Reflection 1
Student ID: S11208846
Name: Rayhaan Rais Hussein
Number of words: 500
Reflection: What does it mean to be a Pacific Islander or 'Oceanian' today and in the
future to me?
It's crucial to first stop and consider what it means to be a resident of a Pacific island. As an
Indian living in a country with many beautiful and charming ethnicities, I have learned the
most from many different backgrounds and customs. My parents are both members of the
Muslim faith.Pakistan's culture was acquired from the Muslim nations and Muslims make up
the majority of the country. Being an islander in the Pacific implies being a part of nature,
including the land, ocean, sky, and sea, in addition to people. Epeli Hauofa stated that "the
ocean is our home and we are one with it" (Hauofa, 1993). It is essential for the people of the
Pacific to maintain contact. It is important for our daily lives from both the connection and
the source, and it also enables us to live the simple pacific islands existence that our ancestors
did many generations ago.
Moving on, despite growing up in a contemporary environment, both of my parents have
taken a keen interest in studying about our forefathers and history. Because both of my
siblings and I lived with my dad's parents and my mom and dad had learned so much about
our customs from them, they were quite severe with us when it came to tradition and cultural
standards. As the oldest, my grand grandpa instructed my parents to attend all family
gatherings and rituals. We were related by blood, making us Muslims, and adhering to Islam's
language, ethnicity, rituals, and tradition would come effortlessly to me since they are a part
of who I am.
My father's side also stays with us, so we are absorbing a lot of their traditions. They share
with us tales from their earlier days. My maternal grandfather died before I was born, but my
mother and relatives have told me a lot of tales about him.
As a result, having lengthy conversations and engaging in grueling exchanges of questions
and answers with both sides of the family is highly intriguing. For my investigation, I've
always utilized a few chats as sources. I'm pleased my family didn't share anything about our
history right away. Grandparents have always been in positions of leadership because they
are highly important in passing down traditions and ways of life since they are
knowledgeable about previous generations and how the ocean is connected to people in the
Pacific region. Several Pacific islands have begun to lose their distinctive characteristics as a
consequence of growth and young people's desire to learn, which leads to an adaptation of
contemporary culture and European way of existence.
In a nutshell it is a honor to be a member of the Pacific family, and there is no limit to what
can be learned about the way of life of those who inhabit coastal regions. I'm excited to learn
more about Islam and to improve my understanding of it. In order to understand the
perspectives of the world via their lived experiences and expertise, one should establish
relationships with individuals of different ethnic backgrounds and lifestyles.
Bibliography
Hauofa, E. (1993). Our Sea of Islands. In The Contemporary Pacific (pp. 148-161).
