Going home or Leaving Home ?

每一次离家，就正是回另一个家的时候….

在多伦多登上飞机，20多个小时后，即抵达一座充满回忆的城市 – 墨尔本。来墨尔本时，我才17岁，除了两名朋友一起来读书的朋友，这里一人都不认识，人地生疏，英语更不灵光  。在这座城市生活了十多年，上大学先修班，考上药剂学院，毕业，出来工作，英语流利起来，认识很多要好的朋友。事业稳定下来却彷徨着“这到底是不是我一生人想做的事业”；马来西亚的家也发生了很多事，我犹疑“我是不是该回家了”….我在这里磨炼，在这里成长，在这里寻找梦想。

最后，我还是离开了这个“家”, 暂随Ed以多伦多为“家”。没想到这一离开墨尔本，却离开了两年。以多雨阴霾气候见称的墨尔本，开心地以晴空万里的天气来欢迎我“回家”。这几天我什么都没做，只是在市区内漫步或和好友闲聊。两年的转变说大不大，说小不小。走在熟悉和陌生中，听着朋友们这两年的转变，勾起过往的回忆，心头百感交集…

路经每一家咖啡馆，仿佛都可听到我和朋友们曾在那里阔谈、嬉笑、哭泣过的声音；踏入每一条小巷，似乎都见到我曾彷徨、曾喜悦、曾沉重的脚印； 路经每个art house 电影院，仿佛都见到我和朋友们为电影痴迷过的身影….

当记忆迎面飘来时，我静静地沉醉于其中，让它激荡, 让它沉淀。不是不可以放手，偶尔缅怀一下，感觉自己曾好好地、痛快地、无悔地生活过。

作为旅客，你或许会认为墨尔本没什么好旅行的，它没有巴黎的浪漫、没有伦敦的古老、没有纽约市的刺激，也没有悉尼的阳光。可是，它不是为旅客而建，它是为爱生活的人而建。墨尔本每年都被选为世界最宜居城市的首几名 (2010年宜居的城市列表在这里)，这里有旅客不用心留意就会忽略的超然悠哉的生活方式 – 懂得享受生活，也会给自己充足时间来享受生活。

坐在Federation Square 红砖梯级上发呆晒太阳，生活可以这么简单。

我是不是有点“不求上进”？

犹记得，我初来步到时，无论一天中的什么时候，总是见到人们在喝咖啡、聊天、逛街；在公园跑步、野餐、看书、发呆； 只要有阳光，沙滩一定人山人海; 河边、山里一定有人BBQ。陌生人总爱和我打招呼，有些还有的没的和我搭讪，我有时会“惊吓”得只是笑笑，掉头就跑。和你素不相识，没好心情和你聊天，不知你有什么企图。来自匆忙脚步的马来西亚的我，那时当然不明白什么是生活，只觉得这里的人怎么大白天不去工作，不去读书，不去奋斗，是不是有点“不求上进”？

这些年来，我把这种“不求上进”的精神学得彻彻底底。

回来墨尔本的几天，我马上投入于这种精神，连博客也懒得更新了 (呵呵, 抱歉啊 ) 。一个人时，见到有椅子就坐下来，看行人往来。见到有咖啡馆，就喝杯 Latte, 吃个Tiramisu 或 Opera Cake, 低头阅读。见到有草坪，就懒洋洋地躺在软软的小草上晒太阳。和朋友们已有排得满满的咖啡、午餐、晚餐预约，要把这两年来的大小事，领悟和启示，一遍又一遍，重复地闲聊着。

去 Federation Square 时，我也和其他人一样坐在砖红梯级上发呆。傍晚在Botanical Gardens 漫步时，见到很多人在慢跑，要不是我没穿球鞋，我一定也会奔跑起来。艺术馆，电影院，永远有很多观众。我正盘算着这几天我要看哪部独立艺术片，看什么舞蹈，听什么gigs (即小型专业音乐演出)。这几天也正是年度盛事，Melbourne International Comedy Festivals举办的时候。这些年来，我从为参与过。墨尔本人觉得很好笑的笑话，我好想都不能理解，也笑不出来。或许这是我还没学会的墨尔本幽默精神 – 管他好笑不好，总之先畅怀大笑一番，似乎要把生活中的愉快和悲伤都一笑置之。

真的不求上进吗？我觉得是休闲、放松、友好、宽容和舒服。空气中飘荡的是健康，文化和艺术气息。这是一种性格 – 墨尔本的悠哉，墨尔本的幸福。

我知道这是我的偏见，这一定是我的偏见….

