CAPÍTULO IV. PERSPECTIVAS DE LA PRODUCCIÓN DE CARNE BOVINA
4.4 Perspectivas
Utilizing a mixed methods approach, surveys and interviews were employed. Topics varied from those covered in Kiribati. Discussion focused on personal accounts of migration and acculturation to the United States. Because of the scope of information solicited from this population, surveys gathered much more information than those in Kiribati. Questions covered a range of topics which included: migration, identity and transnationality. The following tables represent participant responses (see tables 15-25).
A total of 19 females and 5 males participated in this portion of the study. The male to female ratio in the survey characterizes the Kiribati migration pattern found in the United States. Unlike the PAC, RSE or KANI schemes seen in New Zealand and Australia, the United States did not have specific migration schemes for Kiribati citizens. Most migrants came to the United States through marriage. Most commonly, Kiribati women married American men. Seventeen out of 24 respondents were in their 20s or 30s.
Over half of the surveyed population resided on the US west coast. The majority of the respondents were born in Kiribati. Those born outside of Kiribati were born to I-Kiribati parents studying, working or living overseas at their time of birth. The earliest migrant arrived in 1985. The majority came in the 2000s, with the most recent arriving in 2009.
While most migrants came through marriage, several came through higher education channels. Unlike Fiji, most of the Kiribati students in the United States were not sponsored by the Kiribati
government. Most who came for higher education attended BYU-Hawai’i, where private funding was made available through the Church of Latter Day Saints.
Table 15: USA Survey - Year of arrival
Table 16: USA Survey - Migration purposes
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 1980s 1990s 2000s
Year of arrival
0 10 20 Marriage to American University education Economic reasons To join family OtherReasons for coming to
America
A collective sense of belonging is essential to individual identity amongst the Kiribati people (Talu, 1984; Bataua B. T., 1985; Grimble & Maude, 1989). Nowhere is this more pronounced than with I-Kiribati migrant groups.
More than half of the respondents stated that they belonged to a Kiribati group in the United States. Unlike community groups in Kiribati, migrants did not gather with others on a regular basis. The geographic distances between migrants forced many to hold weekly gatherings in phone or internet chat rooms.
Not one individual identified themselves as an American, though three identified themselves as I-Kiricans. An I-Kirican is an invented term generally used for those who find themselves in a mixed state of identity- part Kiribati/part American.
I would say I’m like 90% here and 10% there. I have been here for ten years and I haven’t gone back to Kiribati yet, not even for a visit (Uinterview 9. 1., 2009).
The majority of those surveyed were not US citizens. However, all surveyed were or had been, at one point in time, permanent residents. The minimum time one needed to maintain permanent residency in order to become eligible for citizenship was seven years at the time of study. Since most of the surveyed population had recently come to the United States, most were
Table 17: USA Survey - Part of a Kiribati group?
Table 18: USA Survey - Citizenship
0 5 10 15
Yes No Unfilled
Part of an I-Kiribati group?
0 10 20 30
No Yes
Are you an American
Citizen?
not eligible to apply. Many, who were not US citizens, did have a desire to become citizens eventually.
Central to the culture of Kiribati is the idea of collective existence. The idea of independence is central to the US culture. Realizing this difference the following question solicited respondent
opinions on the statement: To get ahead in America, you have to let go of the Kiribati culture. In a likert scale response format, respondents strongly voiced their disagreement with the statement. Those who agreed felt that adjusting to a new ways was vital to survive in their new country.
Keeping connected with relatives back home was important for all respondents. Although maintaining contact with home had become much easier with the introduction of the Coconut
Wireless, this was not the only way respondents stayed in touch; other ways included mailing
letters and packages and asking others returning home to bring things to relatives. Migrants’ definition
of family expanded to include non-relatives through the development of fictive kinship ties. In many ways, migrant community groups became extended family.
Table 19: USA Survey - Maintaining culture
Table 20: USA Survey - Changing definitions of family
0 5 10 15 Strongly disagree
Disagree Neither Strongly agree
Agree
To succeed, forget Kiribati
culture
0 5 10 15 Relatives co-workers, friendsYour nuclear family + a wider group of
relatives
Your nuclear family
Migrants broaden the definition of family, which contributes to an understanding of why so many respondents stated that they had family in the United States.
While the majority felt more enabled to do what they wanted to do in the United States, several felt that the individual lifestyle made them feel trapped.
You don’t know your neighbors here and everyone stays to themselves, you can’t go over and ask for food or sugar like in Kiribati (Uinterview 9. 1., 2009).
Maintaining a strong connection with home was important. Though now tied to US life, respondents felt that their new physical position did not emotionally separate them from home. Since coming to the US, most respondents reported to have experienced
improvements in their social and economic situations. Those reporting a worsening in social status were recent migrants.
Table 21: USA Survey - Personal freedom
Table 22: USA Survey - Obligations to those left behind
Yes 43% No 57%
Leaving family/social issues behind? Yes 60% No 40% Freedom?
Gathering with other I-Kiribati or other Pacific Islanders was not a frequent occurence. However, when it did occur most chose to gather with other I-Kiribati. Annual Kiribati Independence celebrations were the largest Kiribati events in the United States.
Table 23: USA - Social gatherings Table 24: USA Survey - Changes experienced since migrating to the USA
Since coming to America has your
housing?
Since coming to America has your
employment?
Since coming to America has your
finances?
Since coming to America has your
social life?
Become better 17 15 16 12
Stayed the same 4 3 5 4
Become worse 2 3 3 7 No opinion 0 3 1 1 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 0 5 10 15
Weekly Monthly Annually
I gather with ...
Other I-Kiribati in America Other Pacific Islanders in AmericaOn average, most informants found greatest difficulty in adjusting to US social life. This was followed by adjusting to winter weather and constant use of English.