The Reluctant Migrant’s Daughter
Li only realised who her parents were when she was five. The fifth of eight children to migrants from China, Li grew up in her family’s shophouse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya. Generally ignored by her elders, but regularly beaten and cursed by her guardian, Li still became infused with her father’s longing to return to Shanghai, the home he left only reluctantly.
After an often lonely childhood, Li had happy times at high school. She found the loving paternal figure she craved in the father of her future husband, only to lose him after a few years. Li’s marriage was at times blighted by her relationship with her mother-in-law. Yet, Li remained loyal to her husband, raising four children while gaining university degrees in Singapore and Sydney.
Now in her early eighties, Li reflects on her life, from the early years of physical abuse and psychological deprivation, through the joys and trials of marriage, travel, racism, depression, and her hopes for her grandchildren’s generation.
Li offers her story to give voice to events experienced by many but seldom discussed. She sounds a warning to immigrants who visualise a new, untroubled life, and suggests patience to host nations, where the traumas of new residents might not be known or understood.
Finally, Li’s self-exploration enables her to recognise why she has always felt such a connection to China, a country she finally visited at the age of 45.
Cuprins
Forward
1 Historical context
Shanghai
Zhang family – the planning
The best laid plans
Zhang family establishes itself in Nanyang
A portrait of Zhang Yu – Pa Pa
A portrait of Foong Ying – Mah Mah
A portrait of Hilda
A portrait of Little Miss Mary
2 The world of little Li
Love in a traditional Chinese family
3 Japanese occupation of Kuala Lumpur
Zhang family recovery
4 Back to the growing child
The beginning, when I first recall
Japanese marching song
Chinese New Year’s Eve
Later during the Japanese occupation
5 New domestic arrangements
Ah Chieh, the young wife
A portrait of Grandma See and foot binding
Domestic politics in the Zhang household
6 More Zhang family memories
Zhang Yu, Ah Chieh and little Li
Yam cakes and a fall down the stairs
A rickshaw ride
The china doll
Caning
Opium dream
7 ‘I love school’
8 Reinstatement of British rule
More young migrant workers
The Zhang family business
The radio
9 My siblings
Brother Kwok – shattered dreams?
Sister Meng
My second brother, Ye
10 Life after Zhang Yu, 1950 – 1952
11 Teenage Life
The world of boys, 1954-1957
The happy student years, 1958-1959
Portrait of KM, my father-in-law
Grace, my mother-in-law
Sister-in-law Chun
12 Marriage
The 1960s
The last word about Grace
13 Australia the first time around
Melbourne, 1967
A musical interlude
An episode of a cat that loved curries
Back to studying
Last months in Melbourne, 1969
14 Politics in Malaysia, 13 May 1969
Death was just around the corner
Aftermath of 13 May 1969
15 Reluctant migration
Time to say ‘Goodbye Malaysia’
Sydney, 1977-1979
Melbourne, 1990
Becoming Australian
16 The growing years
Back to the family
17 A portrait of conflict - love and hate
18 My Chinese Odyssey
Life as a mature-age student
Xi’an
Yan’an
Xi’an again
Shanghai
A Portrait of Luk May
More Shanghai
Beijing
19 More travel
Back to Sydney, 1986
The skiing years, 1987 – 1988
Skiing, fun and games
20 The good years
Harbin, 1993
India, Nepal and Thailand
21 My cup runneth over, 1999 – 2000
22 Other endings
23 Have I come full circle?
Music in the night
A final word
Epilogue
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