There's definitely a way of looking at the world when you've lived abroad for too long, but also when you go back home, that feels differently and I hadn't thought it could be defined but the migrant gaze sounds a very fitting description. And it's so true that fact about the urgency of absorging everything of a place we get to see for the first time afraid it'll be the last compared to the more paused, conscious way of moving about in a place that eventually becomes our own.
It's also hard to explain to people who may not have experienced it because more often than not I've noticed one comes across as hyper critical both at home and abroad, when we're simply noticing things in a different way because, like you said, we live in the gaps between languages, between customs, between selves. Loved that sentence!
I kept nodding along. I love the slipping into different roles of myself in different places and the way I observe things. Of course not always easy but somehow also freeing. Unless it’s around family, then it gets confusing
As an aside, the title of your post here made me wonder if it was going to be about how we view immigrants — a source of contention in this country and others. But what you wrote about was a lot more interesting and thoughtful!
I have lived in five countries and I recognise what you're saying here. That viewing your own "home" country with different eyes. You're the same as everyone who lives there, but you're also different. I'm also going back to Barcelona later this year after ten years of not visiting, so that will be exciting.
This is so true!! I've been reflecting on how I've approached the gaze, and I think I started taking pictures of the familiar mountains in Italy only to show others, never for myself. Can you also tell from scrolling quickly through your camera roll where you were during that period? My European holidays are incredibly vibrant compared to my melbournian photos.
Oh, absolutely! My camera roll tells story after story of my travels. And then with blank periods, or boring screenshots of random stuff from when I'm at home. 😊
An enjoyable read. I think I experienced a very mild case of migrant gaze when my family moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. I was in seventh grade, and L.A. offered serious culture shock. Almost 20 years later, as an adult, I moved back to Minnesota and experienced that culture (and weather 🥶) shock all over again.
But you're right that it heightens one's sensitivities to things the locals stopped noticing.
Well, they are two very different areas; they might as well be in different countries. I can see how you could develop a migrant gaze after moving to LA. Your detail is interesting, kids or teens can also develop these sensitivities to different (mini) cultures, not just adults.
It is incredible how kids notice things. When I was married, my five-year-old stepson would immediately notice even small changes we made to the decor (like a different object on a bookshelf). I've seen that over and over with kids. I think it has to do with so much being new to them and having wide-open senses. Adults get used to things and tune them out.
This was so beautiful to read and so spot on!
There's definitely a way of looking at the world when you've lived abroad for too long, but also when you go back home, that feels differently and I hadn't thought it could be defined but the migrant gaze sounds a very fitting description. And it's so true that fact about the urgency of absorging everything of a place we get to see for the first time afraid it'll be the last compared to the more paused, conscious way of moving about in a place that eventually becomes our own.
It's also hard to explain to people who may not have experienced it because more often than not I've noticed one comes across as hyper critical both at home and abroad, when we're simply noticing things in a different way because, like you said, we live in the gaps between languages, between customs, between selves. Loved that sentence!
I kept nodding along. I love the slipping into different roles of myself in different places and the way I observe things. Of course not always easy but somehow also freeing. Unless it’s around family, then it gets confusing
I knew you would understand it, Carmen. And you're right that it's both difficult and freeing. Around family, I feel like we are two selves, almost.
As an aside, the title of your post here made me wonder if it was going to be about how we view immigrants — a source of contention in this country and others. But what you wrote about was a lot more interesting and thoughtful!
Ah, such a topic would be very timely, wouldn't it? I went on a different route...
‘The Road Not Taken’ 😃 You chose the more scenic route.
I have lived in five countries and I recognise what you're saying here. That viewing your own "home" country with different eyes. You're the same as everyone who lives there, but you're also different. I'm also going back to Barcelona later this year after ten years of not visiting, so that will be exciting.
Precisely, Sascha. Once you live abroad, you understand it.
I'm curious how you'll see Barcelona after 10 years - to me, it changed in very big ways.
This is so true!! I've been reflecting on how I've approached the gaze, and I think I started taking pictures of the familiar mountains in Italy only to show others, never for myself. Can you also tell from scrolling quickly through your camera roll where you were during that period? My European holidays are incredibly vibrant compared to my melbournian photos.
Oh, absolutely! My camera roll tells story after story of my travels. And then with blank periods, or boring screenshots of random stuff from when I'm at home. 😊
hahahahah I need to find a way to screenrecord this scroll because it's very hard to explain to non-travellers
An enjoyable read. I think I experienced a very mild case of migrant gaze when my family moved from Minneapolis to Los Angeles. I was in seventh grade, and L.A. offered serious culture shock. Almost 20 years later, as an adult, I moved back to Minnesota and experienced that culture (and weather 🥶) shock all over again.
But you're right that it heightens one's sensitivities to things the locals stopped noticing.
Well, they are two very different areas; they might as well be in different countries. I can see how you could develop a migrant gaze after moving to LA. Your detail is interesting, kids or teens can also develop these sensitivities to different (mini) cultures, not just adults.
It is incredible how kids notice things. When I was married, my five-year-old stepson would immediately notice even small changes we made to the decor (like a different object on a bookshelf). I've seen that over and over with kids. I think it has to do with so much being new to them and having wide-open senses. Adults get used to things and tune them out.
❤️❤️❤️