Dear Jewely,

Yes I am feeling much better. I'm starting to realize that having the courage to confront a challenge knowing that the outcome is in doubt may simply not be worth bothering. (My boss appears proud of how humble and open-minded he is, he's actually anything but - still he's the boss -right!). Eels - wow! You're probably going to get a shock -
but smoked eel - was considered a delicacy by my parents. Although I could never develop a taste.

There are quite a few Asian posters on OLO - and I'd love to have some
body post on this thread and relate their experiences.

Who are Asians? Well, I may have it wrong but to me members of the Asian racial group include Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and most of the peoples of southeastern Asia. However, there is an existence of a wide variety of ethnic groups and that is one of the most important features of Asia's population. They're united by the same language, the same religion, a common ancestry or all of these characteristics. Asia has dozens of ethnic groups - both large and small.Asia's largest ethnic groups include the Arabs of the south-west, the Hindus of India, and the Chinese of the east.

Dear Lexi,
I think you are FOXING with us—in more ways than one!

Asia and Asian is an artificial construct.There is no monolith Asian identity.And it makes little sense to talk of "acceptance" of Asians, when they are so diverse.

And quotes like this: Australia is "caught between geography and history, and it continues to be uncomfortable," says Professor of Sociology at the University of Technology, Sydney, Andrew Jakubowicz. "We are (no longer) I think, a forlorn outpost of empire, but we are not either an Asian-Pacific nation."

Which play on a false image of a Euro-heritage OZ versus a monolithic Asia ---are pure fantasy.

I thought there weren’t any bosses and everyone had like team leaders and managers who gave you David Jones vouchers and made sure your office birthday cake was delivered and handed out cardboard framed certificates for Making An Effort like you’re back in pre-school. Tell your boss to catch up.

I love smoked eel, love it love it love it and, but no – these are pets. : ) And oops I found out you are not allowed to take eels from the wild in Aussie. I paid for my amphibian and reptile native animal license. So it is a license you pay for to then go buy reptiles and amphibians and pay GST as well. What a rip.

I think this is shaping up like another great big rip too (letter I got today):

“There are many pathways for an Australian permanent residency visa application.
As the issues are complex, you are requested to come to our city office for a detailed assessment and consultation. If you are interested in having more information, please feel free to email us.
For your information, our consultation fee is $95 which is payable on the day of your appointment.”

Isn’t there just a damn form to fill in? I don’t want to talk to them or listen to them.

Yeah the word Asian is a big mix but they are all little different nationalities within a larger group and we’re more calling them Asian like we would call someone a Caucasian? The question is the same about our attitude to Asian immigrants but is more like asking about our attitudes to people with Asian features? I’m splitting hairs maybe.

Wiki said: What in the past had been defined as "races"—e.g., whites, blacks, or Asians—are now defined as "ethnic groups" or "populations", in correlation with the field (sociology, anthropology, genetics) in which they are considered.

Just to confuse me more.

Jewely,
Your bit about eels raised my interest as i have never heard of someone having eels for pets.

I know they return to the ocean to breed, but what do you feed a pet eel with, I thought they ate frogs and the like that inhabit fresh water. Also how do you hold them captive as they have been known to travel over land, apparently on dewy nights. How they get around large dams on rivers intrigues me.

The fee of $95.00 sounds steep. Is that with an immigration agent and have you checked the DIAC site? I recall seeing a section on visas. I would have thought that an application by someone who speaks our lingo should be simple. I do know there are special arrangements for Kiwis.

Eels are awesome and can be hand fed bits of mince. They learn to come see you to take the food. I’m still uncertain if they can or do bite or if it will hurt so bits of mince on the end of a straw for now.

Yeah they are supposed to return to the ocean to breed (by New Caledonia I think) but landlocked ones just keep growing and can get to 3 meters long and live over 100 years. They can climb high walls and can sense if a trickle of water in a paddock is coming from a farm dam with food in it then follow it back to its source.

I did read somewhere at some dams they throw fishing nets over to help the young eels climb when the little ones return from the sea.

My eels stay through sheer good luck so far as they could easily get out, one travelled across the backyard and I found it in the morning, told it off and put it back in the pond. Mine are about 3 feet long and little fat sods. They’re eating fish and frogs and water snails I guess but can go something like a year without eating.

I swear there is some anti-immigrant conspiracy going on Banjo that makes even finding out how to apply for residency near impossible. I wish I could find a special arrangement for Kiwis. I will try again in the morning with the DIAC site, cannot find the Permanent Residency form to save my life which has to be done before applying for citizenship. After that’s done (at some unknown future date) I think someone will arrest me if I don’t vote and it’s about the only extra thing becoming a citizen gives me.

Oh yuk! After reading about you feeding eels with mince Jewely, I am sure to have nightmares tonight!
Eel, cooked and on a fork ,smoked, barbequed or whatever, makes me want to puke even more.

But hey, differing food and pet choices are part of our wonderful Australian way of life, just like our great big population pot of all the different races and cultures makes us such a unique place.

Vive le difference :)