Have the homeless people who returned to their hometowns really found their "home"?
The recent topic of "homeless people returning to their hometowns for retirement" on the Internet has sparked heated discussions. Some Chinese who have immigrated overseas have chosen to unload their identity as strangers and return to the embrace of the motherland to find a sense of belonging to "home".
This phenomenon is like a big net that brings back the wanderers who have been separated for many years. Some of them have struggled in foreign countries for decades and saved considerable "pensions"; Some have left their hometowns for the sake of their children's educational prospects, and now their children have grown up; Others decided to return to their familiar land in the last few years of their lives with a sense of nostalgia for their homeland.
Whatever the reason, they are drawn to this home-like land. Some netizens sighed, "It's really happy, I can spend my old age in China." But is it really that rosy?
The road home was not smooth and challenging
Taking 10,000 steps back, even if they have a pension in Canada and other developed countries, which is enough to meet the cost of living at home, what is the quality of life? Many returnees find that they need to readjust to medical care and housing.
"My wife had a serious illness, and it was really a headache to see a doctor in China. It is not easy to wait for the doctor, and the reimbursement procedure is too cumbersome. An old man who returned from Canada said helplessly. Others reported that the country's community services and elderly care facilities were clearly not keeping up with their needs and could not meet their needs.
Not only that, but many aspects such as the living environment, transportation, and climate need to be re-adapted and changed. A friend who returned home from the United States said, "I'm used to living abroad, and it's really hard to come back. "
How can family affection comfort homesickness?
Some people may say that even if the living environment is not satisfactory, at least you can re-experience the warmth of family affection. In some families, however, the truth is far from rosy.
"The children are too busy with work and are away all the year round, and our parents don't spend much time together. Besides, they also have their own families to take care of. An old man who returned from Singapore said helplessly. Some children who remain in the country do not welcome their parents back to their hometowns because they are too separated from each other, which only exacerbates the generation gap.
There are also those who feel that the lifestyle of the Chinese people does not allow them to fully integrate into it. One scholar who returned from the United States said: "I have lived abroad for too long, and many traditional ideas of life cannot keep up. "
Domestically, some returnees feel the clash and disconnection of the two cultures. They have lived overseas for many years and have developed a unique way of thinking and living habits that may not be understood or recognized at home.
What is "home"?
Looking at the experiences of these returnees, we can't help but reflect on the true meaning of "home".
For them, is home really just a piece of land? Or is it a kind of spiritual sustenance? After working hard in a foreign land for many years, do they really find the feeling of home that they have not felt for a long time?
Everyone's definition of "home" is different. Perhaps for some people, the meaning of "home" is more about family affection and cultural identity; For others, "home" means tranquility, the embrace of the motherland.
But in any case, the stories of these returnees tell us that the search for "home" is not an easy task. It requires us to have a clear understanding of our heart's desires and a clear judgment of the reality we face. If we equate "home" with a piece of land, it will only add more confusion to our journey to a new start.
May all people find their own sense of belonging to their "home", whether in the embrace of the motherland or in a foreign land. When we have a more comprehensive understanding of "home", we can avoid making blind choices on the journey of life.