hello okay has someone ever asked you where are you from and you didn’t really
where are you from and you didn’t really
where are you from and you didn’t really know what to say
know what to say
know what to say if I ask the question where are you from
if I ask the question where are you from
if I ask the question where are you from a few decades ago maybe when my parents
a few decades ago maybe when my parents
a few decades ago maybe when my parents were still my age I would have gotten an
were still my age I would have gotten an
were still my age I would have gotten an immediate one-word answer usually people
immediate one-word answer usually people
immediate one-word answer usually people died in the same small village or town
died in the same small village or town
died in the same small village or town in which they were born barely leaving
in which they were born barely leaving
in which they were born barely leaving the state they grew up in however as we
the state they grew up in however as we
the state they grew up in however as we see a more global modern world the
see a more global modern world the
see a more global modern world the answer through that seemingly simple
answer through that seemingly simple
answer through that seemingly simple question becomes more complex where am i
question becomes more complex where am i
question becomes more complex where am i from
from
from is where I’m from the place where I was
is where I’m from the place where I was
is where I’m from the place where I was born the place where my parents were
born the place where my parents were
born the place where my parents were born is where I’m from the place I have
born is where I’m from the place I have
born is where I’m from the place I have citizenship for or a residency permit
citizenship for or a residency permit
citizenship for or a residency permit well sometimes when people ask me the
well sometimes when people ask me the
well sometimes when people ask me the question where are you from I just stand
question where are you from I just stand
question where are you from I just stand there and the thing for getting
there and the thing for getting
there and the thing for getting everything around me like introducing
everything around me like introducing
everything around me like introducing myself hello everyone my name is Athena
myself hello everyone my name is Athena
myself hello everyone my name is Athena Bonner I’m a ninth grader here at gems
Bonner I’m a ninth grader here at gems
Bonner I’m a ninth grader here at gems American Academy and currently live
American Academy and currently live
American Academy and currently live right here in Abu Dhabi if someone
right here in Abu Dhabi if someone
right here in Abu Dhabi if someone really does ask me where are you from I
really does ask me where are you from I
really does ask me where are you from I always say my mothers have Bulgarian
always say my mothers have Bulgarian
always say my mothers have Bulgarian half Greek and my father’s half German
half Greek and my father’s half German
half Greek and my father’s half German and half Hungarian but I was born in
and half Hungarian but I was born in
and half Hungarian but I was born in Hamburg Germany so I’m a hamburger not a
Hamburg Germany so I’m a hamburger not a
Hamburg Germany so I’m a hamburger not a cheeseburger like I’m not even kidding
cheeseburger like I’m not even kidding
cheeseburger like I’m not even kidding this has been my standard reply for as
this has been my standard reply for as
this has been my standard reply for as long as I can remember but for a long
long as I can remember but for a long
long as I can remember but for a long time now this was this one topic
time now this was this one topic
time now this was this one topic something very close to my heart has
something very close to my heart has
something very close to my heart has been popping into my head
been popping into my head
been popping into my head internationalism and how it changes the
internationalism and how it changes the
internationalism and how it changes the world how it changes society but hey
world how it changes society but hey
world how it changes society but hey society that’s a very broad and complex
society that’s a very broad and complex
society that’s a very broad and complex concept so in order to really analyze
concept so in order to really analyze
concept so in order to really analyze how this is influencing our lives we’ve
how this is influencing our lives we’ve
how this is influencing our lives we’ve got to break it down now whether you
got to break it down now whether you
got to break it down now whether you like it or not the physical aspect of
like it or not the physical aspect of
like it or not the physical aspect of human nature is a very important part of
human nature is a very important part of
human nature is a very important part of our society the first part of society
our society the first part of society
our society the first part of society that you can actually see and
that you can actually see and
that you can actually see and acknowledge with your eyes thanks to a
acknowledge with your eyes thanks to a
acknowledge with your eyes thanks to a more diverse population we start to see
more diverse population we start to see
more diverse population we start to see a more colorful group of people
a more colorful group of people
a more colorful group of people with different body shapes clothes and
with different body shapes clothes and
with different body shapes clothes and facial features not only is this
facial features not only is this
facial features not only is this changing our communities but is also
changing our communities but is also
changing our communities but is also loosening the harsh beauty standards set
loosening the harsh beauty standards set
loosening the harsh beauty standards set previously now it’s not just one hair
previously now it’s not just one hair
previously now it’s not just one hair color one skin tone or one eye color
color one skin tone or one eye color
color one skin tone or one eye color that is deemed as beautiful but the
