Migrant Hostel Belonging

Through an individual’s intrinsic desire to develop meaningful connections with society, place or heritage, they forge their own sense of self-identity by overcoming the barriers in place. In Peter Skrzynecki’s poetry, particularly “Migrant Hostel” and “10 Mary Street” we witness an individual’s experience of segregation to eventual connection in the world they live.

An individual 's sense of belonging is determined not only by their own choices but also attitudes of others.

The hostel is depicted as a place of insecurity where the individual identity has been removed and replaced with anonymity and insignificance ‘no one kept count of all the comings and goings’ and ‘arrivals of newcomers in busloads’. The poet also highlights the migrants need to seek out the familiar in people with the same nationality or culture, in search of a place to belong and a link to their former identities by connecting with other migrants, ‘ Nationalities sought each other out instinctively’.

The development of acceptance is a process laid upon several significant factors and by belonging, one may gain confidence and feel tolerated. Likewise, being alienated and ostracised can have a negative influence on how one may act, and thus social outcasts are made to feel inferior because of the harmful manner in which they are treated. These concepts of inclusion and discrimination are explored through the contemporary memoir of Anh Do, which focuses on a refugee’s journey from Vietnam to Australia. The Happiest Refugee methodically displays an array of perspectives surrounding belonging, and presents factors of both family and community allegiance.

“Migrant Hostel”, gives the responder a perspective of the plight of migrants and the trouble they face in building relationships due to the events in their past and the lack of understanding in the world around them. The metaphor of the “barrier at the main gate… Pointed in reprimand or shame” demonstrates how their housing affects them. A person cannot belong if they feel shamed, furthermore they consider themselves “birds of passage” with constant “comings and goings.” The constantly fluctuating events in their life results in an in-ability to form relationships as they have in-adequate time to form them, hindering belonging. Despite this shared “memories of hunger and hate” allowing some belonging, the alliteration emphasises the hardship of

Belonging is considered as a human need, providing individuals with a form of identity and offers security. The poem portrays an insight into the migrants facing separation from Australian society on arrival and thus are suffering from a lack of belonging to their new “home”. This separation from society is evident in the fourth stanza, where the composer makes reference to the visible, yet non-accessible highway. The quote “A barrier at the main gate, sealed off the highway” illustrates the separation between the migrants and contributes to the theme of loneliness and detachment from the rest of Australia. The simile “It rose and fell like a finger” continues this idea and refers to the boom gate isolating the migrants from the life outside of the neglected hostel. The personification of the boom gate as a “finger” implies that the migrants are controlled by human authority, diminishing their freedom and autonomy over their lives. This idea of uncertainty and disorientation is similarly expressed through the use of the motif of a bird. In both similes, “Like a homing pigeon, circling to get its bearings” and “We lived like birds of passage” a bird is used to convey the constant moving and unpredictability of their journey to safety. The use of “birds of passage” compares the migrants to migratory birds, it emphasises that they are constantly moving and are never

People who share a connection through cultural or social factors often relate well together. This is demonstrated in the poem “Migrant Hostel” through the use of the simile ‘Nationalities sought each other out instinctively like a homing pigeon’, this likens the behaviour of the migrant searching for other people with whom they shared a connection with, to the action of a bird driven by instinct. This shows that by the different

Many writers explore the notion that cultural differences may inflict feelings of disconnection for their central characters. This is shown in the two texts ‘Neighbours’ and ‘Migrant Woman on a Melbourne Tram’, as both protagonists struggle to cope with their newly exposed environment. Despite this, we learn that it can be resolved through the acceptance of one another, yet others may remain to dissociate themselves from society.

The understandings and diversities of each immigrant and their experiences underlies in a range of issues they encounter such as rights, freedoms, beliefs, power, entrapment etc… All of which are a common understanding when used in comparison towards the migrants lives using the poignant aspect of imagery and journey’s within the poem “Immigrants at Central Station, 1951”. The experiences and perceptive in this poem help perceive an understanding of the immigrants experiences towards the new world of which displays the integrity, emotion and suffering towards the new world and we as the readers are engaged into these aspects of life through trains, time, control and journeys.

One’s understanding of belonging can broaden their understanding and acceptance of themselves and the world around them. The statement that we all strive to belong is true, however it may take time to belong to a certain person, place, group, community or even the larger world. This issue is explored in Raimond Gaita’s biographical memoir Romulus, My Father and Khaled Hosseini’s confronting novel The Kite Runner. Throughout these texts, the themes of personal relationships, migrant experience and morals and values arise from the concept of

The development of acceptance is a process laid upon several significant factors, and by belonging in community settings, one may gain confidence and feel tolerated. Likewise, being alienated and ostracised because of racial and social insecurities can have a negative influence on how one may act, and thus outcasts are made to feel inferior as a result of the harmful manner in which they are treated. These concepts of inclusion and discrimination are explored through the contemporary memoir of Anh Do, which focuses on a refugee’s journey from Vietnam to Australia. The Happiest Refugee (2010) methodically displays an array of perspectives surrounding belonging and presents factors of both family and community allegiance.

This poem is relatable to Skrzynecki's “Migrant Hostel”, mainly due to the instability of shelter. The characters in both texts are unaware of their future, In Donald Bruce Dawe’s poem, both texts show the inconstancy and disorderly plan for the future show how unstable their life is.

Belonging to a person or group of people is the fundamental basis for happiness in life, bringing a sense of similitude, comfort, and safety, impacting on the choices you make and your life’s course. Two things that greatly influence an individual’s perspective of belonging are your family, and social status, as they can shape how a person perceives themselves, and ultimately how they perceive belonging. The heart-warming story of a Vietnamese refugee portrayed in the memoir “The Happiest Refugee” (2010) by Australian author and comedian Anh Do reveals how important an individual’s sense of belonging is, as it influences who you are, and what you will become.

People’s perceptions of belonging can change over time, but this isn’t the case for all. When people experience moments of crisis in their lives they sometimes force a change within themselves and that is what helps them find an individual sense of belonging. This is highlighted in many texts and even composers life works. Texts that support this statement include Peter Skrzynecki’s Immigrant Chronicle poems, of which I have chosen St Patricks College and Feliks Skrzynecki. Skrzynecki’s poetry expresses the difficulties he faces when change doesn’t occur throughout time, as time alone isn’t a factor and that your sense of belonging is something that comes from within, with or without anyone.

“Home is where the heart is” was quoted by Pliny the Elder and is now used to signify a personal connection to a place and the personal sense of belonging received when at this place. Perceptions are influenced by connections to places and sometimes made by connections and disconnections to places. Looking at Peter Skrzynecki’s poem”10 Mary Street” and “St Patrick’s Day” that are part of the “Immigrant Chronicles” and contrasting them you look upon how the perception of belonging and not belonging is inextricably linked and is