January 21, 2009
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About 15 minutes from where I live there is a man made lake next to a park. Everytime it snows, people bring their children to the park to play with the snow. There is a flock of birds staying on the lake. Last week, I stopped by the lake to take pictures of the park, the lake, people and birds.
Perhaps they migrate from a colder region, Canada or Alaska. When they reach this location they decide that they can live here because it is not too cold and they can find food.
Somehow the migrating birds always remind me of immigrants (and myself is among the immigrants). We left behind a place and the past to seek something in the future. Along the way we found a place to call it home. Although we gather into a community, sometimes a very large one, at times we just seem a lonely group of outsiders. And although we can live happily in the place we have chosen, each of us seems to long for the place we once lived.
Last weekend I went to the library and again I borrowed the DVD Winged Migration. I already remembered by heart how the movie began. “They fly often with thousands of miles, beset with danger, for a single reason: to survive. . . Each migration began with a promise. A promise to return.”
Lunar new year is coming. This is the time many Vietnamese find an opportunity to fulfill their promise to return. Some of us hesitate.
Comments (7)
Fulfill the promise by returning to the Vietnamese community to celebrate together- is that what you mean? And, if it is why would there be hesitation….
Monday begins the New Year- year of the Ox. I live with an Ox and I know the Ox persistance and patience.
I hope you get to COOK for your meal and that you have the day off….. -g
and I really loved the image of Immigration and the life of an Immigrant as similar to the transitioning of the migrating birds. Lovely.
Last night, I educated a young man about the US’ role in Vietnam… He had no idea. The young man had never heard WHY we were there and very little about what we did. I was astounded. It kind of breaks my heart that our young people get so little information about what our country has done in the world.
Happy New Year
migration is always a difficult and returning home is awkward- you’re not quite sure if you fit in anywhere and it feels weird. thought about you last night as i watched vietnamese music videos at the restaurant and was longing for a translation for them. it reminded me of the countless times you’ve translated beautiful songs so that they were accessible to everyone who can read english. that remains one of my favorite gifts, i think!
Beautiful photos of family togetherness. The migration sentiment feels so true.
Beautiful photos. Yes as an immigrant, I identify with those birds too. I am in between two worlds; neither fit here nor there. Or do I have the best of both worlds? At times, it’s hard to say which is which. Great Post!
i like the last paragraph