I recently spent the winter break in beautiful Thailand the Land of Smiles
beautiful Thailand the Land of Smiles
beautiful Thailand the Land of Smiles where I had the opportunity to meet many
where I had the opportunity to meet many
where I had the opportunity to meet many people from different walks of life and
people from different walks of life and
people from different walks of life and for all from all over the world
for all from all over the world
for all from all over the world they included travelers adventure
they included travelers adventure
they included travelers adventure seekers and locals from the area area as
seekers and locals from the area area as
seekers and locals from the area area as well whenever breaking the ice with
well whenever breaking the ice with
well whenever breaking the ice with someone that I had just met the initial
someone that I had just met the initial
someone that I had just met the initial question most often asked was where are
question most often asked was where are
question most often asked was where are you from today we live in an age in
you from today we live in an age in
you from today we live in an age in which we are so connected to each other
which we are so connected to each other
which we are so connected to each other regardless of the country of origin so
regardless of the country of origin so
regardless of the country of origin so why do we still feel the need to ask
why do we still feel the need to ask
why do we still feel the need to ask people that we first meet where are you
people that we first meet where are you
people that we first meet where are you from I think we use this question as an
from I think we use this question as an
from I think we use this question as an icebreaker because it’s an easy way for
icebreaker because it’s an easy way for
icebreaker because it’s an easy way for the person initiating the conversation
the person initiating the conversation
the person initiating the conversation to hopefully find something to relate to
to hopefully find something to relate to
to hopefully find something to relate to maybe what you find out can further
maybe what you find out can further
maybe what you find out can further spark a conversation to say hey I’ve
spark a conversation to say hey I’ve
spark a conversation to say hey I’ve been there before or I know somebody
been there before or I know somebody
been there before or I know somebody that lives there it’s a simple question
that lives there it’s a simple question
that lives there it’s a simple question that anyone can ask and anyone can
that anyone can ask and anyone can
that anyone can ask and anyone can answer and it can lead to something that
answer and it can lead to something that
answer and it can lead to something that we share in common as humans to share a
we share in common as humans to share a
we share in common as humans to share a social dialogue with one another what
social dialogue with one another what
social dialogue with one another what was my response to that question it’s
was my response to that question it’s
was my response to that question it’s that I’m from Canada a country that
that I’m from Canada a country that
that I’m from Canada a country that possesses beautiful natural landscapes
possesses beautiful natural landscapes
possesses beautiful natural landscapes friendly folk and of course maple syrup
friendly folk and of course maple syrup
friendly folk and of course maple syrup however soon after my reply I always
however soon after my reply I always
however soon after my reply I always have to extend my answer and add that I
have to extend my answer and add that I
have to extend my answer and add that I actually haven’t lived in Canada for the
actually haven’t lived in Canada for the
actually haven’t lived in Canada for the last nine years instead I’ve been living
last nine years instead I’ve been living
last nine years instead I’ve been living abroad for left roughly the same amount
abroad for left roughly the same amount
abroad for left roughly the same amount of time as I spent living in the country
of time as I spent living in the country
of time as I spent living in the country whose name is printed on the front of my
whose name is printed on the front of my
whose name is printed on the front of my passport personally I feel a bit
passport personally I feel a bit
passport personally I feel a bit conflicted when answering that question
conflicted when answering that question
conflicted when answering that question it’s not that I’m not a proud Canadian I
it’s not that I’m not a proud Canadian I
it’s not that I’m not a proud Canadian I am very aware of and grateful for the
am very aware of and grateful for the
am very aware of and grateful for the freedom and opportunity that my
freedom and opportunity that my
freedom and opportunity that my citizenship afford me
citizenship afford me
citizenship afford me however because I’ve been exposed to and
however because I’ve been exposed to and
however because I’ve been exposed to and been immersed in numerous cultures I
been immersed in numerous cultures I
been immersed in numerous cultures I feel that I excuse me I filled as
feel that I excuse me I filled as
feel that I excuse me I filled as although I feel that I can identify with
although I feel that I can identify with
although I feel that I can identify with more than one country I grew up