墨尔本市内我很喜欢的古旧Block Arcade, 很有味道。身穿暗绿色连生裙的小姐放工回家。

后记

我曾和几位好友做过一个记录短片，名为“Going Home or Leaving Home? 回家. 离家 “。当初是为了探讨，移民和留学生徘徊于两个“家”的心理。而我去了加拿大后，有了第三个家。这次回来墨尔本，Ed 第一句话就问，“感觉像回家吗？”。和我一起制作这部短片的朋友，第一句话就问，“要做续集吗？”。有朋友说，“Home is where the heart is”。 你们认为呢？

这部记录短片有幸在2005年入围第十届香港独立短片及录像比赛的评审团推荐，在香港艺术中心放映了一、两天。有兴趣多了解的朋友，可以去以下几篇旧文看看 ： -

离家.回家 : (1)前言 Prologue

离家.回家 ：（2）The doco 短片频视
(注： 中国的朋友，真不好意思，这个是youtube频视，短片的video我没带来墨尔本，无法上传到优酷或土豆给大家）

离家.回家：（3）人物介绍 The Cast

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以下是这几天拍的一些相片。

我抵达墨尔本的当天，刚好是我的生日，约了一群好友死党出来大吃一餐！这群朋友真够义气，一叫全都抽时间出来。我感动不已呢！这次不叫男生啦，girls night out, 比较好玩，哈哈。我在墨尔本给我的归属感，是因为她们真挚深厚的友情。

我的Latte, 我的Opera Mini Cake, 我的书

The Art Centre 旁的一小块草坪。看图中的两位小姐就这么地躺着，坐着。在这里，仪态不重要，只要舒服就可以了！

Shrine of Remembrance, 是墨尔本的战争纪念馆，也是有名的旅游景点。建筑宏伟，环境优美，旁边即是Royal Botanical Gardens。注意相片中，大门前的几个小点，他们是几个小伙子在那晒太阳。

Royal Botanical Garden 内的一张空椅。我和Ed曾住在附近。晚饭后，我俩喜欢来这里走走，帮助消化，吹吹晚风，好不浪漫又健康。

South Bank 在市中心的河流，Yarra River 旁。河边有很多椅子给行人坐，沿河也建了很多餐馆、咖啡店、酒吧，到了晚上，这里会很热闹。

河边、桥上的一角

我在傍晚时分经过Federation Square 时，看到广场内放了很多“懒人椅”。人们就这么样在那里慵懒着。

走上一些，才发现好像是 International Comedy Festival 的其中一场免费表演。我觉得，其实坐在椅上的人们，醉翁之意不在酒。未必是在等着开演，只是趁机把疲惫的身子都交给椅子…

再来一张我爱的Blcck Arcade。我去的时候已是傍晚。一位西装笔挺的华裔移民，一手拿公事包，一手拿晚餐外卖，放工回家去….

]]> http://shirlschong.com/2010/03/24/coming-home-to-melbourne-its-charm-and-its-livability/feed/ 27 http://shirlschong.com/2009/03/28/indecision-australia-citizenship-immigration/ http://shirlschong.com/2009/03/28/indecision-australia-citizenship-immigration/#comments Sat, 28 Mar 2009 05:49:02 +0000 雪芬 shirls http://shirlschong.com/?p=2365 最近为了一件事很烦。一直拿不定主意， 一直徘徊在 ‘回’ 与‘不回’ 间, ‘拿’ 和 ‘不拿’ 间。

那 ‘回’ 哪， ‘拿’ 什么 呢？ 回澳大利亚拿它的公民权/国籍 ( citizenship ) 啰！

我有澳洲的永久居民证（permanent resident visa) 。可是，我这样三地飞来飞去的日子，已近两年半。居民证只有五年限期。 续签的条件是，必须在那五年期间居住在澳洲至少两年。 我的签证未到期，可也不远了。

Great Ocean Road (Australia) & Niagara Falls (Canada)

澳洲护照

在澳洲住了十多年，虽偶尔有想过拿它的护照，可是一想到马来西亚不允许 dual citizenship，就打消那个念头。可是，现在没在那里住了，开始担心因无法满足续签条件，而失去居民证。将来要再申请未必容易。所以，才想到唯一的出路是拿澳洲护照，那我就无后顾之忧了。

于是，上网查申请澳洲国籍的手续, 怎知查到申请条件的更改。其实，这新政策在2007年年中已实行，是我在外国的日子太久，没留意到。 我在过去的两年内没住足十二个月，所以，我必须在今年五月中回澳洲住十个月，才可申请。如果，今年五月中前没回到，将来我要申请的话，将依新政策 – 申请前必须在澳洲住上至少四年后才可。(想知道申请澳洲国籍详情的朋友， 请点击这里)

