Tag: Ethnocultural pull-out

• Streaks of Vibrant Colour in a Painting

  January 3, 2018 10:54 am Comments Off on Streaks of Vibrant Colour in a Painting

  I only ever have Vegemite when I’m overseas because the saltiness and sticky texture brings me back to the stereotypical Aussie bush – eucalypts galore, grandiose kangaroos and me sitting next to a billabong with a steaming cup of tea.
  Being separated from Canberra as a child and teen strengthened my bond to Australia. From joyfully singing Waltzing Matilda, True Blue and Home Among the Gumtrees, pulling out the flag when we’d play soccer (lol, we still lost but I at least had to support the Socceroos), and keeping Tim Tam wrappers as souvenirs.
  From me tightly holding onto Australia, I was unaware of how the same phenomenon would happen when I returned home. I was subconsciously collecting my own memories of the seven years I lived in Bamako, Mali as well as the places I’ve visited.
  Whenever I see a fresh bundle of bananas, a road trip across Cameroon pops into my head and the pure abundance of fresh fruit throughout the streets. When I taste sugary, sweet tea I pop into a musky, enclosed café in Casablanca where my dad, sister and I were on transit and decided to sightsee. As I’m scurrying through Civic on an extremely rainy day, I think back to a similar experience in London when I had to race back to my hostel with two suitcases and no clue where to go. When I first saw The Grand Budapest Hotel, I was astonished at how the exquisite, glamorous hotel was identical to the one that I stared at in Nairobi for a month. As I’m browsing the classics section at Dymocks, I flashback to a gobsmacking bookstore in a secluded suburb in Paris, carrying a lump of books between my parents and I. Passing by cattle on the way to Bateman’s Bay reminds me of my grandma’s beautiful goats in Byumba, Rwanda and how I ran back to say goodbye to them, at the expense of being ridiculed by my relatives.
  Those minor experiences form the bits and pieces of my life, like a mosaic. But Mali swiftly follows me around daily in a comforting manner. If I hear a slither of French, it reminds me of the daily chats I had with household staff and the bizarrely sweet French teacher at my school. When I eat a mango or papaya, I shake my head at how much juicier and delectable they were in Bamako. Halloween brings me back to the school celebrations that we had at my international school – the makeshift costumes, the terrifying haunted house and the trick-or-treat lollies that lasted less than a weekend at home. In Australian summer, as I’m dealing with the unholy creatures that Australia offers, I think of the one instant that a wasp entered our drama class in Bamako, and my friends and I frantically ran around the auditorium trying to escape its sting. A piano and drum kit will bring me back to my passion of music which was fuelled by the rhythms of Mali: the melodic vocals of a griot (classical singer), Salif Keita performing at Le Festival du Niger with the crowd raging and screaming. And me, playing the balafon and djembe throughout school, coming to adore the sounds, texture and harmonies.
  I wholeheartedly used to wish that I were one of those people who had Christmas in the same place every year with the same people. Or those who’ve lived in the same, stable neighbourhood with that one childhood friend who they’ve done everything with: soccer, gossiping about Michelle, going shopping and attending the same high school. I’ve now come to accept that that would never have happened, and even if it did, I wouldn’t have been the same Annabelle as I am now. In my opinion, I wouldn’t have grown at all: I would not have wanted to expand my knowledge, get out of my comfort zone, or even attempt to try to understand and empathise with others. Our unique experiences contribute to who we are, and even though someone wouldn’t be the same if they’d lived my life, I definitely wouldn’t have been the same as I am today living theirs.
  A week ago, I saw a lone plastic bag floating next to Civic bus interchange, and there was a jolt to my heart: I instantly thought of Bamako, and the dormant and flying plastic bags that inundate it. It’s nice to be able to form a bridge between Canberra and Bamako: a steady, solid bridge that has different-sized locks attached to it, each representing a particular memory that has formed who I am, like streaks of vibrant colour in a painting. I’m looking forward to creating another bridge from Canberra to elsewhere, with locks securing the fond, warm memories I’ll have along the way.

  Annabelle Nshuti

• A Letter from a Rohingya Woman of Myanmar

  October 9, 2017 1:23 pm Comments Off on A Letter from a Rohingya Woman of Myanmar

  Myanmar is a developing country in South-East Asia which suffered more than 60years under international sanction and civil war. Since independence from colonisation, the ethnic groups haven’t stopped fighting with the Myanmar military. At the time of colonisation, the British government favoured some ethnic groups over others to control the country. After independence, our leader General Aung San gave a huge effort to unite the whole country and he promised to establish federalism in ethnic areas. Unfortunately, it never happened as General Aung San was assassinated together with his fellows by Buddhist nationalists.
   
