Monday, January 28, 2013

thoughts on being aussie...

when our little boy was born, we were given an option of citizenship. he could choose to be australian like his papa or singaporean like me and just like religion, we didn't feel like it was a decision we could make on his behalf. 

so we got him both. 


but the catch is, when he grows up, he'd have to pick one. 

i've been staring at his paperwork for the whole morning thinking about what it means for him. its beyond the schools he attend, the color of passport/visas he holds or spending two years of his spotty teenage years in an army camp (should he pick a singaporean citizenship, that's mandatory!) its definitely not picking sides because both of us are completely fine whichever he chooses eventually. 

but im a little baffled at how to raise him to understand what it means to be australian. obviously currently he's too young to understand but eventually, i'd love for him to know a bit more about his papa's country before he decides. it'll definitely be easier to learn about singapore because of where we live now. but for australia, im guessing its more than spending summer vacations there every year.

isn't that a toughie? any of you faced/are facing the same decisions? 
any suggestions or ideas? i'd be incredibly grateful for any tips or advice.

xx

14 comments:

  1. Oh, wow. I had no idea that was even an option! I think you made the right decision. :o)

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    1. we didn't know too! :) but he gets the singaporean one through birth. and aussie one through descent!!

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  2. Like me when I had to pick! :) Start with Australia Day! Heh. Since it was over the weekend.

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  3. maybe sending him to the australian school, going to a playgroup with some little aussie friends and weekly/fortnightly skype vid calls with family in oz can be options that are as close to having the best of both worlds in singapore ?

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    1. those are great ideas! actually i think australian school would really make a difference! but it costs an arm and a leg in singapore!!

      xx

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  4. I'm Australian and I love Singapore. It would be difficult to choose.
    I'd probably select the country where he was born.

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  5. Our children are dual citizens like little Blake. They are turning 7 and 9 in two weeks time and I haven't stop thinking since day one, what they would choose eventually and the implications. Like you, I was wondering how best to have them get in touch with their Australian side of life but it is just not that simple. Oh, btw, you do know you have to get some form of rights to entry stamp on Blake's Aussie passport and he is only allowed to travel using his Aussie passport when you travel back to Australia.

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    1. i didn't know that!! gotta read up more about that!!! :)

      parenting really brings up all these issues i'd never spent time thinking of! fingers crossed we're making the right decisions!

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    2. Hi Z,

      I happened to be blog-hopping on one of those lazy days and chanced upon your blog. (sounds stalker-ish I know but believe me when I say I'm a fan (: ) I am currently a third-year uni student in Perth WA and was born in the opposite situation as your little one, Blake. I was born in Sydney so I'm Australian by birth and Singaporean by descent. I just turned 21 last August and basically have to decide by July this year which citizenship I'm going to take. It is one of the hardest decisions a 21 (going on 22) year old has to make and til' now, despite probably choosing Australian citizenship (for various private reasons) I think I'm still a Singaporean at heart (grew up there since I was 4). I worry about the eligibility to apply for PR, I worry if I can take the bar exam in Singapore (because generally you have to be a SG citizen or PR), and I worry where I'm going to settle in the future. Whilst there were perks to being a dual citizenship, I believe that where I am now it's something that nobody could really prepare me for (who would ever dare to give up citizenship in any country?), except the Big Man up there. I hope my 2cents worth does not frighten you but instead allows you to understand what's going to be in stall for you and the family in due course. If I have, I apologise in advance! and hey, who knows, the rules may change in 22 years time eh? (: Fingers crossed! I wish you and your family nothing but happiness and blessings.

      Kind regards,
      A.

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    3. oh i wished i could write you an email personally! but realized i don't have your contact! but thanks for writing to me! i know its a difficult decision for him eventually and im sure like you, he'd feel torn between his decisions but we felt like it wasn't something we could make a call about!!

      and you're right! we're hoping the rules might change in future to allow more kiddos like you and blake to live freely in both countries that you actually belong to!!

      thanks again for sharing, A! we really appreciate it!
      xx

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    4. Hi Z,

      would you like to get in touch via email? (: Can you believe it, it's more than one year on since this post! I'd like to update you on the situation since then if you're interested to chat (: Your blog is full of positivity and on some days it does make my day when I read about how your day with the family went. Thank you for bringing so much joy and outlook on life in general. Bless you and you family and loved ones!

      KR,
      A.

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    5. sure thing! :) drop me an email at littleprojectsinstyle{at}gmail and we can chat a bit more!! xx

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