这可烦透了！

分隔两地

Ed现在手头上的工作未完成，回去是我一个人回，我们须分隔两地。

逻辑告诉我，回吧！才十个月，很快过的。拿到澳洲护照后，益处多多。澳洲护照比大马的更通行全球，我可省下很多申请旅游签证的麻烦。澳洲的社会福利和保障也好很多。可是，这五年来，我和Ed分开的日子多过在一起的时间。我已很厌倦那种我醒来时，他刚睡着的日子，连要通个电话也很费劲。

那留下来等Ed的工作完成后，一起回去吧。而且，我们刚挨完长达四个多月的冬天，现在正想好好享受春夏季。我们已想到很多旅游计划 ( 如欧洲，纽约市等 )。可是，如果我迟回的话，就必须依新政策，要拿国籍须住至少四年后才可申请。以Ed的工作性质很难在澳洲呆上四年，那既是说我们还是有段时间须分隔两地 !

Federation Square (Melbourne) & University of Toronto (Toronto)

澳洲情怀

有些朋友问我，为什么你还要澳洲的移民签证呢？你有了加拿大的签证后，不就够了吗？唉….我对澳洲有种特别情怀，除了马来西亚，它是我的第二个家。我十七岁时，英文很不行，对西方文化不太了解，在澳洲也没亲戚朋友，却胆粗粗到澳洲留学。这十多年来，努力耕耘，在那有事业，有很多好朋友，什么都建立起来了，我放不下。

而且，澳洲的生活质素真的很好，天气也较温和。Ed在美国的阳光加州住了近十年，已不习惯加拿大的冬天。我这个热带女孩更不用说。现在年轻希望在美加闯，等想要安定的日子时，我们要回澳洲。我俩的性格好自由，移民签证给我们一种自由的感觉，至少，它让我们知道，当我们想要去澳洲生活时，就可以回去生活。不用求人。我难得已有了签证，这个不可放弃。

挥之不去

哎呀！我在这里稀里哗啦地说，抱歉，把你们闷透了。 这些移民政策又复杂又麻烦。我读了官方网页几十遍才读明白。你们有耐心读到这里，听我发牢骚，我很感激。

怎样都好，‘去留’ 这个问题，是我这十多年来挥之不去的烦恼。十七岁时，烦要留在马来西亚升学呢？还是出国留学？澳洲毕业后，烦要留下来工作呢？还是回大马找工？澳洲工作稳定后，烦到底要不要回家。认识了Ed后，烦要不要为了他离开澳洲呢？现在，我在烦， ‘回不回‘，‘拿不拿’ ?! 到底这是我个人性格有问题，常拿不定主意呢？还是命中带有浪游的命？或这是每个移民的烦恼？或只是我们这些来自不同国家的夫妇的烦恼 ?

你们说呢？

我回马已有几天。弟弟比我早几天回马。

我从澳洲回，他从中国回。

我是在将往加拿大开始新生活的当儿，回马和家人聚一聚。 弟则是刚从中国学中医毕业回来。在过去弟弟留学 的两年期间，我俩没在马碰到面。现在，难得一家团聚。

我还有一个妹妹， 正在家附近的学院念电子学。她最近有了个男朋友- 人乖巧，对她还蛮好的。弟弟也有个女朋友，也是人乖巧，对他蛮好。我和Ed 在一起也很开心。 家里多了几个成员，多了两个中医，我想爸妈最高兴。

今天想到这里，我突然有感而发， 幸福感油然而起。庆幸我的家是个快乐又平凡的小康之家。

我家经过艰苦的经济风暴，多谢爸妈努力经营，现在三餐温饱，我们有升学的机会。我家也曾经历过痛失我另一个弟弟的悲伤， 现在家人因此更珍惜彼此。虽然，家里仍有我们的烦恼，可难得一家人健康和和睦相处。

Ed 常说我怎么常常有数不完的梦想，而他只是想过平凡简单的生活。今天，我才发现， 原来我也是个爱平凡简单生活的人。

原来，快乐真的可以很简单。

It has been a few days – I came back from Australia and my younger brother came back from China.

On my way to Toronto to start a new life, I am here to spend some times with my family. My brother returned home from his Chinese Medicine studies in China. For the past two years, we did not have the chance to see each other. Finally, as a family, we all reunited again in Malaysia. My parents are very happy not only that we are back and also we both recently graduated from Chinese Medicine studies.

I also have a younger sister studying electrical engineering in a college nearby. She recently has a boyfriend who treats her quite well and like a princess. Both my brother and I also have quite stable and happy relationships.