  Buddhist Nationalism is not new in Myanmar and its always being in Myanmar in the whole history. ‘Rohingya’ which Burmese accuse as ‘Bengali’ are one of the ethnic groups in Myanmar whose faith in Islam. The name ‘Rohingya’ is actually very new to all other ethnic groups in Myanmar as the name, and the whole ethnic group, were systematically destroyed and hidden from the media by Dictatorship. The geopolitics of the Rakhine state and May Yu district, where almost all Rohingya live, plays an important role in the genocide. Before independence, Rohingya also has an armed group called ‘Mujahadin’, and they fought Japanese army to help the British. In the Rakhine state, there are many other ethnic groups but Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya are the majority groups. Both groups share the same ancestors, but are different in that the faith divided them very strongly and they have hated each other throughout history.
   
  About 98 per cent of the population of the Mayu district, which is near Bangladesh, are Rohingya. After independence, Rohingya leaders and Mujahadens wanted to separate from Myanmar and unite with East Pakistan. Unfortunately, Pakistan leaders refused. So, they decided to drop the arms and unite with Myanmar. At that time, the Rakhine Buddhist group was also having arms and wanted to separate from Myanmar to establish a Rakhine Kingdom. So, Rakhine people hated Rohingya for uniting with the Myanmar government which constituted mainly with Burman people, a major ethnic group of Myanmar. Since that time, the two groups hated each other and Rakhine people have been fighting with the Myanmar military and keep holding their vision for the Rakhine Kingdom. Myanmar has more than 20 ethnic insurgent groups that fighting for federalism. Under dictatorship, all ethnic groups suffered. However, the Rohingya were victims of systematically genocide by the military. Before the dictatorship, U Nu’s democratic government recognised 143 ethnic groups in Myanmar. They recognised the Rohingya as ethnic but with the name of ‘Chittagong Muslims’ as Mayu district is close to the Chittagong state of Bangladesh. They were granted full citizenship, full civil rights and representation in Parliament. Under Military Dictator General Ne Win, all of these rights were removed from Rohingya and removed from the list of ethnic minorities. He declared only 135 ethnic groups as the ethnic of Myanmar. His military committed mass killing of Rohingya people. During the more than 60 years of Military regime, all people of Myanmar were subject to propagandised education system and media. We only had two TV channels, and two published newspapers. The military government censored these, and we had to learn manipulated history at schools. Western literature was strictly controlled and leftist ideas were strongly prohibited. We couldn’t access any news or information that were truthful.
   
  The media will usually cast Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, and ethnic insurgencies as terrorists. Rohingya are not allowed to exist from the Rakhine state, and they need permission for movement inside the country. Rohingya are not allowed to marry without permission. Only thirty people are allowed to marry in a year in one quarter. If they marry without permission, they are arrested and extorted huge amount of money by the police. Rohingya are not allowed more than two babies. They can’t access any health services and education. The military regime intentionally destroyed all the evidence of Rohingya identity, national registration cards, family registration cards, literature and books. It is part of the genocide. Since the time of General Ne Win, no Rohingya children can get birth certificates, national registration cards or anything which can prove their identity. By this way, all Rohingya were forgotten in Myanmar and the world. The regime persecuted all educated Rohingya. My grandparents were one of the educated Rohingya who served for this country as school teachers. However, under the military regime, my whole family became victims of persecution. The military confiscated my grandparents’ farms and properties. My father ran from the Rakhine state to Yangon forty years ago where he met with my Buddhist mom, who is from another ethnic group. My wise mom decided to hide our identity for the sake of our education and, so, our persecution was not as extreme as other Rohingya people. But my whole life, I didn’t dare to say that I am a Rohingya. We survived under constant fear of persecution. My father didn’t get any chance to return to the Rakhine state and couldn’t see his parents until now. My siblings and I also didn’t get any chance to meet them. I am a doctor and served a few years for this country in the war zones, but my grandfather died in Rakhine state without any medication.
   
