Postcards from a Foreign Country - by Yin

These sepia vignettes tell of a time when life was less
complicated. It was a time when there was more mixing
of the races and by and large they got on well. It was also
a time when people spoke more openly and honestly – exposing
their bigotry and prejudices. People then did not hide behind
“political correctness”; a term that did not exist. Yet they
survived the rough and tumble of living with people of different
backgrounds, race and religion and came out the better for it.

Nevertheless, it was a time of change. The old order made way
for the new. The British were on their way out; the country had
just gained independence. In the process, the lives of many were
affected. The colonisers and the colonised had to come to terms
with their new relationship. Similarly the citizens of this new
country had to adjust to the new reality and their relationship
with each other.

“Postcards . . .” allows us a peek into the lives and times of both
the expatriates and locals living during that time and their
relationship with each other. It tells of the social mores and
restrictions, prejudices and values of a time past when things
were done differently. In many ways that was a foreign country.