When I think of it, I suddenly feel very fortunate to have such a simple and happy family.

My family has been through financial difficulties during the Asia economic crisis and a sad loss to my other younger brother. Feeling extreme gratitude to my parents who pulled the family together and rebuilt with more strength, now we can enjoy this harmonious family and a life with stability and opportunities to study. Of course, we still have our own problems. What’s important to me is we really appreciate each other.

Ed always wonders why I have endless dreams and ideals. For him, a very simple and ordinary life is good enough. Today, I realized, I do also love simple and ordinary life.

In fact, happiness can be so ordinary and simple.

昨天刚抵步。可已被炎热和潮湿的天气熏得头疼疼的。

离墨尔本前，太担心卖不出我的宝贝桥车和天天忙着见朋友说再见，没时间睡得好。

现在，车卖出了，没什么挂心的。墨的一切终算告一段落。现在决心要好好地休息

I am home again in Malaysia.

Just arrived yesterday but already suffered from headache due to the hot weather.

I could not sleep well and did not have enough time to sleep in Melbourne before I left. This was because I was too worried about my car sale and was too busy catching up with friends to say goodbye.

Now, everything in Melbourne is more or less properly wrapped up. Without any worries, relaxing in Kuala Lumpur at this moment, I determined to sleep well and enjoy the rest

有几个朋友关心，问我还好吗。

其实， 很好，谢谢。

回家，最温暖。

有妈妈体贴入微的照顾。衣食住行都无需担心。

只是，身体还很累，也还在适应这里炎热的天气。

除了见一些亲戚朋友， 大学教授刚批了我硕士论文的大纲，我也开始为写论文忙碌。

还有，我一向馋嘴，一到马就尽情享用街边小吃，却搞得肠胃不太舒服。

身为中医的爸爸要我戒口，不再让我吃刺激性强的食物。

天啊！回马不吃这些，就没了乐趣。

为此与爸口角，唉， 我这个不孝女, 虽知爸爸纯粹关心。

妹妹知道我要买一些电脑零件，也为我蹦跑采购便宜的。

家，有家人的嘘寒问暖， 很是温暖。

一切很好。 谢谢。

I have been back in Malaysia for nearly a week but have yet to write much about my home-home. A few friends had wondered how I have adjusted myself being back.

Returning home is always warm and pleasant feeling, and I am not talking about the 33 degree heat and 70% humidity. Mother is always around to look after me. I can totally relax and not worry about daily routines such as meals and laundry. But on the whole, I am still a little bit exhausted from the travels and time change, and is still adjusting to this hot and not-so-pleasant humidity from the cold and gray of the Canadian winter.

My lecturer has recently approved my proposal and content of my thesis for my TCM Masters. I’ve trying to balance between catching up with relatives and friends and writing the thesis.

Those in Malaysia knows that the street food is fantastic and full of variety, something Australia and Canada is missing. However, on this visit I found myself not too used to it and suffered from some mild gastrointestinal problems. My father, who is a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor was quite worried and forbid me from eating anything that is too spicy, too sour or greasy. This frustrated me so much that I I had a small argument with him. I know it is very unwise of me to argue about such a trivial thing, knowing that my father was only looking out for my well being.

Everyone in my family is helping and looking after me so well and I am so appreciative of having such a wonderful family. So the answer is, “I guess I am adjusting rather well to being home after all.”

回到家了。

妈妈好开心，因为我胖了。因为，这代表我的日子过得好。

上次，从澳回马，为了搬去加拿大忙得瘦了好多。

这次回马，胖了。在加国好吃好住， 没压力了四个月，哪有不胖的　:)

没关系啦，妈开心就好了。

．．．．．．．．

这几天，飞得有点累，定不下心写好部落．．．．．希望这些短短的贴字(post) 可代表我现在的心情．．．．

Arrived Kuala Lumpur last night.

Feeling relieved – I am home.

Mum is very happy to see a fatter me.

For her, it is an old fashion sign of a better life.

When I was home last year Nov, I lost lots of weight due to the stress of moving to Canada.

This time I am home with more weight because of a life with no stress for four months.

I am fine with a rounder face and thicker waist and mum is happy

…………..

Feeling exhausted after all the flying and can’t settle down to write something more substantial……..hopefully short and sweet posts are enough to reflect my feelings now.

很久没写这个系列了，今天 让我介绍介绍短片中的人物。（以下的介绍只是他们当时的情况，自此他们的生活已有了很多改变, 有一些已移居到其他城市或国家。）

I have not written a post for this series for a while, let me introduce the cast in this doco today. （The intro below was their lives then， there are many changes since then, some of them already moved to another city or country).

