Belonging

Explore how perceptions of belonging and not belonging can be influenced by connections to places.
Belonging is an indelible force pervaded by the human psyche. It is through our ability to forge connections to places that determines an individual’s perceptions of belonging or not belonging. Strong and stable relationships with people and/or culture over time, enhances ones perception of connections to place, while a lack of social and cultural connections barricades this. This is revealed through the poems, “migrant Hostel” and “10 Mary Street in Peter Skrzynecki’s immigrant chronicle as well as the picture book, “The Lost Thing” composed by Shaun Tan. These texts therefore demonstrate the need for positive connections with society and/or culture to form positive perceptions of belonging to place.  
Migrating to a foreign country reveals the uncertainties one faces in maintaining identity due to difficulties in connecting with people and culture. This is demonstrated in Migrant Hostel through the foreboding tone, “comings and goings”, “arrivals of new comers” and the “sudden departures”, revealing the instabilities of his experiences, inhibiting him to remain in a place long enough to form authentic connections with people. The inevitability of the transitions further demonstrates his struggles to connect to the hostel. This is conveyed through the simile, “like a homing pigeon” as he attempts to familiarise himself with recognising “accents” and “Nationalities” to achieve a cultural sense of identity and affiliation with people in the hostel. Through this transient nature, strong relationships with people cannot be achieved which influences his perception of a lack of identity to place. In contrast, a deeply rooted connection to place through the maintenance of routine and culture over time enhances ones perceptions of identity, thus influencing their perception to belong. The repetitive tone of the simile “each morning, shut the house / like a well-oiled...