rushdie in Imaginary Homelands “ sometimes we feel that we straddle two cultures; at other times, that we fall between two stools”. More strongly right now I am feeling the injustice of having to stay in Canada. I know that here is richer than there, it is more secure and more stable a country. For the future of my family, I have to be the first stone in the path they will eventually make to Canada. Neither I nor them address this, neither of us want to stay in Canada but with the state of global politics, we want safety as a family. And it is sad that our family has to brave the burden of political actions by governments, but militant groups, by politicians, by private companies to have a simple life together.

Keywords: diaspora, immigration, citizenship, west south divide, colonialism, family

Author: Savita Bhabhi