RE-MAKING OF SPACE: HOW UIGHUR IMMIGRANTS COPED WITH THE UNFAMILIAR

Abstract

Home is at the heart of daily life as a place and a special relationship therewith and, as a notion that grants a unique source to look through the window to the notions of attachment, desire, need and dilemma, is also the space to look into where the same issues brought into individuals’ lives by international migration. The aim of this thesis research is to understand Uighur immigrants’ adaptation process with the new environment and provide an insight into the scholarly work about adaptation and integration processes on the migratory process. Even if those who have left their home have been able to find a new house to live in; transforming that house into a home requires a certain time and experience. So, what necessities that this transformation demands? If the transformation process understood elaborately, will it be manageable in terms of it's the impact on individuals and communities? Hence, this thesis research intends to enlighten the mentioned process by providing an insight into knowledge of an immigrant family’s experiences in making the unfamiliar familiar. To comprehend the ways of how home constitutes the feeling of belongingness in immigrants’ daily lives, thesis research starts with analyzing how migratory theories explained the effects of migration on individuals’ lives. Then, research continues to look through how sense of place portrays its reflection in migratory process. Afterwards, the theoretical knowledge has been gained used for interpreting the experiences of an immigrant family’s during their adaptation process. Finally, thesis study completes its research by revealing the effects of home environment into immigrants’ daily lives, and creates a basis for further discussions.