Something that has taken me 24 years to do.....

In 2007, Chinese-American author Ha Jin’s “A Free Life”  was published.  This was a book about the immigration experience.

A poem of his, ‘Homeland’  was included within this wonderful book. 

You packed a pouch of earth into your baggage

As a bit of our homeland.  You told your friend:

“In a few years I’ll be back like a lion.

There’s no other place I can call home

And wherever I go I’ll carry our country with me.

I’ll make sure my children speak our language,

Remember our history, and follow our customs.

Rest assured, you will see this same man,

Made of loyalty, bringing back gifts

And knowledge from other lands.”

You won’t be able to go back.

Look, the door has closed behind you.

Like others, you too are expendable to

A country never short of citizens.

You will toss in sleepless nights,

Confused, homesick, and weeping in silence.

Indeed, loyalty is a ruse

If only one side intends to be loyal.

You will have no choice but to join the refugees

And change your passport.

Eventually you will learn:

Your country is where you raise your children,

Your homeland is where you build your home.

This poem works both ways – it describes my 24 year experience as an immigrant on this side of the Pacific, too. 

This afternoon, I had my initial meeting at the Hong Kong Immigration Department.  I am applying for naturalization to become a Hong Kong citizen.

Larry

14 July 2014