A long time ago, the 'aunties' in the community used to warn us of becoming too 'Australian' and potentially losing our 'way'. I think what they meant, was that if we engaged in too many Australian activities, like sports, going to the movies or have too many non-pakistani friends, we'd become loose women of questional morals and dissassociated with a) culture b) traditions c) would come home with a typical Australian bloke! Heaven forbid! A Gora!- work with me, this was 1985.
As I've become older and wiser, culture and tradition are defined in people's lives in different ways. Some people like to make a point that their children speak their mother language or that their children will carry on with the traditions that they've maintained here. I now wonder why they fear so much and what exactly these 'cultural' values are. Yes, it's good to know a second language because you can communicate with people when you travel but I've seen little else beside music, food and clothing playing a 'cultural' part in Australian life.
When Australia has so much to offer compared with the problems of their homelands, I wonder why there's so much fear. If they can take a giant leap and leave their families abroad, start from scratch and create a new life with opportunities - why the fear? Why have fear when they've overcome so much personally, emotionally and physically. They should have faith in their efforts, the example they set for their children and acknowledge how much this country has to offer and will continue to do so.
There once was a teenager, who had very strict parents. She would walk to school in her uniform plus wearing a pair of jeans underneath. Her parents were so worried about losing control, that they took her out of school at the age of 16, sent her to the motherland and married her off to her cousin.
A few years later she divorced the man.
She remarried.
Then eventually returned to Australia with her husband and kids.
As the rest of her peers moved into the natural events of life like going to uni, work or even marraige, I wonder if the parents had any regrets. Had they had done the right thing? Having watched her peers no one lost control, they led normal lives. I wonder of this woman has the same thoughts and will this effect her parenting skills with her daughters..........
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