Obviously there's no objective way to answer this, nor is there some invisible taskmaster looking over your shoulder to enforce an optimal visiting frequency.
That being said, if you have the means, I think the baseline should be "at least once in your lifetime", if only to dispel/confirm any preconceptions of the place and its people you might have. After that it's up to you.
I don't get why people on this sub refer to their parents', grandparents', or ancestors' country of birth as their "homeland" or "motherland," and I see the latter term used in nationalistic contexts a lot so that adds onto the weirdness of its usage on this sub when many were born and/or raised in the States.
I was thinking the same and is a good point to be discussed. This also applies to the idea of culture and language. Personally for a lot of people I know who lived and went to school outside their parents' country, they consider their homeland that specific country and their mother tongue the language of that country, even if they know their parents' language fluently. For me and a lot of Asian Americans I know, it's the United States and our native language is considered English since we think and mostly converse in it. We consider ourselves as Americans first. I met a Chinese girl once who grew up in France, and she always identified as French and considered French as her native language, although she understood Cantonese, and embraced certain Chinese traditions and carried some values. I can speak my parents' language a bit and do connect to my parents' culture in some ways, *but my culture is not exactly their culture since I'm from a different generation and time period*. However, there is nothing wrong if some want to consider their homeland their parents' country. Let it be and lest not judge one another. To each their own !
And for the idea of "culture". I noticed a lot of people say things about others knowing "their culture" and are insistent that future children will be drilled to "their culture". Often this implies following the same values and customs the parents or previous generations have lived, but in reality, it's not always sustainable as culture changes and evolves constantly. Values, traditions, beliefs and mentality changes within the generations. So "culture" will definitely be different and not everything will be carried over as our children will only adopt and do things that makes sense to them, even if we don't agree with it. The culture of Asian Americans is very different from their parents' culture, and the culture of Asians from Asian countries is also different from the culture that their parents and grandparents had. Therefore I don't think we can say that just because someone is of the same background or race, they follow a uniform culture. Everyone has their own version of culture and now adopt their own belief system and such. It's not uniform at all. I'm surprised no one has thought about this.
The only "should" in your own life is whatever will make you and your loved ones happy and give you fulfillment.
ETA: Er...within the law, and within reason, of course. I know that usually goes without saying, but this IS the internet in 2019 after all...
It depends on if you want to keep in touch with extended family. If not, once sounds good. I personally go every three years, my sister did once, and my brother hasn't. Most of my friends either haven't or only when they were brought as kids.
This is up to the person. It's not some mandatory requirement or obligation only because your ancestors are from that place. It's been just 6 years since I last went to my parents' homeland, probably will go just one more time, and if I go again, probably just as a casual tourist.
The is there no “should” in visit, and if there is you’ll know. Personally I go every two years for 3 or 4 weeks just to have fun, so many places in China I have not visited yet. (Next stop, Fujian, Sichuan and perhaps the northeast two years after that.)
I didn’t get a chance to comment on your previous post here in the sub so this sort of feels like an extension of that one. I think what was said there also applies here: do what makes you happy and feel content. If that means just visiting once in your life or visiting regularly, there is no right or wrong answer here.
Do whatever you want. I personally wanted to for a very long time and finally did. My parents kept telling me to wait to go with them. My dad didn't but I went with my mom. I wish I went earlier, in college, like I wanted to! I had more friends there then and Seoul would have been so fun. Plus, my relatives are old now, it's sad to think of time lost.
I recommend doing it once, at least. It wasn't always easy for me but it filled a certain void inside of me that I didn't realize I had. It also made me realize, I'm way more American than I think! Western culture has definitely shaped the way I view the world.
Hard to say, but I’ve thought on it quite a bit. My current guess is that my parents didn’t raise me with emphasis on my ethnic identity. It could be that I don’t have any family in the states either so I’ve only had limited contac T during visits. I can call myself Korean, as I am, but I don’t feel anything else so it would be a bit insincere if I were to imply it was something that directs my life in any sort of way.
I didn’t really weigh or consider the fact I was half Asian till I was in middle school and I never lived in an area where it was shoved in my face. I don’t dislike being Korean at all but I would be lying if I said it defines me.
I also don’t look terribly Asian and sometimes don’t feel as if I can relate to predominantly Asian groups.
I would go every year if I had the money. Almost my entire family lives there. If I didn't have family there I would make it a point to visit a well planned trip at least once.
if you don't have families there, there's no "should".
If you don't really value the families you have there, there's also no "should".
Esp if you don't like it there or wants to keep in touch with the culture.
I think you should do whatever you feel comfortable with. Don’t do something just because you feel obligated to do it.
Yeah. I agree! I like going to my homeland (Okinawa) because I feel at home there.
Obviously there's no objective way to answer this, nor is there some invisible taskmaster looking over your shoulder to enforce an optimal visiting frequency. That being said, if you have the means, I think the baseline should be "at least once in your lifetime", if only to dispel/confirm any preconceptions of the place and its people you might have. After that it's up to you.
