Immigration is challenging. Assimilation is difficult. Keeping your cultural identity as an immigrant may be the toughest of all.
Local Brazilian immigrant, Rosana Wayand, has lived in the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai area for over 20 years. Living in Australia, Rosana has considered herself a local and became a part of her community. It was only after having children that she began to consider the effects of her immigration, and the notion of assimilation.
‘I love Australia,’ says Rosana. ‘This is home to me…. but once I had kids the question of identity and belonging, that issue started to surface. I started to reflect about it.’
A story-tale lover, Rosana began to write about her experiences as a foreigner and later decided to start a podcast.
The Land and Love podcast is a not-for-profit passion project, giving local immigrant voices the opportunity to chat about their perspectives and feelings towards complex issues of settling in a country different from their homeland.
Rosana has spoken to foreigners living in Australia from the Czech Republic, Morocco, Turkey, India, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. She believes it is an eye-opener and important for the wider community.
‘They get the diversity of thought, of worldviews… People don’t have to look like us for you to develop a bond with them… humans are humans,’ says Rosana.
Find the Land and Love podcast on Spotify under the same name.