hello everyone hola mis amigos well one massive my name is Jenny Butler and I’m
massive my name is Jenny Butler and I’m
massive my name is Jenny Butler and I’m an international boarding student from
an international boarding student from
an international boarding student from Jamaica for 16 years I lived among my
Jamaica for 16 years I lived among my
Jamaica for 16 years I lived among my people saturated in a very unique Island
people saturated in a very unique Island
people saturated in a very unique Island culture the way I speak dance and even
culture the way I speak dance and even
culture the way I speak dance and even cook is all particular to my people for
cook is all particular to my people for
cook is all particular to my people for 16 years I lived in a place where I and
16 years I lived in a place where I and
16 years I lived in a place where I and all 2.7 million people around me share
all 2.7 million people around me share
all 2.7 million people around me share the same culture now what could that
the same culture now what could that
the same culture now what could that possibly mean I feel as if we’ve taken
possibly mean I feel as if we’ve taken
possibly mean I feel as if we’ve taken the idea of culture for granted it’s a
the idea of culture for granted it’s a
the idea of culture for granted it’s a simple term for quite a complex concept
simple term for quite a complex concept
simple term for quite a complex concept culture as I’ve come to understand it is
culture as I’ve come to understand it is
culture as I’ve come to understand it is but a means of communication
but a means of communication
but a means of communication the gift of someone handing you a bowl
the gift of someone handing you a bowl
the gift of someone handing you a bowl of warm soup when you were ill is
of warm soup when you were ill is
of warm soup when you were ill is communicating care love compassion
communicating care love compassion
communicating care love compassion handing someone a bouquet of roses at a
handing someone a bouquet of roses at a
handing someone a bouquet of roses at a funeral it’s seen as a sign of respect
funeral it’s seen as a sign of respect
funeral it’s seen as a sign of respect solemn gratitude and sympathy however
solemn gratitude and sympathy however
solemn gratitude and sympathy however involve these traits are shared among
involve these traits are shared among
involve these traits are shared among the diverse groups pocketed around the
the diverse groups pocketed around the
the diverse groups pocketed around the world engaged Island Sora yes mom yes
world engaged Island Sora yes mom yes
world engaged Island Sora yes mom yes dad when my parents are speaking with me
dad when my parents are speaking with me
dad when my parents are speaking with me is respect for my people but saying yes
is respect for my people but saying yes
is respect for my people but saying yes mother or okay would invite Swift
mother or okay would invite Swift
mother or okay would invite Swift discipline language is one of the most
discipline language is one of the most
discipline language is one of the most commonly used methods of communication
commonly used methods of communication
commonly used methods of communication and even this when tackled in all its
and even this when tackled in all its
and even this when tackled in all its realities has more depth than it
realities has more depth than it
realities has more depth than it initially seems I told you a group in
initially seems I told you a group in
initially seems I told you a group in Jamaica for 16 years and some of you may
Jamaica for 16 years and some of you may
Jamaica for 16 years and some of you may be wondering where’s her accent when I
be wondering where’s her accent when I
be wondering where’s her accent when I first came to HPA people used to tell me
first came to HPA people used to tell me
first came to HPA people used to tell me that they couldn’t understand me they
that they couldn’t understand me they
that they couldn’t understand me they asked me to repeat myself
asked me to repeat myself
asked me to repeat myself I was so confused because I was speaking
I was so confused because I was speaking
I was so confused because I was speaking standard English in terms of language
standard English in terms of language
standard English in terms of language understand this much how you speak your
understand this much how you speak your
understand this much how you speak your intonation the breadth of your lexicon
intonation the breadth of your lexicon
intonation the breadth of your lexicon your go-to phrases and idioms I’ll make
your go-to phrases and idioms I’ll make
your go-to phrases and idioms I’ll make you use what you say and how you say it
you use what you say and how you say it
you use what you say and how you say it are of crucial importance to your
are of crucial importance to your
are of crucial importance to your identity one of the first things I
identity one of the first things I
identity one of the first things I learned as an international student is
learned as an international student is
learned as an international student is that there are many words that I use and
that there are many words that I use and
