In contrast, while some have no desire to return to their former countries of residence, for some older huaqiao who choose to remain on the nongchang, their former homes in Southeast Asia continue to occupy a position of considerable sentimental importance. Some return at least once a year to visit relatives and friends, as well as to engage in commerce. For example, I spoke with one shop owner, Zhang Ayi, who claimed to travel to Indonesia several times a year to visit her family and purchase items that she resells in her shop and wholesales to retail shops throughout Fujian. For many of these individuals, it is their former home in Southeast Asia that is their true ‘homeland’.