from poster possum magic As promised, today is the first memory lane article. Where better to start it off?
I remember when I arrived in Australia, all those decades ago, I had an accent that I would smile at today. Now I speak with an accent that is proudly Australian. I was a kid from Europe whose parents barely spoke English. We were almost like kids that had been adopted by parents that we did not know and did not understand. Australia was so foreign and we arrived like orphans, my parents and me and my little brother.
I learned the basics from my parents and could at least get by with things like a greeting, a farewell or an " I feel sick " or such like.
Until I went to school, I spoke like my parents, and over time, I didn't even realise that I was changing. My voice changed and my parents looked at me because I was speaking like an Aussie.
My vowels changed. My words changed. I was changing.
Things were different for me.
I came home from school and Mum and Dad heard me speak and, instead of speaking my " native " language, I was running in and yelling and laughing and using words that I had learned at school.
I began to understand things like " bugger off your moron " and " shit, that's bloody funny. "
I told my parents to " bugger off ".
I also learned that my parents had no idea what I was saying. Which was handy at times.
I learned that they were lacking in my knowledge of Australia. I soon knew more than they did.
It was school that turned me into an Australian.
I had not thought about it until now. all these decades later.
If our schools are changing, would I be the well adjusted, God fearing and patriotic Australian I am today?
Probably not. I would be a migrant child embracing my " difference " and never knowing the joy it is to be an Australian.
Had it not been for me being throwing in at the deep end and immersed in AUSTRALIA, I would have never known the joy I have each Australia Day and ANZAC Day. I was not there to participate in the celebration back then, but I am proud to say that I am here today to say that I am Australian and my heritage, while important to me, is not who I am.
I am Australian.
I just wish that other Australian's could embrace the feeling of pride I have when I can stand up and say that.
It is who brings us up, rears us and nurtures us that matters.
Australia did that and does that.
My birth mother is someone to whom I am incredibly grateful. My home country.
But I will always love the mother that reared me and gave me the love. the values and the pride I feel today.
I will always honour my heritage. But, to me, the Mother I owe the greatest gratitude is the Mother that gave me the ability to say today that I am Australian.
Had I been taught to celebrate my diversity and " Birth Mother " I would never have been able to embrace the hug that Australia and Australians have given me over the decades I have been here.
Australia is my adopted Mother and I love her so much for the warm hug she gave me when I came here 67 years ago.
Well that is my trip down Memory Lane.
Oh dear, I think I will have to end here. Too much emotion.
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