that there are many words that I use and thought were commonly practiced in other
thought were commonly practiced in other
thought were commonly practiced in other languages that don’t even exist outside
languages that don’t even exist outside
languages that don’t even exist outside of my realm for instance there’s a
of my realm for instance there’s a
of my realm for instance there’s a Chinese word die that does not exist in
Chinese word die that does not exist in
Chinese word die that does not exist in the English language die is kind of
the English language die is kind of
the English language die is kind of between idiot and dumb it’s kind of
between idiot and dumb it’s kind of
between idiot and dumb it’s kind of coulis and it could
coulis and it could
coulis and it could insult but it’s kind of cutesy nan Chi
insult but it’s kind of cutesy nan Chi
insult but it’s kind of cutesy nan Chi in Korean is akin to walking on
in Korean is akin to walking on
in Korean is akin to walking on eggshells around others being cautious
eggshells around others being cautious
eggshells around others being cautious and observant of them and furthermore in
and observant of them and furthermore in
and observant of them and furthermore in North North California people have a
North North California people have a
North North California people have a tendency to see kiss a banana slug this
tendency to see kiss a banana slug this
tendency to see kiss a banana slug this wooden apparently give you good luck
wooden apparently give you good luck
wooden apparently give you good luck what’s fascinating to note is that
what’s fascinating to note is that
what’s fascinating to note is that whilst I learned of this a young woman
whilst I learned of this a young woman
whilst I learned of this a young woman from South California told me she’d
from South California told me she’d
from South California told me she’d never heard the saying before language
never heard the saying before language
never heard the saying before language involves according to province district
involves according to province district
involves according to province district from country to country as an
from country to country as an
from country to country as an international citizen the moment I left
international citizen the moment I left
international citizen the moment I left my home was the moment I changed I speak
my home was the moment I changed I speak
my home was the moment I changed I speak differently yes but now I hear my own
differently yes but now I hear my own
differently yes but now I hear my own accent how I interacted my teachers my
accent how I interacted my teachers my
accent how I interacted my teachers my friends and even my parents has changed
friends and even my parents has changed
friends and even my parents has changed I’ve adopted more American dances engage
I’ve adopted more American dances engage
I’ve adopted more American dances engage in an increasing number of American
in an increasing number of American
in an increasing number of American politics and this is just the beginning
politics and this is just the beginning
politics and this is just the beginning my study patterns have changed the media
my study patterns have changed the media
my study patterns have changed the media I like to consume has shifted from my
I like to consume has shifted from my
I like to consume has shifted from my norm Oh in all I have changed this isn’t
norm Oh in all I have changed this isn’t
norm Oh in all I have changed this isn’t just me ask any person who has been
just me ask any person who has been
just me ask any person who has been removed from their culture or even just
removed from their culture or even just
removed from their culture or even just from their norm and you’ll hear the same
from their norm and you’ll hear the same
from their norm and you’ll hear the same thing going back to language though this
thing going back to language though this
thing going back to language though this is where it gets interesting our
is where it gets interesting our
is where it gets interesting our language is more than the conversational
language is more than the conversational
language is more than the conversational stuff it’s poetry art music debate our
stuff it’s poetry art music debate our
stuff it’s poetry art music debate our language is our life when I call home
language is our life when I call home
language is our life when I call home now I almost like I almost feel like I
now I almost like I almost feel like I
now I almost like I almost feel like I forced an accent I’m so definitely
forced an accent I’m so definitely
forced an accent I’m so definitely afraid of losing my accent because of
afraid of losing my accent because of
afraid of losing my accent because of the first obvious indication to anyone
the first obvious indication to anyone
the first obvious indication to anyone back home that I’m different however if
back home that I’m different however if
back home that I’m different however if I get too highly spirited and I start to
I get too highly spirited and I start to
I get too highly spirited and I start to speak quickly I get tongue-tied I’m
speak quickly I get tongue-tied I’m
speak quickly I get tongue-tied I’m incapable of keeping up with myself I