that is deemed as beautiful but the
that is deemed as beautiful but the different appearances and uniqueness of
different appearances and uniqueness of
different appearances and uniqueness of each and every individual is starting to
each and every individual is starting to
each and every individual is starting to become the true beauty of our society
become the true beauty of our society
become the true beauty of our society unfortunately as most things go there’s
unfortunately as most things go there’s
unfortunately as most things go there’s also a negative side to the
also a negative side to the
also a negative side to the interconnections between our physical
interconnections between our physical
interconnections between our physical appearances and the growing range and
appearances and the growing range and
appearances and the growing range and mix of nationalities some especially
mix of nationalities some especially
mix of nationalities some especially young children fall victim to bullying
young children fall victim to bullying
young children fall victim to bullying due to how they look different than the
due to how they look different than the
due to how they look different than the rest of their neighborhood one example
rest of their neighborhood one example
rest of their neighborhood one example was me the school where I started first
was me the school where I started first
was me the school where I started first grade in Germany was very small and not
grade in Germany was very small and not
grade in Germany was very small and not open-minded at all at most there were
open-minded at all at most there were
open-minded at all at most there were five nationalities in the entire school
five nationalities in the entire school
five nationalities in the entire school with the majority of course being
with the majority of course being
with the majority of course being Germans I was often mocked because I had
Germans I was often mocked because I had
Germans I was often mocked because I had dark hair and dark eyes and how my
dark hair and dark eyes and how my
dark hair and dark eyes and how my parents look so different from their
parents look so different from their
parents look so different from their parents now that I think about it it
parents now that I think about it it
parents now that I think about it it seems so silly to bully someone just
seems so silly to bully someone just
seems so silly to bully someone just because they look a bit more I guess
because they look a bit more I guess
because they look a bit more I guess Eastern European than you but back then
Eastern European than you but back then
Eastern European than you but back then it really really did hurt me exactly
it really really did hurt me exactly
it really really did hurt me exactly this is the reason why you as parents
this is the reason why you as parents
this is the reason why you as parents and educators need to teach kids
and educators need to teach kids
and educators need to teach kids acceptance and tolerance so that by the
acceptance and tolerance so that by the
acceptance and tolerance so that by the time they grow bit older they already
time they grow bit older they already
time they grow bit older they already have the morals and ethics
have the morals and ethics
have the morals and ethics of an in of an open-minded individual
the physical aspect of society isn’t the
the physical aspect of society isn’t the only one influenced by the growing
only one influenced by the growing
only one influenced by the growing multiculturalism in our fast-paced world
multiculturalism in our fast-paced world
multiculturalism in our fast-paced world a key way to understanding how we are as
a key way to understanding how we are as
a key way to understanding how we are as a global community is understanding the
a global community is understanding the
a global community is understanding the emotional side of things now you might
emotional side of things now you might
emotional side of things now you might be wondering how are my emotions and my
be wondering how are my emotions and my
be wondering how are my emotions and my feelings related to a more multicultural
feelings related to a more multicultural
feelings related to a more multicultural planet well in my mind emotions our
planet well in my mind emotions our
planet well in my mind emotions our feelings are extremely valuable to
feelings are extremely valuable to
feelings are extremely valuable to understanding a group of people and the
understanding a group of people and the
understanding a group of people and the way they relate to others especially to
way they relate to others especially to
way they relate to others especially to foreigners in this day
foreigners in this day
foreigners in this day an age where concepts like technology
an age where concepts like technology
an age where concepts like technology and migration have such significance in
and migration have such significance in
and migration have such significance in shaping lives we are forced to see
shaping lives we are forced to see
shaping lives we are forced to see different perspectives and are forced to
different perspectives and are forced to
different perspectives and are forced to adapt to people with different
adapt to people with different
adapt to people with different backgrounds wait a minute
backgrounds wait a minute
backgrounds wait a minute I don’t like how I use the word forced
I don’t like how I use the word forced
I don’t like how I use the word forced in my last sentence it makes it sound
in my last sentence it makes it sound
in my last sentence it makes it sound like a like a bad thing that we are
like a like a bad thing that we are
like a like a bad thing that we are evolving and expanding our horizons it’s
evolving and expanding our horizons it’s
evolving and expanding our horizons it’s not a negative thing at all
not a negative thing at all
not a negative thing at all but an opportunity to create more
but an opportunity to create more
but an opportunity to create more open-minded independent yet united
