The Bloggers With The Most To Say
Anyone else from an ambiguous cultural background?
Hey there,
My blog is about being a bit of a cultural cocktail who moves around and enjoys learning new languages. I like to compare the customs and lifestyles of each of the countries I've lived in and think about how they're shaped me as a person.
I love hearing about other peoples' experiences, it's always nice to know you're not the only one living a bit of a crazy life. So, if you're a traveller, a third culture kid, of mixed race/cultural backgrounds or just keen on other cultures, drop me a message here, I'd love to check out your blog!
If you're at all interested, I write my musings at www.reikalein.com :)
My blog is about being a bit of a cultural cocktail who moves around and enjoys learning new languages. I like to compare the customs and lifestyles of each of the countries I've lived in and think about how they're shaped me as a person.
I love hearing about other peoples' experiences, it's always nice to know you're not the only one living a bit of a crazy life. So, if you're a traveller, a third culture kid, of mixed race/cultural backgrounds or just keen on other cultures, drop me a message here, I'd love to check out your blog!
If you're at all interested, I write my musings at www.reikalein.com :)
Tags: bilingual, mixed, mulricultural, race, travel
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Orion 'Nips' Swift on -
I'm Spanish, Italian, Eskimo and Japanese.
:/ I'm really perplexed on forms when it says RACE and there is no checkmark for 'World.' Other makes me feel like an outcast.
Actually, one time I wrote in 'Off-White.' I think I'll stick with that.
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Permalink Reply by Christine Syrad on -
Hahaha, I love that. I know what you mean. I don't feel like I belong to a "race" per se either. I feel like it's more accurate to just categorise people like us into personality groups! I would fall into overly gregarious, I think.
Off-white, I'm going to remember that one. When I was choosing myself a foundation at the MAC counter the lady kept saying, "no no, more yellow, more yellow". I should have responded with, "No, just less white".
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Permalink Reply by Erin McCarthy on -
I grew up in a bi-racial home. Black/white.
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Permalink Reply by Christine Syrad on
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And currently living in France, am I right?
How you finding it?
Oh, and I love the picture!
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Permalink Reply by Erin McCarthy on
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Oh, actually we're moving after the midterm elections, when I our jobs go away. That's DC for ya!
My partner is French so there is (in theory) a lot less paper work associated with the move.
Should make my blog more interesting.
Also, n00b question...I don't know how to follow/subscribe to wordpress blogs...a little help?
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Permalink Reply by Christine Syrad on
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Aha, so you're in preparation phase. Where you thinking of going in France? Looking forward to reading about the move!
To be honest, I don't know, I'm also a noob, haha. I have blogspot and am lost with all other blogtypes, I'm ashamed to admit. Took me bloody ages (MONTHS) just to get mine to look semi-decent!
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Permalink Reply by Erin McCarthy on
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Oh, my bad. I saw a dot com and figured you were word press.
Following you now.
Thanks, I needed some new reads
:)
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Permalink Reply by Boston on -
Great discussion topic. My background has always been an area of conflict for me. My dad is Jewish and we were raised Jewish, but since my mom only converted when she got married, she's technically "not Jewish enough" to some Jews. It's really frustrating to try to quantify "how Jewish" a person is. Blood is really important in Judaism.
I also travel a lot; I basically live out of a backpack; I just got back from a year in Africa (which is what my blog is about). So I don't exactly get to go to synagogue regularly. I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but I tend to totally assimilate myself into whatever culture/society I'm living in. It's good because I totally immerse myself and REALLY get to know the way of life. The bad part of that is that I feel like I don't have enough of a personal cultural identity to hold on to and sometimes get lost in others'.
The great thing about the US is how everyone's background is a mixed bag. Anyone who has traveled knows that other countries are much more homogenous (I'm thinking especially of African countries) and anyone who is different is thought of as just that -- different. I stayed for three weeks with a friend in Kenya who is Jehovah's Witness -- don't get me started on trying to explain to his parents what Judaism is! That will be my next blog post. Quite an experience.
Does anyone else have trouble trying to define their cultural identity? I really struggle with it.
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Permalink Reply by Christine Syrad on
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I can imagine it must have been quite an experience going to Uganda. I mean, Japan is homogeneous, but it can't be anything like what you saw.
I find I'm the same. I try to blend as much as I can. Hence my faux-Italian heritage too.
I agree that on the one hand, it sets you up to be multicultural and gives you the ability to assimilate with people from all over the world. But, as you said, on the other hand, you'll never be quite the same as your Jewish friends or your non-Jewish friends, right?
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Permalink Reply by Boston on
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Forgot to mention, when I'm traveling, I get mistaken for almost every nationality/ethnicity. I've been called Spanish, Italian, Egyptian, Lebanese, Arab, Greek, Israeli, Pakistani, Argentinian, Mexican, Armenian, and inexplicably, most often, Indian. It really doesn't help with the whole struggling-with-my-identity thing.
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Permalink Reply by Estelle Nagel on -
Afrikaans South African, working for British company, married to German namibian, dating Irish American
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Permalink Reply by Christine Syrad on
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Wow! I won't probe, but it sounds like you have an interesting situation going on there!
I love your blog, so tongue in cheek!
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