Second emigration

Emigration can be defined as “the act of moving from one’s country of nationality or usual residence to another country, so that the country of destination effectively becomes his or her new country of usual residence.” ¹ 1 “Glossary on Migration.” International Organization for Migration, 2019, https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/iml_34_glossary.pdf. 248 pages  A second emigration can refer to an individual who has already immigrated to one country moving on to another country. While immigration is traditionally perceived as a single move from one country to another, patterns of human migration are often considerably more complex. Xue Yiwei illustrates this complexity by depicting the protagonist engaging in a second emigration in which he returns from Canada to China. Highlighting the ambivalence the character feels about this decision, Yiwei writes, “I reminded myself that I would have to be prepared for the difficulties this ‘second emigration’ would bring” (262).