  Since 2010, the previous government which composed of military personals used Rohingya issue to take political advantage and to push Aung San Su Kyi political defeat. It is the most convenient way to put Aung San Su Kyi into this dilemma which they prepared for more than thirty years. The Rakhine state is very important for the geopolitics of China and also very resourceful. China bought all the coastal places of the Southern part of Myanmar as it is critical for Malacca peninsula. China also built the gas pipeline which transported the offshore gas from the Rakhine state to China. The majority of Rohingya were living in this area of the Rakhine state where China wants to build the business zone. In 2012, there was a conflict between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya which killed more than 4000 Rohingya and put more than a million Rohingya into the IDP camps. So, the military government backed by China confiscated all the lands of Rohingya and Rakhine people and put both communities into IDP camps. After this conflict, China was able to establish this pipeline project successfully. At that time, Aung San Su Kyi raised her voice not to bully Rohingya. For this reason, many Burmese people and Rakhine people accused her as pro-Muslim and nationalist monks attacked her in many ways. She took this as a lesson and on 2015 election, her party didn’t allow any Muslims candidate to participate in election, and Rohingya cannot vote.
   
  Although Aung San Su Kyi’s party won the election, she can’t be a president because of the constitution. According to the constitution, she will never be a president and the country power is in the hand of the military chief. Soldiers occupy 25 per cent of the seats in the parliament, according to this constitution. ASSK government can’t change the constitution without revolution. She has no power over the military and the Rohingya issue is also not in her priority. She seems to differ from the reality which happening on the ground. Recently, torching of Rohingya houses is still happening. She raised her voice for Rakhine issue on 19 September, but there are many flaws and vague mentions of a detailed plan of repatriation and the verification of nationality for Rohingya people. However, I am very welcome for her effort towards Kofi Annan report which no previous government wanted to do. On the other hand, Rakhine Buddhists and the majority of Burmese people have an extreme view on this issue. Some Rakhine extremists are responsible for mob attacks toward the aids for the Rohingya people and torching and destruction of Rohingya houses that is highlighted by international media by a foreign journalist who witnessed these. Together with the ASSK, Burmese so-called democratic, human right activists and educated people including Burmese diplomats studying at the ANU have the desire to blame the victims by justifying ethnic cleansing on both sides.
   
  The whole country seems to forget the ill-treatment of the military for more than 60 years which they had suffered when it comes to Rohingya issue. Their hiding racism, nationalism and Islamophobia blindfolded them from critical thinking.  Their racism, hate and torture pushed the oppressed Rohingya to be radicalised. Before the insurgent attacks, Rohingya villages were blocked by Rakhine people and police for many weeks. They couldn’t go out of their villages to find foods and things to survive. Finally, they decided to fight back. You can see on the information committee Facebook page of the Myanmar government, the majority of insurgents which they captured after the 25 August attack were not well-trained fighters and most of them are ordinary Rohingya people who fight with a small knifes and bamboo stick. However, I strongly condemn the leader of ARSA (Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army) and his fellows for their stupid choice which costs the thousands of lives of my people including my cousins. We will need to find a peaceful solution, and I am sure it will take many years for reconciliation. However, the military and China will never let this happen. They will never stop their greed. My people won’t be suffering in this way if they are not from Rakhine state or my country is not between China and India. So, the only solution is international community and the government to work together to strengthen the rule of law in Rakhine state and to give safety for my people until Kofi Annan’s report was establish fully.
   

  Woroni Editor

• We Live in Liminality

  October 6, 2017 10:58 pm Comments Off on We Live in Liminality

  [I]
   
  I first learned to swim
  On the black sand beaches in Auckland.
  Now I swim
  In an ocean of black hair at Beijing airport.
  I won’t drown,
  Because I bleached my hair blonde.
   
  [II]
   
  I have one citizenship
  Celebrate New Years twice
  Kowtow three times
  Avoid the number four
  Left China at the age of five
  Am connected to the world by six degrees of separation.
   
  [III]
   
  “Foreigner” is not a dialect
  Recognisable on a map of China.
  “Chinese” is not a face
  Recognisable on a map of New Zealand.
  “No where” is not a home
  Recognisable on a map of the world.
   
  [IV]
   
  At home we speak English, Mandarin, and everything in between.
  Two way miscommunications
  Peppered with broken accents and Chinglish.
  My parents do not understand me,
  No matter what I say.
   
  [IV]
   
  Steak with chopsticks.
  Dumplings with a fork.
  Fried rice and cheese.
  Wontons and ketchup.
  Stir fry spaghetti.
  Soy sauce roast chicken.
   
