First generation Aussie? You’ll be nodding along with every single one of these…
I was the first person in my entire family to be born in Australia. My dad is Canadian, and the short version of mum’s background is that she’s part Greek, part Austrian, and was born in Egypt (just to make things EXTRA complicated).
So yeah, when it comes the struggles of first generation Aussies, I know ALL of the things. But I’m not alone – because almost half of all Australians have at least one parent who wasn’t born in this country. And along with the glorious multicultural fabric of our nation that this contributes to? There’s some pretty weird stuff too.
Here’s 16 things all children of immigrants will know to be true.
1. Your school mates probably laughed at your “weird” lunches.
But now olives, salami and sourdough are in and honey and marg on Tip Top white bread just won’t cut it.
So who’s laughing now, bitches?
2. Being asked where you’re from, erryday.
Taxi drivers, waiters and complete randos will ask you this constantly and apparently, Sydney is not an acceptable answer – it will be met with a knowing, “no, but where are you FROM?” If you’re a shade darker than Lara Bingle, you’ll be asked this question for life.
3. Having people make *hilarious* jokes based on cultural stereotypes.
Apparently Greeks are tight-arse and Canadians are dumb and fond of double denim.
Oh, and Hitler was Austrian.
4. Think you’re going to score some Maccas during a family car trip? LOL, no.
Fast food? The horror! No – you must have a thermos of hot soup, boiled chicken legs, sandwiches, chopped up fruit and carrot sticks, spinach and ricotta pie, and biscuits. Any less and you will most likely starve.
5. Having to explain your “strange” family traditions year in, year out.
Sigh. Yes, we dye hard boiled eggs and crack them after dinner at Easter. Yes, we open our Christmas presents on Christmas Eve and not Christmas Day. Yes, my mother can’t pay me a compliment without doing this crazy pretend-spitting thing to ward off the evil eye. That’s normal, right? Right?
Top Comments
I so badly wanted what the lebanese kids had, their pitta bread wraps looked and smelled so yum. And the Italian kids with their containers of antipasto. Then a Japanese kid came to our school and she had these rice balls every day for lunch, torture!
But the best part of growing up in my multi-cultural community was having friends whose parents had come from all over the place, whose first language was not English, and their use of English at times was absolutely hysterical. The funniest people I know are my friends whose parents who were not born here, without question. What they and their families brought to this country is immeasurable, in so many ways.
Thank God for 1950's mass migration!
I'm 28 and did get teased for having salami sandwiches in primary school. I remember asking mum if I could have Vegemite like everyone else.
During cultural day I brought Nonna to school and she made pasta and lasagne....those dishes were a hit! God forbid anyone would only eat one plate on pasta Nonna would throw her hands in the air, "Why you no like Nonna's cooking? I slave over a hot stove all day for you, then you no eat."
During birthdays or other celebrations the accordion music or Pavorotti would start and there would be dancing and singing for hours..."What are they saying"
I used to feel embarrassed for having Italian roots, now I love it. I'm teaching my daughter the language but equally respecting Australia and Australian customs.