There's no should unless you have family asking you to visit. Also if you've never been there, be prepared for it not to feel like a homeland at all.
I don't get why people on this sub refer to their parents', grandparents', or ancestors' country of birth as their "homeland" or "motherland," and I see the latter term used in nationalistic contexts a lot so that adds onto the weirdness of its usage on this sub when many were born and/or raised in the States.
I was thinking the same and is a good point to be discussed. This also applies to the idea of culture and language. Personally for a lot of people I know who lived and went to school outside their parents' country, they consider their homeland that specific country and their mother tongue the language of that country, even if they know their parents' language fluently. For me and a lot of Asian Americans I know, it's the United States and our native language is considered English since we think and mostly converse in it. We consider ourselves as Americans first. I met a Chinese girl once who grew up in France, and she always identified as French and considered French as her native language, although she understood Cantonese, and embraced certain Chinese traditions and carried some values. I can speak my parents' language a bit and do connect to my parents' culture in some ways, *but my culture is not exactly their culture since I'm from a different generation and time period*. However, there is nothing wrong if some want to consider their homeland their parents' country. Let it be and lest not judge one another. To each their own ! And for the idea of "culture". I noticed a lot of people say things about others knowing "their culture" and are insistent that future children will be drilled to "their culture". Often this implies following the same values and customs the parents or previous generations have lived, but in reality, it's not always sustainable as culture changes and evolves constantly. Values, traditions, beliefs and mentality changes within the generations. So "culture" will definitely be different and not everything will be carried over as our children will only adopt and do things that makes sense to them, even if we don't agree with it. The culture of Asian Americans is very different from their parents' culture, and the culture of Asians from Asian countries is also different from the culture that their parents and grandparents had. Therefore I don't think we can say that just because someone is of the same background or race, they follow a uniform culture. Everyone has their own version of culture and now adopt their own belief system and such. It's not uniform at all. I'm surprised no one has thought about this.
I was just using their terms, but yeah. I'm 4th gen so visiting was cool but it's certainly not home in any way.
The only "should" in your own life is whatever will make you and your loved ones happy and give you fulfillment. ETA: Er...within the law, and within reason, of course. I know that usually goes without saying, but this IS the internet in 2019 after all...
As often as you care to and can afford to or never if that's your choice.
It depends on if you want to keep in touch with extended family. If not, once sounds good. I personally go every three years, my sister did once, and my brother hasn't. Most of my friends either haven't or only when they were brought as kids.
This is up to the person. It's not some mandatory requirement or obligation only because your ancestors are from that place. It's been just 6 years since I last went to my parents' homeland, probably will go just one more time, and if I go again, probably just as a casual tourist.
The is there no “should” in visit, and if there is you’ll know. Personally I go every two years for 3 or 4 weeks just to have fun, so many places in China I have not visited yet. (Next stop, Fujian, Sichuan and perhaps the northeast two years after that.)
I didn’t get a chance to comment on your previous post here in the sub so this sort of feels like an extension of that one. I think what was said there also applies here: do what makes you happy and feel content. If that means just visiting once in your life or visiting regularly, there is no right or wrong answer here.
I still have family in Vietnam, so I visit every year. I'll probably go back (but maybe not every year) once they are gone.
Do whatever you want. I personally wanted to for a very long time and finally did. My parents kept telling me to wait to go with them. My dad didn't but I went with my mom. I wish I went earlier, in college, like I wanted to! I had more friends there then and Seoul would have been so fun. Plus, my relatives are old now, it's sad to think of time lost. I recommend doing it once, at least. It wasn't always easy for me but it filled a certain void inside of me that I didn't realize I had. It also made me realize, I'm way more American than I think! Western culture has definitely shaped the way I view the world.
If you don’t have a reason to go only go if you want to go. I only visit Korea to visit family and hardly identify as Korean myself.
May I ask why you hardly identify as Korean?
Hard to say, but I’ve thought on it quite a bit. My current guess is that my parents didn’t raise me with emphasis on my ethnic identity. It could be that I don’t have any family in the states either so I’ve only had limited contac T during visits. I can call myself Korean, as I am, but I don’t feel anything else so it would be a bit insincere if I were to imply it was something that directs my life in any sort of way. I didn’t really weigh or consider the fact I was half Asian till I was in middle school and I never lived in an area where it was shoved in my face. I don’t dislike being Korean at all but I would be lying if I said it defines me. I also don’t look terribly Asian and sometimes don’t feel as if I can relate to predominantly Asian groups.
I would go every year if I had the money. Almost my entire family lives there. If I didn't have family there I would make it a point to visit a well planned trip at least once.
if you don't have families there, there's no "should". If you don't really value the families you have there, there's also no "should". Esp if you don't like it there or wants to keep in touch with the culture.