Tuesday, December 14, 2004
Silent Pig
Here's what's restin' on mi mind this mornin, Bloggers: A friend told me last night she heard that Mr. Millwood, a transport entrepreneur (and president of Returning Residents?), announced to the media that he "should never have come back home to JA." People, dat look bad pon every expatriate who dreams of returnin home to work and live. He commented in The Gleaner that returnin residents are treated like "cockroaches" in JA. What does that mean, luv? Ah have to wonder what constitutes their day-to-day treatment as cockroaches. I dream of returnin' home at some point--and I'll be frank, sometimes I'm scared because de media in JA focus pon de violence soh much; but I still long for mi country. Still, if and when me an' mi immediate family return home, ah won't expect anyone to kiss mi arse just because ah came back. The very idea is absurd! Can't Mr. Millwood get over his own repatriation, or is De Piggy missin some important information in all ov this? What's goin on? Have a great day, luv--and don't forget to Kiss De Pig!
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14 comments:
I have heard some family friends etc say that when they return home they get treated as if they were never part of their country.I kinda get the impression that means that they not made to feel as if they belong.On the other hand returnees sometimes have a condescending air that don't really endear them to others.You know kinda look down their nose on everything and constantly remind you of how things are done in the outer world.I figure you have to strike a balance cos everybody got a contribution to make
Kami, ah guess it's hard to strike that balance, but de condescendin people really mek it hard for others. Imagine de animosity that Millwood's words and attitude coulda cause for other returnees. Still, yu mek a good point: some returnees might not feel a sense of belongin; them might feel unwelcome.
Actually I agree wid kami poston how returning nationals are treated. Been there myself. Didnt have no condescending attitude, but people home just acted like I wasnt born and raise up with them asking me stupidness like why would I want to come back and acting afraid I come ta tief dem job. I juss trying ta survive like the next man was even tryin ta mek myself smaller than usual cause I realize the preception of the condescending attitude an was juss trying ta fit in. anyway long story short I went through whole heap a tings and couldnt deal wid it so I came back inta exile up hayso.
I can't really comment of this since I've not "returned" home. But if this is how you're treated, condescending attitude or not, dem tings don't bother me. I couldn't care less, not unless dem people with the condescending attitude nah let me back inna me own country, then that's a different story. Life is what you make of it no matter where you live.
Jdid, you and Kami seem to have first-hand experience ov de complexity of bein a returnin resident. De Piggy definitely sensitive to what yu went through, when yu returned home, Jdid; man to man can be so unjust.
Sunshine, when ah was preparin for mi 30th birthday a couple years ago, ah started stressin about "gettin OLD" and all a that; but yu know my mind came to rest on your same philosophy: life is what you make it--and that's still my attitude today.
Mr. Milwood has a problem!
Returning residents come in different packages. I agree with Kami that some have the condescending attitude...."I can't get accustomed to this....."
I heard another one recently who claims there are no good schools here to send her children to.....but as she wasn't speaking to me I didn't say anything.
The fact of the matter is all that is First World is not here. When you make a conscious decision to return from wherever it is that you thought that life in general was better, you have to decide whether you are willing to put up with the inconveniences that characterise living here. It nuh perfect up so either. Life is a compromise folks. When you decide to come back home, if you bring the stoosh attitude back with you, you might as well decide to stay weh u deh.
My last words, the country that provided you with a decent education (in many cases far more rounded than you could get in the First World) is not all bad. Yes it is not perfect, but never forget the land from whence you came. In general, nobody owes anyone anything...wherever you go in the world. Whatever job or fortune that may come your way in your country of origin or in foreign, is essentially yours through backbreaking hard work and achievement. All the best to the crew, yardie, non-yardie...whatever you be. Dr. D.
Well I went to school in the US and the funny thing is when I came home people who never used to talk to me before were suddenly inviting me to their parties etc.I guess I went up in their estimation:).seriously though I never got any or much negativity.But i have heard older folks like those in mid fities or so complain
His name is "Ezroy". Clearly he was an abused child.
Bwoy oh bwoy, Sunshine, we live an' we learn. I've had a couple years to get to love 30, soh de big 4-0 won't seem nearly so daunting if and when it gets here. De Bloggin crew haffe plan a very Oprah-style bashment pon March 4th--no, too soon, we haffe give it a few more years before you an' Travolta can do de bashment dance. (lol)
Dr. D, ah did get de feelin that Ezroy Millwood have some slight problems--somefing to do wif de way him choose "cockroaches" over every other creature to analogize him treatment--and de worst fing is that he is de official voice ov de returnees (an' like yu said, nobody noh owe him nutten extra)!
Stu, that is cruel--but too hilarious! (LOL!!)
Abeni, I'm glad that your experience has been a good one--although it does surprise me that de snobs found it easier to accept yu AS a returnee--it makes me wonder if your academic achievement brought them to yu (if it woulda been the same had yu gone to school in your own country), or if it's just de fact that havin been away yu now have "worldly sophistication" in their opinion.
I figure living abroad gave me status or I was a novelty to them.But I never went to any of their functions.It felt too strange that these people suddenly interested in me
I plan to be a returning resident in the coming year - Ah just hope sey ya all know that I expect Soverign Supermarket to specially import all my favorite Pine Hill Dairy juices (Bajan Cherry is a must!!) as well as Sweet and Dandy Mauby syrup, Conkies, and SeaCat Souse!!! (just for me!!!) :) (Dis is what most of the returning residents gripe about - they cant buy what they did in the states - puleeze!!!)
I honestly think that you have to leave the rock to fully appreciate it - the Flora and Fauna, the people, the vibe, the food. I sick of hearing how the public systems (aka "the Government" does not work) - all dem who paying a crazy level of taxes, health insurance, pension contributions etc. to live in a country that has one of the highest infant mortality rates in the WORLD!!! Many of the indactors for development in the so called "first world" are worse than developing countries like Jamaica.
(Dont get me started here.. this is one of my "special" pet peeves!!!)
Princess P
Applause Applause for Princess P!!
Me and you can get goin pon dis 'pet peeve' of yours. Indeed, dem love call we Third World and the rare tropical diseases that the medical textbooks (written by them) claim are so prevalent here, are so rare or do not exist. What is killing off our people or causing morbidity??? Heart disease, Stroke, Diabetes mellitus, Hypertension, Cancer, HIV! The same damn disease patterns that they have. We are First World just like dem. Nuh bodda get me started yaw...after all...a Crismas time!
And I couldn't help but laugh at the Ezroy comment of Stu! Dr. D.
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