open-minded independent yet united
open-minded independent yet united leaders not just leaders in business or
leaders not just leaders in business or
leaders not just leaders in business or politics but normal people who stand up
politics but normal people who stand up
politics but normal people who stand up for equal human rights even with their
for equal human rights even with their
for equal human rights even with their family and friends unfortunately as I
family and friends unfortunately as I
family and friends unfortunately as I said previously there are always two
said previously there are always two
said previously there are always two sides of things the good and the bad see
sides of things the good and the bad see
sides of things the good and the bad see that that’s me this year we’re
that that’s me this year we’re
that that’s me this year we’re presenting Bulgaria in our schools
presenting Bulgaria in our schools
presenting Bulgaria in our schools International Day a few years ago
International Day a few years ago
International Day a few years ago something very similar to this was held
something very similar to this was held
something very similar to this was held at school but only one student from each
at school but only one student from each
at school but only one student from each country could carry their national flag
country could carry their national flag
country could carry their national flag of course there was a huge scandal about
of course there was a huge scandal about
of course there was a huge scandal about who should carry the German flag and
who should carry the German flag and
who should carry the German flag and some people and I got into a fight over
some people and I got into a fight over
some people and I got into a fight over it you know what they told me when I
it you know what they told me when I
it you know what they told me when I said I wanted to carry the flag they
said I wanted to carry the flag they
said I wanted to carry the flag they told me you’re not German enough first
told me you’re not German enough first
told me you’re not German enough first of all who decides what it takes to be
of all who decides what it takes to be
of all who decides what it takes to be German enough or American enough or
German enough or American enough or
German enough or American enough or Emirati enough for any other nationality
Emirati enough for any other nationality
Emirati enough for any other nationality for that matter who is this person this
for that matter who is this person this
for that matter who is this person this big boss who like pushes people into
big boss who like pushes people into
big boss who like pushes people into these categories like um well this guy’s
these categories like um well this guy’s
these categories like um well this guy’s American this one fits the description
American this one fits the description
American this one fits the description of an Italian and now pretend this is me
of an Italian and now pretend this is me
of an Italian and now pretend this is me well she’s not German enough I’m
well she’s not German enough I’m
well she’s not German enough I’m Bulgarian not really Hungarian well nah
Bulgarian not really Hungarian well nah
Bulgarian not really Hungarian well nah Greek now guess who this big boss really
Greek now guess who this big boss really
Greek now guess who this big boss really is it’s the stereotypes that we as
is it’s the stereotypes that we as
is it’s the stereotypes that we as humans have brought upon ourselves over
humans have brought upon ourselves over
humans have brought upon ourselves over time we are the ones who unknowingly do
time we are the ones who unknowingly do
time we are the ones who unknowingly do this sending our new generation onto the
this sending our new generation onto the
this sending our new generation onto the wrong path the third aspect of how our
wrong path the third aspect of how our
wrong path the third aspect of how our lives are being influenced by the
lives are being influenced by the
lives are being influenced by the modernization and globalization which is
modernization and globalization which is
modernization and globalization which is shape
shape
shape the very world we live in today is the
the very world we live in today is the
the very world we live in today is the social side of things as humans we’ve
social side of things as humans we’ve
social side of things as humans we’ve always been social always communicating
always been social always communicating
always been social always communicating in one shape or form a few years ago we
in one shape or form a few years ago we
in one shape or form a few years ago we communicated using letters and postcards
communicated using letters and postcards
communicated using letters and postcards which have been replaced by snapchat and
which have been replaced by snapchat and
which have been replaced by snapchat and Instagram
Instagram why because social media is global
why because social media is global
why because social media is global allowing us to connect with people all
allowing us to connect with people all
allowing us to connect with people all over the world as internationalism
over the world as internationalism
over the world as internationalism Glaros but the most significant thing
Glaros but the most significant thing
Glaros but the most significant thing that is influencing the social side of
that is influencing the social side of
that is influencing the social side of the world today is the growth and
the world today is the growth and
the world today is the growth and spreading of languages languages are
spreading of languages languages are
spreading of languages languages are they’re beautiful and the way they
they’re beautiful and the way they
they’re beautiful and the way they convey messages has such a personal
convey messages has such a personal
convey messages has such a personal level and have the ability to truly bond
level and have the ability to truly bond
level and have the ability to truly bond us as international individuals together
us as international individuals together
