Nationality and Culture

I grew up in a place where it was normal for one’s family to come from somewhere else. Then again, this is the story of most people who consider their home to be Parramatta.

 As an exercise, I consider the nationalities that were represented in my high school years. Here is the list I have and apologies for any I’ve missed.

 Lebanese – Egyptian – Iraqi – Filipino – Indonesian – Korean – Chinese – Bosnian – Serbian – Croatian – German – French – Turkish – Afghan – Iranian – Indian – Welsh – Scottish – Mauritian – Thai.

I put this list here because to speak another language was a normal experience as was having a direct connection with a place overseas.

 The majority of us would have been the children of migrants or else migrants ourselves.

 It is interesting to think about what we mean by culture.

 A symphony or opera, that is one type of culture.

 Then there’s the other meaning of culture – language, history, beliefs and values, rituals and traditions – and by this definition, Parramatta and Western Sydney have no comparison on Earth.