One's identity

twinkle · 07-09-2005, 10:44 AM

Something weird happened last week. I got quite upset when Paris lost the bid for Olimpics and as I was talking to the other interns, I was refering to the city as my city, using a lot the "we".

My collegues noticed it. Then, London got bombed and at the beginning no one knew why. I was really frightened and started again with "Thanks Lord it didn't happend to us". This time, one of the girls asked me smiling if I was feeling French already. I froze. I didn't realise it.

I am very proud to be Romanian and I never hide it. I talk a lot about my country, about my family, about our food and costumes... but I consider Paris my home, not Bucharest. I certainly don't think of myself as a Parisian. But if there was a bomb in a metro an I happend to be there, I would also be dead, irrespective of my nationality, so of course, I believe that everything that concerns Paris concerns me too.

I'm a bit embarassed in front of those French women. Of course that 2 years of living in France don't make me French and I'm angry at myself for speaking out loud like that... The thing is that I'm a bit puzzled.

Some time ago I was reaing an article about people who lived a certain number of years in another country and then came back home. About them being outcasts, not being foreigners but Romanians even less. I'm quite down to Earth about this type of subjects, but right now...

Do you have foreign origins that ever made you wonder who you really are and to which cultural group do you really belong to?

My roommates go out EXCLUSiVELY with Romanians (close friends and even bf). I can't stand the Romanian menthality- it's a very down to Earth one - and I'm extremely open minded, quite glad to change eating habits and menthal patterns once that I could - the process was never an easy one... My parents are gonna come visiting me in September and I start to fear the moment. What if they don't like me anymore? What if I can't stand them and their peculiarities anymore?[/b]

Vautrin · 07-09-2005, 03:01 PM

Identity is a very hard to pin down thing.

I hate it when the Dutch reach euphoristically nationalist levels, when we have qualified for the European / World Championship football (soccer for the Americans). Everything is painted in the color orange, and insanity is prevailing for the duration of the tournament. The same thing is happening with the Olympics albeit less extreme.

I don't go along with that, and in that sense, I am not typically Dutch. If I were to live in another country this is one of the many things I won't miss, due to an already existing dislike for practices like that. Of other practices I may become aware - but only be removing myself from the Dutch experience.
If I were to subsequently return one day, I would be an off beat. Just as I am now. So no real difference there.

As for the going out only with other people of the same nationality, I could not imagine being that way myself. Most of the girls I fell in love with, were foreign girls anyway,

.

I don't think you should worry so much about what your parents are going to think of you. You have not made a complete metamorphosis. Without doubt there are many Romanian things about you, which are easily identifiable for Romanians.

hezekiah · 09-01-2005, 10:27 PM

I can relate,my family is from a german colony here in the States-I don't really know how to talk to native germans but there are things I love about this place and that and things i hate about both.

Merika · 09-02-2005, 08:35 AM

My mom is German....my Dad met her while he was in the Army there. When I was younger I had dreams of moving to German and seeing if I were more German feeling than American. By the time I was an adult though....I can honestly say that no matter where I lived and how long I lived there....I will always be an American.

That's a GREAT question though Twinkle. Every country has their own characteristics and culture.

In your case, I can see where you feel somewhat torn between the two. My mom went thru that for many years after she first came to the states. She said it took several years before she quit 'thinking' in German and English became what she considered her primary language. She then went to college.

It was years later when she went back to Germany to visit did she no longer feel that was her home. I guess perhaps you have to give yourself time to know in your heart if it's France or Rumania that has your heart and your home feeling. (I'd pick Rumania....LOL!)

Now Meanon spent most of her childhood years in Jamaica ....but I think she considers herself a Britt.

Merika · 09-02-2005, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hezekiah

I can relate,my family is from a german colony here in the States-I don't really know how to talk to native germans but there are things I love about this place and that and things i hate about both.

I bet it's clean and the beer is good!!!!

Sounds like MY kind of place!

hezekiah · 09-02-2005, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Merika

Quote:

Originally Posted by hezekiah

I can relate,my family is from a german colony here in the States-I don't really know how to talk to native germans but there are things I love about this place and that and things i hate about both.

I bet it's clean and the beer is good!!!!

Sounds like MY kind of place!

You're a kraut like me,face it-own it!

Weiser · 09-03-2005, 01:54 AM

Born in Canada, 1/2 my family is American. Though not legally a dual citizen, I consider myself as much American as I am Canadian.

Merika · 09-04-2005, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hezekiah

You're a kraut like me,face it-own it!

I actually have many predominant German qualities 8) unlike Weiser though...I don't consider myself anything other than American because I've never lived in Germany since I was a kid. I may would feel differently if I had lived in both countries.

Weiser · 09-04-2005, 06:48 PM

I did live in the US for a bit. Big brother just didn't know.

hezekiah · 09-04-2005, 09:00 PM

I never lived in Germany,it's just important to us down here-the Germans stick together against the other whites as well as the other races,but it's deteriorating-I have black and latino friends,I'm glad we're mixing better but I mourn our loss of culture...

Merika · 09-04-2005, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hezekiah

I never lived in Germany,it's just important to us down here-the Germans stick together against the other whites as well as the other races,but it's deteriorating-I have black and latino friends,I'm glad we're mixing better but I mourn our loss of culture...

Awww....America is a melting pot. As long as everyone just clings to their side of the pot...the soup will never taste as good.

hezekiah · 09-04-2005, 11:53 PM

The kids need to know you don't have to be hiphop or mtv to be cool...

darkangelism · 09-05-2005, 12:05 AM

i think a person uses 'we' when they are in a place, i do it both with oklahoma and NY.

hezekiah · 09-05-2005, 09:05 AM

BTW is there a new york in oklahoma,how are you in both ny and oklahoma?

darkangelism · 09-05-2005, 09:07 AM

No, im not in them at the same time. My family is in oklahoma, i go to school in NY.

hezekiah · 09-05-2005, 09:29 AM

Culture shock,Dude-2 quite different kind of places!

darkangelism · 09-05-2005, 09:42 AM

yeah, they are a lot different, im pretty used to it by now though.