Veterans Day: Musings On A Rainy Day Holiday

November 12, 2004, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the closure of New York's Ellis Island immigration facility, which had processed more than 20 million immigrants since its opening in 1892.

Dunno why I should care about that, but I do. The immigrant experience, I suppose, is the same the world over. If you have the luxury of not having to flee from somewhere -- in which case you'll have quite different priorities -- you want to do well. When folks from home come to visit, you want to share with them your favourite new places and foods and people, and you hope they like them too.

As an immigrant, you might choose to immerse yourself wholeheartedly in your new home on its own terms or you might choose to try and recreate the land you left behind, by staying in close contact with other immigrants from your own country and preserving your own culture. Who knows? It might even have some influence in your new home.

I personally recommend you make the first choice, while also acknowledging those of your own culture who are making their mark in the country you now call home by making the second.

Anyways, here's a couple of links to recent Kiwi-related stories in a couple of freebie weeklies in the Bay Area. Beware. All is not as it seems.

This Island is Pie Land:

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/issues/2004-11-03/food.html

Cover Story -- Poi Oh Poi:

http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2004-11-03/news/feature.html

-Peace-

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