提了那么多次，我和几个朋友搞的短片终于上网了！虽然只是片前的两分钟， 希望在此分享。有关片中的介绍人物，请点击这里。

在此，要特别谢谢我的老拍档Fred（短片的监制）, 放假从香港回墨尔本短短几天，还要帮我找英文字幕版和解决技术上的问题。谢谢！

Finally, the short documentary that I have mentioned so many times is live online ! Below is the two minutes of the beginning of the doco my friends and I made. Although short, hope to share with you all here. I shall start to introduce the characters in this doco in my next post.

I want to specially thank Fred (producer of this doco), during his short holiday in Melbourne still had to help me to find the English titled version and solve some technical problems. Thanks !

(Dear English readers, please scroll down for English translation)

小时梦想出国上大学， 幻想体验外国的生活，期望结交不同国籍的朋友，享受那春夏秋冬的转变。所以，我去了澳洲。哪知，这一去，去了十二个年头。

在后来的几年，思念马来西亚祖国的老家，同时不舍澳洲的新家。一颗心挂着两个家。是留，是离，总是没有答案。

x x x x x x x x

有一位朋友因97问题移民来澳。那时，他才十岁左右。住了整二十年，他又举家回流香港。临走前，他老板问他：“Are you going home or leaving home ?” 他答不上来。 因为这个小故事，我才发现身边朋友都有相同的挣扎。于是，我和几个朋友凑在一起搞了一部短片。片名为“Going home or leaving home – 回家.离家”

短片是讲述五位朋友小时候，在没有得选择的情况下移民到澳洲。住了十多年，成年后，开始为哪才算是真正的家烦恼。

有些虽然决定回祖国，可又已习惯了澳洲的生活。留在澳洲的，却常挂念着祖国。有些可能也无所谓。他们都在寻找那一个家。这部短片是探讨其中的过程。

在2004年尾，我们以《Going home or leaving home 回家.离家》这部短片 (短片的video 在这里)，报名参加第十届香港独立短片及录像比赛。 在2005三月中，我们得知被列入评审团推荐，在香港艺术中心放映几天。

短片制成后，各自过各自的生活。

两三年后，一个机缘下，我遇到了Ed，跟着他跑去加拿大。突然发觉，我又多了一个家。这时，突然想起这部短片。 再看一看其他的一些朋友，发现很多片中片外的已分散世界各国。

世界变小了。家的定义不同了。为了各种因素，人们从一国搬至另一国。〈离家.回家〉这个课题似乎是许多人的心历路程。

心血来潮下，我想把这部短片中的故事重述， 也看看他们现在在哪。

如你也有相同的经历，欢迎你的留言和与我分享你的路程。

During my childhood, I dreamed of studying overseas, dreamed of livng in different country, getting to know different people from all around the world, and experiencing the four season changes. Therefore, I went to Australia and this lead to total of 12 years stay in Melbourne.

For the last few years, although I missed my family in my home country Malaysia, I started getting used to the life in Australia. It was a life living in two countries – two homes, never had a solution if stay or leave.

x x x x x x x x

Due to the issue of Hong Kong’s handing back to China in 1997, a friend of mine immigrated to Australia long time ago. He was only about ten years old. After settling life in Australia for nearly twenty years, his family decided to move back to Hong Kong. Before he left, his boss asked him : “Are you going home or leaving home ?” He could not answer it. Because of this story, I realised some of my friends faced the similar struggles. A few of us got together and made a short documentary, titled “Leaving home or going home”.

This documentary was about the stories of five characters who had the similar experiences – immigrated to Australia when they were really young, and pondered where was their real home when they grown up.

Some of them decided to move back to their home countries but they already got used to the life in Australia. Those who decided to stay back, might not be able to let go of their home countries, and always missed it. For some, it did not really bother them too much. This documentary was about their journey in seaching for this home.

Our documentary went into Jury’s Choice in the 10th Independent Short Films and Video Competition and was shown for a couple of days in Hong Kong Art Centre.

After this production, we went back to our own lives. I then met Ed and came to Canada for him. Suddenly, I realised I have another new home. This reminded me of this documentary. I then looked for those friends who were involved in this documentary and found out that some of them have since moved to another country too. This intrigued me and lead to this small little project in this blog.

In this Feature Series, I am going to introduce the characters in the documentary, their stories and see where they are now.

The world is getting smaller. Definition of Home has changed accordingly. Due to many different reasons, people tend to move from one country to another.

I believe, many of us, in some ways have this similar struggles. You are welcomed to leave comments and share with me your experiences.

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