Prem Banfal 

I Remember, I Remember

"As I left Fiji, I also left my childhood behind to start a new phase of my life in a strange country, among strange people"

This quote I think defines the story I Remember, I Remember by Prem Banfal. The story is about her memory of her homeland and her childhood. It is quite a sad story as there is loss that comes with migrating to a different country. Loss in memories of home, memories of family and people and a certain loss of culture. 

However, there are also gains in which towards the end of the story, we see with migration. 

The main gain that I thought this story captured was education. Prem Banfal left her homeland to migrate to New Zealand to learn and become educated. "I stayed on for another year at the school in order to apply for a scholarship to study at a university in New Zealand"

Being educated is so helpful in life and although Prem Banfal had to migrate to New Zealand and leave her family behind, she learnt a new way of life. 

It is sad that Prem Banfal obviously only has memories left of home, however, I felt it was quite sad how the memories that she does have are not really about her immediate family, but more so her second family, her stepmother, aunts and uncles.    This for me, hints that she does not have many memories about her mother, who passed away, which is quite sad. Also, he father who seems more preoccupied with his new wife and family. "My three years at Suva Grammar school led me to a new awareness of myself, a further estrangement from my father and a growing alienation from my own community."

This quote for me shows both the advantages and disadvantages that Prem Banfal had. 

Once again, loss of culture and community, loss of family. Then the gain of personal growth, independence and knowledge of herself. 

I enjoyed reading this story as it makes me think back to my childhood and the memories in which I hold close to me and will never forget.