Comments on: Being British at South By South West (SXSW)

By: nappyvalleygirl

nappyvalleygirl — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:11:58 +0000

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!

By: Lorna Harris

Lorna Harris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:42:05 +0000

@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.

By: nappyvalleygirl

nappyvalleygirl — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:45:08 +0000

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…

By: ella

ella — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:15:30 +0000

@Lorna I was in the Deep South – Alabama. I’m ready for a move back but maybe to California this time!

By: Lorna Harris

Lorna Harris — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:26:46 +0000

@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!

By: ella

ella — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:35:04 +0000

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.

By: Almost American

Almost American — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 01:16:56 +0000

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.”

By: geekymummy

geekymummy — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 23:18:42 +0000

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!

By: Vegemitevix

Vegemitevix — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:31:52 +0000

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.

By: Mwa

Mwa — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:03:10 +0000

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).