  My belly is a melting pot,
  A smorgasbord of fusion food,
  Without a price tag,
  Without a place on a menu.
   
  [V]
   
  Shakespeare said,
  “All the world’s a stage.”
  And we learn as children
  To rehearse a script to the question:
  “Where do you come from?”
  Until it becomes muscle memory.
  Performing, reinventing our identities
  With chameleonic range;
  Until our audience is satisfied.
   
  [VI]
   
  My life is a patchwork of stamps
  Sewn into my passport.
  Read its pages, not my face;
  It remembers my journey
  Clearer than my faulty memory.
   
  [VII]
   
  Our lives are made of fractured hellos and goodbyes,
  Strung together in a messy montage.
  And tears at the departure gate
  Are a bittersweet ritual,
  That never gets any easier.
   
  [VIII]
   
  I deliberately choose
  To wander aimlessly,
  While there is still so much world
  Left to see.
   

  Ruohan Zhao

• What’s in a Name?

  10:51 pm Comments Off on What’s in a Name?

  Recently, I was getting a takeaway coffee with some new friends, and I had a chuckle when they were shocked that I order coffee under the name ‘KK’. For me, using the name KK, which is a nickname and my initials, is such a common, everyday occurrence that I never thought much of it. As someone who would inject coffee into their veins via IV drip if they could, my interest in using a coffee-name is solely concerned with getting caffeine as quick as possible.
   
  The effort that it takes to say my name two or three times and spell it out, only to have the barista call it out wrong in the end, not only holds up a line but also frustrates me. Don’t get me wrong – in tutes, I will make sure the tutor has the correct pronunciation of my name, and will patiently remind them of this pronunciation right up until week 12 (a special shoutout to all the tutors who write names phonetically).
   
  While I do use a coffee-name, I have been raised to always make sure my name is pronounced correctly. At a young age, my mum told me that a person’s name is important because it is a sound that resonates within them. My name, Kanika, means ‘first atom of creation’. My name is pronounced ‘Kahn-nik-kah’. Pronounced a different way Kanika can also mean ‘seed’ or ‘gold’. That’s why it’s a little frustrating when you tell someone your name and they reply with ‘OH! Kanika like Hanukkah!’ It seems possibly too mean to tell them that your name actually doesn’t rhyme with ‘Hanukkah’, that it’s a completely different sound. In Indian culture, a parent will choose their child’s name according to the astrological details of their birth chart. This way, the sound of one’s name is the most positive energy, a vibration that hits you throughout your life.
   
  I do understand that a lot of the time people are trying really hard to pronounce your name right. I know it’s a little tough; I’ve grown up here and in Singapore, where Kanika is not a common name. Even in India, people pronounce my name wrong: ‘kan-nee-kah’ is another interpretation. Weirdly enough, I’ve had the most success in Thailand, where Kanika is a type of flower, and in Spain, where it’s similar to the word marble.
   
  People know names are important. I know my name is important. It is an inherent part of my identity and something that I am really proud of. As a child, I hated that I didn’t have a typical Aussie name, and I hated that I had to say it several times for it to be repeated back to me wrong, yet again. But as I’ve grown up, I come to understand that my name is who I am, and everyone really is trying their best, it just takes a couple of tries. At the end of the day, baristas are trying their hardest, and I just want my coffee as fast as possible.

  Kanika Kirpalani

• Maybe International Students Could be Leaders Too

  10:23 pm Comments Off on Maybe International Students Could be Leaders Too

  The academic and research successes of the ANU is world renowned, making the university a worthy contender for the top 20 spots in world rankings. Such rankings bring about assumptions of excellent education and all-rounded focus. This is, without doubt, true – with the involvement of the University in sports and arts events internally and externally. The university participates in the University Games at the Gold coast and Inward Bound internally. The ANU also provides many opportunities for the artistic talents to shine, funding and allowing students to direct, set-up and perform plays, concerts and much more.

  Within this exciting environment, the university never loses sight of its academic goals and research advances. Due to this focus and emphasis, the university has been able to form academic relationships and partnerships with more than 100 universities in 28 different countries all over the world. We can safely say that these partnerships have made the Australian National University a hub for international students to pursue their tertiary education and participate in exchange programs. This has made the university the 25th most International University in the world according to the Times Higher Education Rank for 2016.

