Goans!

 This is really a waste of space!

Being Goan

“Oh, these Goans!” exclaimed my Goan friend who lives in Borda, South Goa.

“Are you not a Goan?” I asked. To which she replied. “I am talking about Goans from Goa.”

I then realised there were many types of Goans.

Goans from Bombay who used to consider them a class apart. They love everything Goan but cannot ever think of living in Goa. They just spend a few days in Goa to stock up on feni, sausages, vinegar and masalas. They always talk about how much property their family once owned and about the great summer holidays they had spent as children.

Then there are the Goans from Africa. Many have returned to Goa after the introduction of Africanisation. For many, the stay in Goa was a short stay while their children were settling in the UK and elsewhere.  They are an affluent lot who belong to the educated class of artists, doctors, lawyers, accountants, businessmen, etc.

As an outsider living here, I have noticed that in almost all you will find either a dentist or a lawyer or both.

Then there is the Portuguese Goan who speaks fluent Portuguese at home, holds a Portuguese passport, but continues to live in Goa. And to show you how different they are, if invited for a meal, you will be served  “feijoada” or “Pastel de Nata.” The women in this group all learnt to bake and are very good cooks, especially at European dishes.

I asked a Goan girl I often meet why she did not have a Portuguese Passport yet as most Goans are doing this.

Her reply was: “We spent years chasing them out. We should be happy they are gone and not coming back.

The British Goans are not the same as the Portuguese Goans, but pretty close. Many have Portuguese passports and worked in the UK before Brexit. They come to Goa more often. They love being Goan, well-travelled and despite the best single malts being in easy reach, they still prefer feni.

Goans have left their land and travelled to all over the world: Canada, USA, Malaysia, Australia and parts where even the Malayaleeshave not reached.

Many, on their return, realise they have been away too long and someone else has taken over their property.

I had fallen in love with Goa on my very first trip in the 1980s when the Porvorim water tank was the only landmark on #NH66 that told you where to turn to take the road to go to Calangute.

It is not the same anymore,  but Goa is still beautiful.

I LOVE GOA

Author unknown, observations, questionable.

The history of the Goans in East Africa is marked by their significant contributions to the region's development. Goans played a crucial role in the construction of the Uganda railway and were employed as laborers and in various jobs within the British Administration. They were also involved in the construction of the Uganda railway, where they were sought after for their Christian values, loyalty, and fluency in English. Goans were instrumental in the development of the Kenya nation, although they have received scant recognition for their contributions. They settled for "safe and pensionable" jobs in the Civil Service, which provided job security. Goans also contributed to the education of the community and were involved in various sectors, including medicine and business.