I’m here in Austin, hanging out at South By – that’s what all the cool kids call it. I, rather embarrassingly, was referring to the conference by its’ full name, South By South West. As a SXSW virgin, I didn’t know any better.
The UK is well represented here. I’m thrilled to hear British accents everywhere. The weird thing is, I don’t feel connected to these people. I feel a bit of a fraud, yes I’m British, but I’m not from there any more. I don’t live there. I’m losing touch with the culture.
I’m in an identity limbo. People hear my accent and ask where I’m from. I wish it was a straight forward answer. It would almost be easier if everyone asked each other ‘where do you live?’ I didn’t have a long trans-Atlantic flight to get here, just a quick domestic flight from LA. I don’t have any British friends here; all the people I know are American.
I’m just not a part of the British contingent here at SXSW.
There’s a fantastic stand on the trade show floor full of Union Jacks created by UK Trade and Investment, they help British companies break into the US market. Their tables and wall are adorned with the British flag and I wanted to sit there and be British for a little bit. This morning, they had a British Breakfast with bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, the whole works and it was pouring with rain so that just added to the overall British feel.
Another stand is giving away red telephone boxes. Full size, bright red phone boxes. It would look fantastic in our living room and I could use it to call home!
All the Brits will be heading back to the UK over the next few days. I’ll be heading back to California. I’m happy in California but feel a bit of a fraud amongst Brits now, as though I don’t deserve that nationality.
Or maybe I’ve analysed it just a wee bit too much (must be the Californian in me.)
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I met some Anglophiles last week who started asking me about UK politics in detail. They were dismayed when I told them I didn’t keep up with it to that extent. What would be the point? I’ve lived here for 20 years? I’d rather know where my taxes were going here thanks.
This is interesting. I like to hear the experiences of an ex-pat. It gives me clues as to what to look forward to and questions I have in my mind about my future in another country. Very interesting. My fear in moving from Calif. to England is the lack of sunshine. Not that I crave constant sunshine, but being raised with nothing but, I’m worried about a negative psychological effect. Yikes!
I think it’s an expat thing. After you’ve moved away from “home” for a few years, it seems impossible to completely fit in anywhere again. Not even if you go “back” (which is impossible, of course).
I’m a Kiwi expat living in the UK. This is the fourth country I’ve lived in. I’m a serial expat I think. My daughter says I have four feet – one in Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and now in England. I think there is a point where you don’t ‘belong’ anywhere! Sure you wistfully remember the things ‘back home’ and miss them like hell, but you kind of forget until you go back home, that the place you miss is gone now – lost in memories.
I feel the same way. On the ski lifts people ask where I’m from, and look confused when I say San Francisco. I’ve lived there for 14 years though, so it seems silly to say I’m from the UK, as if I’ve just popped over on vacation!
I’ve been in that limbo for a while now. When Americans comment on my accent and ask me where I’m from, my answer nowadays is, “Well, I’ve lived most of my life right here in New England, but I grew up in the UK.” It always seems to confuse them! I suppose when I’m in the UK I’ll have to say, “I’m American, but I was born and grew up in England.”
I spent my formative years in the US and had that same feeling of not really being British, even though I was. When I moved back I quickly felt British again, but I would imagine if I had stayed in the US I would still have that identity limbo even now.
@expatmum Yes, it’s hard to keep up on every little detail and not something I want to do either.
@ER This time of year is the worst for that feeling of needing the sun. You’ll have been through a long winter and be ready for warmth and sunshine. But the daffodils, snowdrops, tulips emerge and they’re worth the wait!
@Mwa I’ve decided I got way too analytical! I just need to enjoy where I am.
@Vegemitevix I wish I had a foot in Fiji! We visited about 15 years ago, would love to go back.
@geekymummy @almostamerican At least you both still have accents that people recognise aren’t American, but it is a pain answering questions!
@ella Where in the US were you? You’re ready for a move back!
@Lorna I was in the Deep South – Alabama. I’m ready for a move back but maybe to California this time!
I have never know the answer to where I was from – usually ends up with complicated explanation of how I was born in Essex, lived in Hong Kong for 13 years, and am now a Londoner – but that’s not even the case now.
I am currently reading a book called Third Culture Kids (on the recommendation of Paradise Lost in Translation) – you might find it interesting…
@ella I’d love to go to the Deep South, such a different culture to here in California.
@nvg where in Essex? I’m an Essex Girl too! I’ll take a look at Third Culture Kids, sounds fascinating.
Lived the first three years of my life near Brentwood, then we moved to HK. My sister still lives in Southend. And I knew lots of people from Essex at my boarding school in Suffolk including a friend from near Danbury!
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