  According to the Australian Education Network as of 2014, the ANU has a total of 20,934 students with 26.6 per cent of them being international students. With this statistic, we know that there are five times as many international students in the past few years as there has been in the 2000s. The university prides itself on this very statistic – advertising itself to be an environment brimming with cultural understanding, representation and involvement. It places itself above the rest regarding cultural diversity. We do need to acknowledge the amazing opportunity that the university is giving international students.

  However, the statistics that the University prides itself on is not coherent with the representation of international students in leadership in the University itself. Over the years, there has been a stagnant number of international students in leadership at the ANU, even though the number of international students has increased rapidly. For example, even though the percentage of international students is over 26.6 per cent, the percentage of international students in leadership positions at the ANU is drastically low, with one out of 30 possible members and candidates, being an international student in 2014.

  Admittedly, there are many reasons for this occurrence. One reason that is possibly the biggest most prominent one is that there are not as many votes of support for international students taking up positions in leadership. To be bluntly said, it plays into the idea of white privilege in which the social norm of the ANU community is to have white people in leadership positions. Additionally, you could assume that the majority of the University population would vote for white students unless the international candidate is extremely well-known. However, this can also be seen on the flip side, perceiving that less international students run for leadership positions thus, causing the small numbers among the chosen leaders.

  In truth, either perspective leads to a significant revelation. Even though there are many international students, there is not enough recognition of their abilities in the University. This leads to the two main things hindering a more culturally diverse leadership team: fewer votes for the international nominees and less international students running for leadership roles in the first place. This can be explained simply by the fact that many international students could have less confidence in leading a body of people with many culturally differing values.

  This is evident even among colleges where international students find it hard to assimilate with the Australian crowd. Based on the views of some international students from the hall that I reside in, the main problem seems to be the cultural barrier and that most domestic students themselves do not take the time to understand and help them assimilate fully. Some have even commented that they give little to no thought regarding the ANU elections. This is possibly the opposite of what the University is aiming for.  Some might say that the ‘minority’ would have to adapt to the culture of the majority, but that very idea defeats the purpose of having a multi-cultural environment in the first place.

  As the saying goes, ‘it takes two to tango.’ This means that both parties would have to open up to be able to achieve mutual understanding. This needs to start in halls and smaller communities so that international students can gain more recognition and have more confidence in their place in the University. This could be done in Orientation Week itself where an international student and a domestic in the same course, living in the same hall can be partnered up help each other academically throughout the year. This could help both parties get to know each other better and build a better environment for international students to showcase their potentials confidently. This could lead to the participation and voting of and for more international students in elections in the near future.

  Woroni Editor

• Coming Out of the Closet

  10:14 pm Comments Off on Coming Out of the Closet

  ‘I don’t want life to be hard for you. It is hard enough being a black woman in this world. Now you want to add something else to that?’
  – Catherine (Denise’s mother), Master of None
  Master of None’s beautiful episode Thanksgiving came out this year, prompting me to reflect upon how I navigate the world as a queer* woman of colour. The episode follows the character, Denise, and her journey of reconciling out her sexuality, and her mother’s slow acceptance of it. The scene where Denise comes out to her mother in the diner resonated with me as it reflected on my own fears about coming out. While I am not a queer* black woman, I see my experience represented in a way that I’ve never seen before.
  Coming out is seen as a milestone for individuals in the queer* community. Society presents it as a way to be your true self in front of others, to live an authentic life. However, this is a performative act requiring you to present an ‘authentic’ you to others, even though you don’t owe them anything. I’ve seen coming out parties and celebrations surrounding a person embracing their sexuality and opening up about that part of their life to others. I’ve seen videos of people coming out online whether to face the camera to tell an audience or it’s to others who react. These online videos (mainly featuring white people) generate so many views and clicks; they’ve made a spectacle of coming out. I hate this expectation of me to present other people with a truth I have barely begun to grasp.
  These white people have waited for when they feel safe enough to come out, and kudos to them as it is a terrifying act. However, as a person of colour, my experience of coming out would differ to that of my white peers due to cultural differences. I don’t have the safety net of being ‘white’, and I don’t possess that greater chance of my parents accepting my sexuality. The likelihood of my parents accepting my sexuality is slim, and I am refusing to risk financial stability for ‘living an authentic life.’
  Therefore, coming out to my family is not an option. I am of Chinese descent and, in my experience, there has been the assumption that everyone is heterosexual and cisgender within my culture. It denies other sexualities, and gender fluidity is not a concept. One only has to look at the vitriolic hate campaign on WeChat concerning Safe Schools and the plebiscite to witness it.
  I suspect my parents have their suspicions but prefer not to have a definite answer, assuming that I am straight. Cultural ideas of queer* people inform my parents’ homophobic beliefs. My parents would see my ‘deviant’ sexuality as a failure on their part to be good parents. My parents will never say ‘But we always knew you were into girls.’ My parents will never say ‘oh right, we assumed you were bisexual.’ My parents would tell me that I’m ‘going to hell,’ and that I’m a ‘negative influence who shouldn’t drag my siblings down.’
  ‘Some black people think being gay’s a choice, and when they find out that their kid is gay, they try to figure out what they did wrong.’
  – Denise, Master of None
  Maybe one day, I’ll tell my parents. For now, I’m content in living in this liminal space where I am simultaneously straight and queer* to them, as a ‘Schrödinger’s queer*’.

