• Login
    View Item 
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   Home
    • Massey Documents by Type
    • Theses and Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    A study on how a sojourner's identity is affected when not surrounded by family or customary cultural traditions : submitted in part fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Arts, in Psychology, Massey University, New Zealand

    Icon
    View/Open Full Text
    01_front.pdf (3.013Mb)
    02_whole.pdf (13.42Mb)
    Export to EndNote
    Abstract
    Every voyage can be said to involve a re-siting of boundaries. The traveling self is here both the self that moves physically from one place to another, following "public routes and beaten tracks" within a mapped movement, and the self that embarks on an undetermined journeying practice, having constantly to negotiate between home and abroad, native culture and adopted culture, or more creatively speaking, between a here, a there, and an elsewhere. Trinh Ti Minh-ha, Travelers' Tales, 1994, p.9. I first came to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, nearly 14 years ago as an employee of Emirates Airlines. At first, I believed I would complete my three-year contract and return home to New Zealand. Instead, I met my partner, Bruce. I chose to remain in Dubai as we started a life journey together. During this time, I began my University studies, at first part-time and then, leaving my employment, full-time. Along the way, there was a temporary relocation, namely to Singapore for a year, which involved traveling between Dubai (our home), Singapore (Bruce's work apartment) and New Zealand (for university Post Graduate courses). The excitement of this year's constant sojourning and subsequent learning opportunities was short-lived when I was personally devastated by the sudden and severe illness of my mother and her subsequent death, which occurred not long after the loss of my father. After a break from my studies for six months, I now embark upon this project of learning and discovery. Living in the Middle East has, I believe, significantly changed me personally and developmentally, yet, paradoxically, I remain the same. This contradiction can best be explained by the plurality of 'roles' I occupy as a New Zealander living as an expatriate in Dubai. Arguably, any changes are due to the abundance of new and varied multicultural influences upon my identity, predominantly contextually, culturally and interrelationally cued, which were principally welcomed yet at times seemed 'imposed'. My 'sameness' results from the flexibility and stability of my identity or self, and continued interaction with friends and family at 'home' in New Zealand and fellow expatriates residing in Dubai. It is thus inevitable that my words and thoughts, and indeed even my choice of research topic and avenue, are somewhat affected by my own developing identity. [FROM FOREWORD]
    Date
    2005
    Author
    Gardiner, Nicola Maree
    Rights
    The Author
    Publisher
    Massey University
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/10179/13872
    Collections
    • Theses and Dissertations
    Metadata
    Show full item record

    Copyright © Massey University
    | Contact Us | Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2023.7-7
     

     

    Information PagesContent PolicyDepositing content to MROCopyright and Access InformationDeposit LicenseDeposit License SummaryTheses FAQFile FormatsDoctoral Thesis Deposit

    Browse

    All of MROCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Copyright © Massey University
    | Contact Us | Feedback | Copyright Take Down Request | Massey University Privacy Statement
    DSpace software copyright © Duraspace
    v5.7-2023.7-7