more than one country I grew up
more than one country I grew up traveling and going to international
traveling and going to international
traveling and going to international schools like so many of the people in
schools like so many of the people in
schools like so many of the people in the audience here today due to this fact
the audience here today due to this fact
the audience here today due to this fact I identified myself with more than just
I identified myself with more than just
I identified myself with more than just citizen from one country but as a
citizen from one country but as a
citizen from one country but as a citizen of the world I’ve been fortunate
citizen of the world I’ve been fortunate
citizen of the world I’ve been fortunate to live overseas and be immersed in
to live overseas and be immersed in
to live overseas and be immersed in different countries and cultures and
different countries and cultures and
different countries and cultures and I’ve taken part in adventures that just
I’ve taken part in adventures that just
I’ve taken part in adventures that just simply aren’t to be found in Canada so
simply aren’t to be found in Canada so
simply aren’t to be found in Canada so how can I simply be Canadian when
how can I simply be Canadian when
how can I simply be Canadian when answering with a precise country I feel
answering with a precise country I feel
answering with a precise country I feel that it doesn’t paint the true picture
that it doesn’t paint the true picture
that it doesn’t paint the true picture of that it that reflects my personal
of that it that reflects my personal
of that it that reflects my personal experiences such as my past or what my
experiences such as my past or what my
experiences such as my past or what my intentions are and hopes are for the
intentions are and hopes are for the
intentions are and hopes are for the future instead it puts me in a category
future instead it puts me in a category
future instead it puts me in a category that fits the questioners opinion of
that fits the questioners opinion of
that fits the questioners opinion of Canadians or of Canada like their
Canadians or of Canada like their
Canadians or of Canada like their knowledge of the geography or of our
knowledge of the geography or of our
knowledge of the geography or of our prime minister the name of the country
prime minister the name of the country
prime minister the name of the country on my passport doesn’t define my
on my passport doesn’t define my
on my passport doesn’t define my personal identity yes I do say sorry
personal identity yes I do say sorry
personal identity yes I do say sorry more often than most and like many other
more often than most and like many other
more often than most and like many other Canadians I also enjoy a nice serving of
Canadians I also enjoy a nice serving of
Canadians I also enjoy a nice serving of poutine telling you that the country I’m
poutine telling you that the country I’m
poutine telling you that the country I’m from doesn’t tell you that both of my
from doesn’t tell you that both of my
from doesn’t tell you that both of my biological parents are Filipino or that
biological parents are Filipino or that
biological parents are Filipino or that I was raised by my stepfather who’s
I was raised by my stepfather who’s
I was raised by my stepfather who’s Canadian and that he’s the only father
Canadian and that he’s the only father
Canadian and that he’s the only father I’ve known most of my life
I’ve known most of my life
I’ve known most of my life it was he who provided me with the
it was he who provided me with the
it was he who provided me with the opportunity to be educated in Canada in
opportunity to be educated in Canada in
opportunity to be educated in Canada in Saudi Arabia in Australia and Thailand
Saudi Arabia in Australia and Thailand
Saudi Arabia in Australia and Thailand it doesn’t tell you that I’m the first
it doesn’t tell you that I’m the first
it doesn’t tell you that I’m the first person on my maternal side to obtain a
person on my maternal side to obtain a
person on my maternal side to obtain a university degree in North America and
university degree in North America and
university degree in North America and that I was in drama class in high school
that I was in drama class in high school
that I was in drama class in high school or that I have a desire to go back to
or that I have a desire to go back to
or that I have a desire to go back to the country where I was born to help
the country where I was born to help
the country where I was born to help those that are less fortunate so am i
those that are less fortunate so am i
those that are less fortunate so am i from Korea since it’s the country that
from Korea since it’s the country that
from Korea since it’s the country that I’ve spent the second-most abundant time
I’ve spent the second-most abundant time
I’ve spent the second-most abundant time of my life no because I have a car that
of my life no because I have a car that
of my life no because I have a car that identifies me as alien but I have been
identifies me as alien but I have been
identifies me as alien but I have been here in Korea so long that I can safely
here in Korea so long that I can safely
here in Korea so long that I can safely say that I definitely do feel a
say that I definitely do feel a
say that I definitely do feel a connection with some of the Korean