  Anonymous

• A Comprehensive Guide on When to Tell Your Non-Black Man that You’re Wearing a Wig

  October 4, 2017 9:26 pm Comments Off on A Comprehensive Guide on When to Tell Your Non-Black Man that You’re Wearing a Wig

  Interracial dating is fun. From my experience, it has its pros. You get to learn about different people and their cultures. You open yourself up to new perspectives, experiences; you might even learn a whole new language while you’re at it! It’s really amazing! However, it’s not all fun and games. If you are a black girl who wears a wig, and you are dating a non-black man (or rather, just any man who isn’t familiar with black hair), there will come a time when you will need to let him know that your hair comes off at the end of the day.
  This can be hella awkward, and so I’ve come to your rescue and have compiled a guide based what I’ve learned on how to make this experience as pain-free as possible.

    When he’s running his fingers through your hair

  For some reason, men love to run their fingers through women’s hair. You start stressing that maybe you haven’t clipped it down properly, and then realised that there’s a possibility of him pulling it off! So maybe you should let him know that you’re wearing a wig while he’s doing this.

    When he pushes some hair behind your ear

  Men love being all romantic and push some of your hair behind your ear, just like they do in the movies. Why not tell him while he’s doing that? When he leans over to push the hair behind your ear, whisper gently into his ear that this hair will come off if he tugs too hard! When you’re done with that, watch his face. It’ll be priceless.

    When he’s hugging you

  You two are hugging, and maybe he’s taller than you. You’re scared that he can see the little dots on the lace front and ask you what’s wrong with your scalp. Or, if he doesn’t say anything, you don’t need to bring it up. Maybe even before he says anything, but you notice that he’s been staring at it for a while, tell him to not ruin his retinas.

    When you’re in bed with him

  Honestly, if you’ve made it to bed with him, maybe, just maybe you should let him know in case he decides to get a bit kinky and pull on it. You might chuckle a bit when he asks you if you like the pulling, but, like, you literally cannot feel a thing. Once again, there’s the possibility that the wig could come off. So really, the only pain you’re feeling is the pain of the imminent embarrassment if the wig comes off or becomes lopsided. Before this can happen, gaze deeply into his eyes and seductively whisper, ‘babe, it’s a wig!’

    When you decide to swap the wig for your natural hair, or some box braids, or anything else

  When you tell him that you wear wigs, remember to reiterate how versatile black hair is. He might be a bit alarmed though, seeing you with long silky hair one day, and a pixie cut the next. Let him know that it’s like getting to date multiple people because of your multiple hair changes!

    When he sees you without your wig for the first time

  You’ll be nervous the first time that he sees you without your wig on. You might be self-conscious. Even a bit scared. And that’s okay. You know that you’re not ashamed of your natural hair, and you know that you’re beautiful, but you can’t help feeling this way. Opening yourself up in this way makes you feel vulnerable and exposed. He’ll tell you that you look great, and he loves how you look without the wig. And, of course you do, you definitely look great with the hair you were born with! You’ll cheekily retort that it’s not up to him how you wear your hair.

