If you find that moment, it lasts forever - Mrs Kennedy talks to us about her experiences living in Thailand, Australia, America and Spain.
Which different countries have you lived in?
I lived in Australia for a year, Thailand for a year and Spain for two years, coming back to Norfolk for a few months in between. After meeting a group of Americans studying at my University, I returned with them and spent 3 months in the mid-west of America.
What was it like adapting to a new culture?
America was probably the biggest culture shock of all my adventures. American university life with the fraternities and sororities really is just like in American films - culturally very different from Nottingham Trent that’s for sure.
In Australia, I actually adapted very easily into the Australian way of life; everyone had a sunny disposition and were open and relaxed, there wasn’t a sense of class differences or judgement. I worked in a few different places from cafes, the law courts in Sydney to the Cairns aquarium. I was always drawn to non-English people in the backpacking community and made strong bonds with people from Korea, Japan, Brazil and Spain, which is how I ended up living in Spain. I’ve spent time in Japan with those friends and South Korea is still very much on my list and Brazil has visited me in Norfolk a couple of times. We were interested in each other, many of them had travelled to Australia to learn the English language. We talked long into many nights about our home countries and lifestyles, the little details, and enjoyed learning about each other. I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced this.
Do you have any stories of how other people have reacted to you as a migrant, in your home country or your adopted country?
I found a job teaching English as a foreign language in a school in Northern Thailand – Chiang Mai. I remember arriving to the Land of Smiles with a few teachers waiting for me at the airport. They covered me in flowers and were incredibly welcoming. We headed to the school, which is where I also lived, and the following day was Sunday and I had to help at an orphanage of aids orphans, attached to the school. The first day at the school the entire school held an assembly to meet me and I had to go on stage – they asked me to sing an English song! I can remember thinking; well, they don’t know me so I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve never told anyone what I sang in the hope one day it will leave my memory!
In Chiang Mai I was welcomed into the heart of the school. The teachers welcomed me into their homes, social life and the school. The cultural differences were strong: having to bow to make myself lower than people above me such as the principal, to show the highest respect – I was about 2 foot taller than her so this was amusing for us both and she relaxed over it as we got to know each other.
How far does your experience of migration and living in different countries affect your identity?
I think probably due to the amount of time that has passed since I lived overseas, it doesn’t affect me so much these days. What will always be a part of me is an interest in new people, it is very important to me to make them feel welcome and at ease. Being immersed in life in Thailand I was able to speak a few phrases in Thai but could understand a little more. This really developed my ability to read situations and the subtleties of non-verbal communication and trusting instinct and to trust the energy felt – the language barrier really honed this.
What were the educational priorities in Thailand?
Education is important, children would arrive at school literally piled on mopeds etc. The excitable noise terrified me at first. The school I worked at considered learning English was very important, for students and staff. They wanted me to speak English at all times to help the staff learn too. I can remember at Christmas we made a trip to a mountain for New Year’s eve and they asked me to teach about 30 staff the 12 Days of Christmas as they felt it was a traditional English song. They taught English to children as young as 5.
What do you miss most about where you lived before? Are there any moments that are nostalgic?
I miss the weather and beaches - in Australia, Thailand and Spain it is obviously so much hotter and sunnier than the UK and with glorious oceans. Certain music and songs take me back. I listened to Crowded House on my Walkman a lot when I was in Thailand, usually zooming through the streets in a Tuk Tuk or Songthaews, smothered in the pollution mixed with the amazing street food smells! That music really evokes my Thai memories.
What was the most difficult part about leaving?
Saying goodbye to friends and people I’d bonded with. Knowing that even if I visited those places again it would be different, but it becomes a part of you. A quote from ‘The Beach’ hits the spot, “It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something, and if you find that moment…it lasts forever.” Like a parallel universe.
Which different countries have you lived in?
I lived in Australia for a year, Thailand for a year and Spain for two years, coming back to Norfolk for a few months in between. After meeting a group of Americans studying at my University, I returned with them and spent 3 months in the mid-west of America.
What was it like adapting to a new culture?
America was probably the biggest culture shock of all my adventures. American university life with the fraternities and sororities really is just like in American films - culturally very different from Nottingham Trent that’s for sure.
In Australia, I actually adapted very easily into the Australian way of life; everyone had a sunny disposition and were open and relaxed, there wasn’t a sense of class differences or judgement. I worked in a few different places from cafes, the law courts in Sydney to the Cairns aquarium. I was always drawn to non-English people in the backpacking community and made strong bonds with people from Korea, Japan, Brazil and Spain, which is how I ended up living in Spain. I’ve spent time in Japan with those friends and South Korea is still very much on my list and Brazil has visited me in Norfolk a couple of times. We were interested in each other, many of them had travelled to Australia to learn the English language. We talked long into many nights about our home countries and lifestyles, the little details, and enjoyed learning about each other. I feel incredibly lucky to have experienced this.
Do you have any stories of how other people have reacted to you as a migrant, in your home country or your adopted country?
I found a job teaching English as a foreign language in a school in Northern Thailand – Chiang Mai. I remember arriving to the Land of Smiles with a few teachers waiting for me at the airport. They covered me in flowers and were incredibly welcoming. We headed to the school, which is where I also lived, and the following day was Sunday and I had to help at an orphanage of aids orphans, attached to the school. The first day at the school the entire school held an assembly to meet me and I had to go on stage – they asked me to sing an English song! I can remember thinking; well, they don’t know me so I’ve got nothing to lose. I’ve never told anyone what I sang in the hope one day it will leave my memory!
In Chiang Mai I was welcomed into the heart of the school. The teachers welcomed me into their homes, social life and the school. The cultural differences were strong: having to bow to make myself lower than people above me such as the principal, to show the highest respect – I was about 2 foot taller than her so this was amusing for us both and she relaxed over it as we got to know each other.
How far does your experience of migration and living in different countries affect your identity?
I think probably due to the amount of time that has passed since I lived overseas, it doesn’t affect me so much these days. What will always be a part of me is an interest in new people, it is very important to me to make them feel welcome and at ease. Being immersed in life in Thailand I was able to speak a few phrases in Thai but could understand a little more. This really developed my ability to read situations and the subtleties of non-verbal communication and trusting instinct and to trust the energy felt – the language barrier really honed this.
What were the educational priorities in Thailand?
Education is important, children would arrive at school literally piled on mopeds etc. The excitable noise terrified me at first. The school I worked at considered learning English was very important, for students and staff. They wanted me to speak English at all times to help the staff learn too. I can remember at Christmas we made a trip to a mountain for New Year’s eve and they asked me to teach about 30 staff the 12 Days of Christmas as they felt it was a traditional English song. They taught English to children as young as 5.
What do you miss most about where you lived before? Are there any moments that are nostalgic?
I miss the weather and beaches - in Australia, Thailand and Spain it is obviously so much hotter and sunnier than the UK and with glorious oceans. Certain music and songs take me back. I listened to Crowded House on my Walkman a lot when I was in Thailand, usually zooming through the streets in a Tuk Tuk or Songthaews, smothered in the pollution mixed with the amazing street food smells! That music really evokes my Thai memories.
What was the most difficult part about leaving?
Saying goodbye to friends and people I’d bonded with. Knowing that even if I visited those places again it would be different, but it becomes a part of you. A quote from ‘The Beach’ hits the spot, “It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something, and if you find that moment…it lasts forever.” Like a parallel universe.