us as international individuals together personally I’m learning four languages
personally I’m learning four languages
personally I’m learning four languages Spanish Arabic Hungarian and Greek and
Spanish Arabic Hungarian and Greek and
Spanish Arabic Hungarian and Greek and can fluently speak German Bulgarian and
can fluently speak German Bulgarian and
can fluently speak German Bulgarian and English however that wasn’t always the
English however that wasn’t always the
English however that wasn’t always the case
case
case actually five or six years ago I could
actually five or six years ago I could
actually five or six years ago I could only count to the number 12 in English
only count to the number 12 in English
only count to the number 12 in English that all changed when I stepped foot
that all changed when I stepped foot
that all changed when I stepped foot into my grade five classroom in this
into my grade five classroom in this
into my grade five classroom in this very building immediately I was welcomed
very building immediately I was welcomed
very building immediately I was welcomed by this amazing teacher who not only
by this amazing teacher who not only
by this amazing teacher who not only completely understood what I was going
completely understood what I was going
completely understood what I was going through in this brand-new environment
through in this brand-new environment
through in this brand-new environment but also talked to me and treated me
but also talked to me and treated me
but also talked to me and treated me like an equal
like an equal
like an equal that’s the first English word she ever
that’s the first English word she ever
that’s the first English word she ever taught me awesome
taught me awesome
taught me awesome she wrote it down on the first day of
she wrote it down on the first day of
she wrote it down on the first day of school and I’ve always kept the piece of
school and I’ve always kept the piece of
school and I’ve always kept the piece of paper close to me because it represents
paper close to me because it represents
paper close to me because it represents the kindness of strangers and most
the kindness of strangers and most
the kindness of strangers and most importantly Rian reminds me every single
importantly Rian reminds me every single
importantly Rian reminds me every single day what a good hearted and open-minded
day what a good hearted and open-minded
day what a good hearted and open-minded society I live in now if there’s one
society I live in now if there’s one
society I live in now if there’s one thing I learned over the course of my
thing I learned over the course of my
thing I learned over the course of my life is that I’m not really German I’m
life is that I’m not really German I’m
life is that I’m not really German I’m not really Bulgarian I’m not really
not really Bulgarian I’m not really
not really Bulgarian I’m not really Greek and I’m not really Hungary and so
Greek and I’m not really Hungary and so
Greek and I’m not really Hungary and so what exactly am i well just like you and
what exactly am i well just like you and
what exactly am i well just like you and you and you and the other seven billion
you and you and the other seven billion
you and you and the other seven billion five hundred and nine
five hundred and nine
five hundred and nine million nine hundred and fifty one
million nine hundred and fifty one
million nine hundred and fifty one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight
thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight
thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight people living on this planet right now
people living on this planet right now
people living on this planet right now I’m a global citizen of the world
realizing that and not putting myself
realizing that and not putting myself into these boxes or categories really
into these boxes or categories really
into these boxes or categories really brought me into this new level of
brought me into this new level of
brought me into this new level of appreciating and understanding the
appreciating and understanding the
appreciating and understanding the complexity and diversity of our society
complexity and diversity of our society
complexity and diversity of our society however this can be difficult to achieve
however this can be difficult to achieve
however this can be difficult to achieve as we all speak so many different
as we all speak so many different
as we all speak so many different languages and communicate in so many
languages and communicate in so many
languages and communicate in so many different ways but there is one language
different ways but there is one language
different ways but there is one language that everyone understands music there
that everyone understands music there
that everyone understands music there comes a time when we hear a certain call
comes a time when we hear a certain call
comes a time when we hear a certain call when the world must come together as one
when the world must come together as one
when the world must come together as one mm-hmm
mm-hmm
mm-hmm they’re all people dyin oh when it’s
they’re all people dyin oh when it’s
they’re all people dyin oh when it’s time to lend a hand to life the greatest
time to lend a hand to life the greatest
time to lend a hand to life the greatest gift of all we are the world we are the
gift of all we are the world we are the
gift of all we are the world we are the children we are the ones who make a
children we are the ones who make a
children we are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving
brighter day so let’s start giving
brighter day so let’s start giving there’s a choice we’re making we’re
there’s a choice we’re making we’re
there’s a choice we’re making we’re saving our own lives it’s true we’ll
saving our own lives it’s true we’ll
saving our own lives it’s true we’ll make a better day you and me thank you
make a better day you and me thank you
make a better day you and me thank you so much thank you thank you
”
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