    When he’s a dick about the fact that you wear a wig

  This isn’t something that you need to put up with. It’s your body. And even if you explain to him why you wear a wig (your reasons are valid, whatever they are), you don’t need to justify your choices to anyone. You need to be comfortable and feel safe. If he makes fun of you or makes you feel insecure about wearing a wig, then leave him!
  All in all, reassure him that you do have hair, and no, you are not bald, and while you’re at it, teach him about protective hairstyles and why you wear the wig in the first place. Tell him about how black hair is typically very coarse and dry, so putting it in a protective style enables length retention, growth, and protects the ends of your hair because you’re not frequently combing or brushing it. He will be curious and eager to know more! Remember, there is absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a wig. You have your reasons for doing so, and no one should try to make you feel bad for doing so. Also, make sure to throw in a little talk about touching black hair: don’t you ever do it!
  Prisca Ochan is a second-year law/political science student and a frequent wearer of wigs. 

  Woroni Editor

• The Complex Nature of Conformity

  October 2, 2017 11:21 pm Comments Off on The Complex Nature of Conformity

  Ethnic and cultural diversities are important to society, just like how biodiversity is essential to the natural ecosystem. Biodiversity allows the ecosystem to be more productive and resilient to disturbances because there are many niches. It is the same in our society: ethnic and cultural diversities promote social development by facilitating knowledge sharing and introducing novel ideas that challenge the existing norm.
   
  I spent my childhood in Hong Kong, a place where eastern and western cultures meet due to its colonial history that only ended 20 years ago. Multiculturalism, to me, is a norm. My family celebrates both Lunar New Year and Christmas. The music, movies and TV shows that we consume come from all around the world. I had to learn three languages at school. I guess that is the reason why when I started studying as an international student in Australia, the only cultural shock I had was about how friendly Australians are.
   
  The environment that I grew up in was rather hostile in my opinion. Elitism and competitiveness destroyed the trust between people in the society. Within our culture, it is normal to be cynical. In fact, I was even judged by my relatives for being too nice. They believed that niceness is a disadvantage; in other words, only selfishness would lead to success. I feel like I have made the correct decision to study in Australia, where selfishness is less prevalent. All the friendly phrases that Australians use make me feel included in a welcoming environment. I enjoy living in Canberra because I can finally be who I am, knowing that no one will judge me for that. Back home, I felt like I was judged for the values I hold. For example, no one back at home knows about my sexuality because of the potential judgements. But here, living in Canberra, I finally feel comfortable to expose myself.
   
  As an international student, I had to assimilate into the Australian culture. Interestingly, I did not find it a matter of conflict. My thought process was that, if I live in a country with different culture, I should respect their country and adapt to their way of life. Celebrating local holidays, being informed about Australian politics, learning the history of the landscape and cracking open a cold one with friends, these are a few examples of adaption, in my opinion. It is all about immersion. That does not mean that I should conform to the Western culture completely and change my identity because I believe multiculturalism is beneficial to social development. I have seen people who are not willing to adapt to a different culture, people who are ready to change but find it difficult and people who adapt completely and lose their original identity. Speaking from an international student’s perspective, one of the advantages of studying abroad is that we can broaden our horizons and become more open-minded through immersion of different cultures. If I do not at least try to adapt, I would ask myself, ‘why do you even study overseas?’
   
  It is understandable that why sometimes international students are not welcomed by some students in the universities, if they refuse to assimilate to Australia’s way of life, even to a minute extent. Assimilation is a tricky issue because, on the one hand, I want to accept the cultural perspectives of other people, but on the contrary, I need to preserve my own cultural identity. Striking a balance is often quite challenging.
   
  But, there’s one thing that I’m sure about, which is mutual respect. I think that racism stems from a lack of respect. It’s okay if you disagree with other people’s way of life or values, but always remember to be respectful. We should respect and be grateful to whatever country we go to. We should also be respectful of individuals from other cultures because assimilation is not as easy as we may think.
   
  Although I consider assimilation important, I understand that everyone has a unique set of values and attitudes, so we cannot force other people to adapt. But, I do believe an appropriate level of assimilation is beneficial to personal development. I understand that assimilation can be hard because English might not be our native language, or we are just too shy or scared. But, the ANU is such a supportive and friendly environment; we do not need to be afraid to step out of our comfort zone. Stepping out of my comfort zone has changed my life personally. Being able to openly talk about mental health, sexuality, political orientation and religion; the process of assimilation has truly inspired me. I hope for a day when words like assimilation and multiculturalism are no longer buzzwords, but the social norms. But until that day arrives, there is still a long way to go.