connection with some of the Korean
connection with some of the Korean aspects like their mindfulness with some
aspects like their mindfulness with some
aspects like their mindfulness with some protection now I won’t go to the point
protection now I won’t go to the point
protection now I won’t go to the point where I would wear an a Jamaa visor but
where I would wear an a Jamaa visor but
where I would wear an a Jamaa visor but am I also Filipino
am I also Filipino
am I also Filipino I enjoy the food and I feel a connection
I enjoy the food and I feel a connection
I enjoy the food and I feel a connection to the people but unfortunately I’ve
to the people but unfortunately I’ve
to the people but unfortunately I’ve forgotten how to speak the language but
forgotten how to speak the language but
forgotten how to speak the language but I find myself wanting to learn more
I find myself wanting to learn more
I find myself wanting to learn more about their traditions the question
about their traditions the question
about their traditions the question where are you from seems so definitive
where are you from seems so definitive
where are you from seems so definitive when you ask it but in actuality it
when you ask it but in actuality it
when you ask it but in actuality it needn’t be there are countless third
needn’t be there are countless third
needn’t be there are countless third culture kids like me who’ve been exposed
culture kids like me who’ve been exposed
culture kids like me who’ve been exposed to and immersed in multiple cultures
to and immersed in multiple cultures
to and immersed in multiple cultures whether it be exposure to different
whether it be exposure to different
whether it be exposure to different languages through TV TV education
languages through TV TV education
languages through TV TV education multimedia social networks living abroad
multimedia social networks living abroad
multimedia social networks living abroad and living with somebody who is from a
and living with somebody who is from a
and living with somebody who is from a different country answering the question
different country answering the question
different country answering the question where are you from is indeed more
where are you from is indeed more
where are you from is indeed more difficult than it seems to be and your
difficult than it seems to be and your
difficult than it seems to be and your response shouldn’t slowly be what I did
response shouldn’t slowly be what I did
response shouldn’t slowly be what I did identifies you as but rather it should
identifies you as but rather it should
identifies you as but rather it should be your collection of experiences and
be your collection of experiences and
be your collection of experiences and journeys that you’ve been on where I’m
journeys that you’ve been on where I’m
journeys that you’ve been on where I’m from includes locations and cultures
from includes locations and cultures
from includes locations and cultures that I’ve found comfort and happiness in
that I’ve found comfort and happiness in
that I’ve found comfort and happiness in I found culinary delight in eating a
I found culinary delight in eating a
I found culinary delight in eating a simple plate of Italian pasta relished
simple plate of Italian pasta relished
simple plate of Italian pasta relished in exhilarating hikes and the Swiss Alps
in exhilarating hikes and the Swiss Alps
in exhilarating hikes and the Swiss Alps savor the many different types and
savor the many different types and
savor the many different types and flavors in Thailand ridden along
flavors in Thailand ridden along
flavors in Thailand ridden along countless kilometres of Korean coast
countless kilometres of Korean coast
countless kilometres of Korean coast lines on the back of a motorcycle and
lines on the back of a motorcycle and
lines on the back of a motorcycle and appreciated the kindness and sincerity
appreciated the kindness and sincerity
appreciated the kindness and sincerity of people in my opinion when attempting
of people in my opinion when attempting
of people in my opinion when attempting to break the ice by asking where someone
to break the ice by asking where someone
to break the ice by asking where someone is from you should instead initiate a
is from you should instead initiate a
is from you should instead initiate a conversation by asking where people have
conversation by asking where people have
conversation by asking where people have been or where or what some of their
been or where or what some of their
been or where or what some of their cherished and most personal experiences
cherished and most personal experiences
cherished and most personal experiences are where am i from
are where am i from
are where am i from I’m from several different corners of
I’m from several different corners of
I’m from several different corners of the world my heart is partly Canadian
the world my heart is partly Canadian
the world my heart is partly Canadian partly Filipina partly Korean I’m the
partly Filipina partly Korean I’m the
partly Filipina partly Korean I’m the some of the adventures I’ve had and the
some of the adventures I’ve had and the
some of the adventures I’ve had and the people I’ve been fortunate enough to
people I’ve been fortunate enough to
people I’ve been fortunate enough to share them with how about you thank you
”
Be First to Comment