The writer reflects on their experience moving from Sydney to Birmingham, drawing parallels to their parents' challenging immigrant journeys from Vietnam. They describe the physical and emotional adjustment to a new climate, culture, and job market, as well as the loneliness and struggles of navigating life alone in a foreign land. The emotional weight of history and familial sacrifices is explored, highlighting the resilience and universal challenges faced by immigrants seeking a better life in unfamiliar environments.
When the sun started setting at half past four and the chill sapped the joy from everyone's lives, I wondered why on earth I made this choice.
My dad told me how they once went into a supermarket just to gawk at all the things they could not afford to buy.
They wore big thick jackets because these young Vietnamese men from the tropics had never experienced temperate weather.
Just as I have been stumbling on Bicester, my parents contended with mouthfuls like Sydenham.
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