  Anonymous

• My Assimilation into Australia

  11:15 pm Comments Off on My Assimilation into Australia

  ‘Take care! Call us when you settle down!’ These words slowly sunk into me as I watched my parents leaving me behind in Australia. Less than a week ago, I was enjoying my time in my home country, Malaysia; but now I am an official ANU student in Canberra, with less than a few days to settle into this new environment.
   
  I will be honest; I cried buckets in the privacy of my dorm room after my parents left me in this foreign environment. However, it was not long until I was forced to dry my tears so that I could participate in the dorm’s orientation activities. As I slowly walked to the orientation hall, I felt self-conscious of how red my eyes were. It did not help further when I saw that the hall we had to congregate in was bustling with my new dorm mates. As I sat down, bursts of chatter and laughter enveloped me from all sides of the hall. Not wanting to be the odd one out, I tentatively put on a smile and tried to listen, hoping to have a chance to engage in the chatter too. Thankfully, it was not long until a few people introduced themselves to me and the orientation ice-breaker games started; shifting my previous sadness into joy.
   
  However, within all these fun and games, one thought keeps on running within my mind, ‘How do I make friends?’ Regarding forming friendships, I prefer one-to-one interaction where I can get to know the other party more and not limited to superficial questions like, ‘what is your degree and major?’ However, with everyone packed into one room, it seemed impossible to have personal interaction. Despite the initial merriness and pleasantries from the icebreakers, I walked back to my room with a heavy heart as I did not manage to make a single friend yet.
   
  Before I could reach my door, however, I bumped into my next-door neighbour. Without hesitation, I greeted her with a big smile on my face, to which she responded, although I quickly went into my room as it seemed that she was in a hurry. After that, I just laid on my bed, wishing I could stop the tears and settle down quickly. A few hours later, as I was unpacking the rest of my belongings, there was a knock on my door. Confusion struck me as I did not know anyone that well yet for them to come knocking to my room. Surprisingly, my next-door neighbour greeted me, and after a quick survey of my dishevelled room, she kindly offered a helping hand in unpacking my suitcase. With her help, not only I did I manage to unpack quickly, but a friendship between her and I also bloomed that night.
   
  Finding a friend was the right step to settle to the Australian culture more comfortably because, as the week went on, not only I managed to forge new friendships through her, but I also became more confident and outgoing in meeting new people. The people I met consisted of both local and international students who felt the same way I did: nervous and wanting to make new friends too. Knowing how they felt made me more comfortable to express my true self to them, which subsequently helped my assimilation in Canberra. As my friendship circle extended, I embraced the mixture of cultures that surrounded me, particularly the Australian culture.
   
  What a better way to settle into Australia than by having my local friends show me their culture? Their first attempt was to drag me into the dorm’s social nights. Back in Malaysia, I was the girl who did not go out at night and instead lazed around updating her Tumblr. In Australia, I plunged into a sea of bodies gyrating to the latest beats. At first, I did not know what to do except and stood in the corner, bopping my head awkwardly to the beat. My friends left me while they surveyed the bar, and I was at a loss on what to do because this was the first time I attended a social night. When my friends came back, they pushed me to the dance floor. Looking at how everyone was dancing with no care in the world, I decided to move around a bit because, hey, I didn’t see anyone else judging the way others dance. The social nights were a taste of the Australian culture but, apparently, it was just a mere sip of it. The true taste is hitting the pubs and then the clubs on particular nights; in Canberra, Thursday nights are the students’ time to party. Since we were first years, my friends’ main agenda was to party until we drop. Due to how frequently they hauled me to parties, I eventually developed an addiction to the dancing scene and a liking for Thursday nights.
   
  Through these parties, I had the chance to interact with other types of people and became closer to some. Besides assimilating within the Thursday nights party culture, I fell in love in how the Australians dressed; dressing in whatever you like because no one is going to judge you. This contrasts to Malaysia, where I was never adventurous in what I wore back home. In Australia, I am free to wear whatever I like and express myself in any way. Due to this type of mentality Australians have, I had become less judgemental and more accepting, as what the Australian culture is.
   
  There are many other events that helped me assimilated more in Australia. Though, I feel that forging these precious friendships were the biggest stepping stones in helping me settle in Australia and to appreciating a new culture. So, thank you to all my friends who stuck with me through thick and thin and made me the better and more adventurous person I am today.
   
  Nadiah is a second-year cat lady, and enjoys dancing, stuffing her face and getting lost in music.

  Woroni Editor