The yearn for homeland and adopted land : the case of Gozitan returned migrants from Australia

Abstract

During this Century, many Gozitans have left their shores to earn a living in a foreign Country. A large percentage of these chose Australia as their adopted land. They look their families, their beliefs, their customs and their traditions with them and succeeded in conserving them to the present day. After years of handwork, many have returned to their motherland finding that their native land has gone through a transformation. They have also bough new notions and beliefs with them. This dissertation studies to what extent have the Gozitan Migrants kept in full contact with their traditions and beliefs they inherited and how they still yearn their adopted land now that they have settled back in Gozo.