Veronika Wild

 -Image by Bru-nO at Pixaba It was the very success of earlier migrations that encouraged optimism with respect to subsequent migration programs. Though most refugee camps were now empty, those who had arrived earlier often encouraged others to come or sponsored relatives under the family reunion scheme.  As economic conditions improved in Europe by the 1970s, there were fewer migrants from that source and some even began returning home. However, social and economic upheavals in other parts of the world continued to bring migrants to Australia’s shores. A rough timeline follows which also reflects changes in Australia’s immigration policy. Apologies to all those I have had to leave out. Note how the various Independence movements sparked waves of immigration. 1945 THE DUTCH Among the first to arrive in the Post War Period were the Dutch. A few Dutch settlers had arrived after the war under a scheme whereby Allied servicemen could apply for Assisted passage to Australia, bu...

Autumn is without doubt, the loveliest time in Korea, even before the leaves start to turn. Cosmos light up the roadsides, golden rice flows down the valleys like lava. Kimchi pots appear on balconies and rooves and chilli is dried in the streets. The children tell me that autumn is their favourite season because "the sky is high." I think they mean that the inversion layer with its perpetual haze and humidity has lifted. Certainly, the days are benign and cloudless and the nights cool enough to bring refreshing sleep. How Koreans feel about the fall is eloquently expressed in the following excerpt written by a Korean student at the English Language Institute at the University of Florida, reprinted here with kind permission: The Story of Fall in Korea Hyung-Ju Park 30P The story of fall in Korea is very important. It is a beautiful array of color, sound, dance and scent. My country is small but very beautiful. It only takes 6 hours to dr...

An eerie mist envelopes the beach where we go to keep cool It's hot and it's humid. The aircon at the school works overtime, people fan themselves with small round fans to move the turgid air, which all seems like too much effort to me, and the ladies of leisure now play Go Stop under the bridge on the Jemichon to keep cool. I can't imagine what the wet season will be like as I have been rained on so thoroughly, so often already. Ross drops in from China. Election fever is in the air, and no sooner are they over, than Soccer season - The World Cup Series -begins. The students now look even more bleary -eyed than usual because it doesn't come on until 4 a.m. Election Fever in Gonju. This is a form of theatre in which all candidates have their own cheer squads and drive about the streets with music blaring, giving speeches to anyone who will stand still long enough Soccer Fever Soccer here is a national obsession. I've never been a big fan of spectator sports, much le...