Mixed Heritage

[Me Myself and I]

I love the fact that I come from a mixed family, Italian from moms side and Libyan from dads. Some of us muslims and other christians.

It gave me the oppurtunity to grow up speaking two languages (Arabic and Italian), the chance to live in an environment where diversity was never a problem and (SHOULD never be). In an environment that taught me to always look for the similarities rather than the differences, where you grow up with an open mind to what is different. Where you have (I had) the possibility to take what you like best from both sides and come up with you "own life instructions".

Yet again it has a down side as well. The feeling of never completely belonging to any of the two countries. You get to a point were you start questioning "your identity" and who you really are!

I can never be a complete libyan, because my thoughts and ideas, the way I dress and speak differentiate from what is a typical (libyan girl stereotype), and people notice that right away. Their reaction is sometimes great, other times (very often) not so much, which can become quite problematic.

Same scenario back in Italy, no matter how good I can be at the Italian language, at understanding and adapting to their way of life, there is always someone who highlights the fact of me being mixed, and the conversation takes a "oh I see" turn. Which I find very annoying. :banghead:

So yeah, that's pretty much it!

I was wondering if any of you have the same uhm "dilemma"? :wacky:

 

[Echo]

@Me Myself and I, I don't have this 'problem' but I know a lot of people with similarly mixed backgrounds. They often speak about issues around identity and not quite feeling like they belong anywhere. I like to think of myself as European rather than British per se, since I can speak other European languages. I think there is great benefit in being able to stand outside of your own nationality and compare it with another with which you are very familiar. It stops insularity and promotes understanding and moves towards peace between nations.

If I were you, I would come up with some kind of witty response to say to those people who insist on seeing it as a negative, and see yourself as having a richer heritage and understanding of the world. You don't have to take any notice of their silly ideas.

 

[Me Myself and I]

Thank you very much for your reply @Echo!

I do actually have to learn to give less importance to those people and their negative comments. But it's always easier done than said!! (I personally always say but never do) :whistling: hehe!