Belonging: Overseas Chinese and Leah Essay

Belonging is a natural human instinct of how we define ourselves in the world we are living in. Our croak to or connections with people, places and sorts enable us to develop an unique characteristics in our personalities. Our science of belong is influenced by the personal, ethnic, historical and social context of our surroundings. Identity, community, societys attitude, relationships and culture are aspects of belong that contribute to broaden or intensify our signified of Belonging or Not Belonging.The sense of non belong felt by individual can be evolved to become a sense of belonging by factors of the aspects of belonging through experiencing physical or inner journey and vice versa. Identity is defined as the translucent characteristics of an individual possessed by which a person is recognized or kn birth as. Individual who possesses a strong and unique personal or cultural individuality will intensify their sense of belonging or not belonging.In the novel, the china Coin, by Allan Baillie, explores how personal and cultural identity of the protagonist, Leah Waters, could be changed from alienation of not belonging to acceptance of belonging by experiencing physical and inner journeys. In the beginning of the novel, Leah senses alienation and distanced toward China as she identify herself as an Australian instead of a Chinese. The monologue from Leahs mind, Couldnt the woman see? She was not Chinese, not even an alphabet Australian born Chinese. Joan was Chinese, but Dad, David Waters, had been English. Didnt it show? suggested that Leah identify herself that she does not belong as a Chinese. A similar situation is in like manner described in the pack Avatar, directed by James Cameron, when the protagonist, Jake Sully, who was a disabled person that chosen for a mining operation in a distanced planet. Jake said, so, here I am they offer me the gig because I could link with the avatar which is insanely expensive. This reveal that Jake f elt single out and discriminated in the same sense as Leah towards China. The sense of not belonging will create a barrier that further prevents the willingness to belong in a new area.Leahs sense of identity however little by little changed from not belonging to belonging, as it is sh witness in her monologue No, youre not Chinese, but youre not not Chinese, this suggested that Leah has recognized her identity as a Chinese and is willing to accept her multicultural identity. Relationship is the sm each(prenominal) factor that can escalate the sense of belonging as it allows fundamental interaction between people which will change magnitude their communication which in turns increase their understanding and this lead to an increase in the sense of belonging.In China Coin, the half ancient Chinese coin represents a illogical relationship to Leah and Joans family. Throughout their journey, Leah and Joan expanded their relationship with the Ji family. Leah in particular changed he r sense of belonging during her interaction with Swallow. Swallow said, its all right, now you got a sister, and Leah relied, You? Yeah, thanks kid. This suggested that relationship grew between Leah and Swallow through their conversation and this strengthen Leahs sense of belonging.When Leah and Joan left the Good compass village, Leah said, Will we ever see them again? and Yes. Were family, shows that this is a milepost where Leah as she sense belonging when she relate herself to the Ji family as her own family. residential area acceptance and Societys attitude are burning(prenominal) factor which correspond to each other which magnify the sense of belonging. Community acceptance is being welcomed to be part of a family or group and societys attitudes are the believes sees by individual.Community acceptance towards Leah and Joan is shown when they plant the Good Field village. Grandfather wrapped his arms about Joan. experience certify, Sister. This is a touching scene t hat demonstrates Chinese community is welcoming towards their relatives which escalate their sense of belonging. A further example of community acceptance is when Joan had an contingency and Leah was left alone. Ke, the son of the Zhu family, recognized Leah as a family member from the garner from Joans father and offered hospitality.Leah should stay in my familys house. She is my family. This contributes to increase Leahs sense of belonging as Ke assisted her when she was helpless because of Joans accident. The preferential society attitudes directed toward Leah and Joan as foreign Chinese, however, restricted their growth of sense of belonging. The biased comment from the women on the train, You Oversea Chinese do not know anything, just how to make money and get fat, signal and combine the barrier to belong in a new community when discriminative attitudes rumoured.A powerful example of the combination of community acceptance and cultural understanding that highlighted the em otional sense of belonging is that Jake Sully, the protagonist in the film Avatar, chose to belong to the alien natives, the Omaticaya, to against invading human when he himself is a human because he developed his sense of belonging as he identify the culture of the Omaticaya through understanding and challenges and he realize the deceiving tricks exercised by the human. Jake was pass judgment in the Omaticaya community as he said in his extreme video log, Im not gonna be coming backI dont want to be late for my own party.Its my birthday after all. This is Jake Sully signing off. The community acceptances and cultural understandings are emphasized when Jake said, Its my birthday after all with the meeting of minds monologue stating that, the Navi say, every person is born twice, the here and now time is when you earned your place among the people, forever. The sense of belonging is highlighted when Jakes soul at the end was permanently transferred to his avatar via the spirit ual notice conducted by the Omaticaya.With the use of extreme close up camera shot, it shows Jake belong to the Omaticaya community now as he opening his eye in his avatar body. In conclusion, during our lifetime, our sense of identity, the surrounding community, societys attitude, the heterogeneous interaction of relationship and our culture will alter our sense of belonging or not belonging as we would experience physical or inner journey. It is critical and essential that we understand our sense of belonging or not belonging thoroughly in order to define ourselves in the world we are living in.