incapable of keeping up with myself I
incapable of keeping up with myself I have friends who speak Russian Italian
have friends who speak Russian Italian
have friends who speak Russian Italian Turkish and they all tell me the same
Turkish and they all tell me the same
Turkish and they all tell me the same thing when they speak to their parents
thing when they speak to their parents
thing when they speak to their parents they translate words from English to
they translate words from English to
they translate words from English to their native language they use different
their native language they use different
their native language they use different sentence structures forget pronouns
sentence structures forget pronouns
sentence structures forget pronouns speak in English without even realizing
speak in English without even realizing
speak in English without even realizing it they’ve begun to think in English and
it they’ve begun to think in English and
it they’ve begun to think in English and dream in it they understand English
dream in it they understand English
dream in it they understand English jokes all of a sudden this is great news
jokes all of a sudden this is great news
jokes all of a sudden this is great news they have adopted and adapted to an
they have adopted and adapted to an
they have adopted and adapted to an entirely different language but at the
entirely different language but at the
entirely different language but at the risk of losing part of their own and
risk of losing part of their own and
risk of losing part of their own and that’s just the thing we make
that’s just the thing we make
that’s just the thing we make compromises with ourselves for parts of
compromises with ourselves for parts of
compromises with ourselves for parts of our identity wouldn’t it be nice if we
our identity wouldn’t it be nice if we
our identity wouldn’t it be nice if we could just not if we could branch out
could just not if we could branch out
could just not if we could branch out learning
learning
learning while still maintaining the integrity of
while still maintaining the integrity of
while still maintaining the integrity of ourselves I think there are those who
ourselves I think there are those who
ourselves I think there are those who have this figured out they are wholly
have this figured out they are wholly
have this figured out they are wholly themselves no matter the circumstance
themselves no matter the circumstance
themselves no matter the circumstance the issue is just that we are social
the issue is just that we are social
the issue is just that we are social creatures the main reason why I speak in
creatures the main reason why I speak in
creatures the main reason why I speak in this adopted accent is so that I can
this adopted accent is so that I can
this adopted accent is so that I can have conversation with people I want to
have conversation with people I want to
have conversation with people I want to relate to them instead of every
relate to them instead of every
relate to them instead of every interaction I have being about my accent
interaction I have being about my accent
interaction I have being about my accent I can learn more about them and whatever
I can learn more about them and whatever
I can learn more about them and whatever it is that they are doing and they can
it is that they are doing and they can
it is that they are doing and they can do the same with me they’re not
do the same with me they’re not
do the same with me they’re not distracted by me so they can focus on
distracted by me so they can focus on
distracted by me so they can focus on what really makes me who I am I can
what really makes me who I am I can
what really makes me who I am I can explain to them what Sunday dinners are
explain to them what Sunday dinners are
explain to them what Sunday dinners are so important to my people and why it is
so important to my people and why it is
so important to my people and why it is that we turn every bad situation into a
that we turn every bad situation into a
that we turn every bad situation into a joke it no longer becomes about my being
joke it no longer becomes about my being
joke it no longer becomes about my being very interpretation of a Jamaican it
very interpretation of a Jamaican it
very interpretation of a Jamaican it becomes about me as a Jamaican I am
becomes about me as a Jamaican I am
becomes about me as a Jamaican I am better able to be me when I put away a
better able to be me when I put away a
better able to be me when I put away a part of myself and this is just the
part of myself and this is just the
part of myself and this is just the beginning to the benefits of being
beginning to the benefits of being
beginning to the benefits of being exposed to other people’s never before
exposed to other people’s never before
exposed to other people’s never before in my life had I seen so much importance
in my life had I seen so much importance
in my life had I seen so much importance in being in the know with regards to my
in being in the know with regards to my
in being in the know with regards to my history economy artists sportsmen and
history economy artists sportsmen and
history economy artists sportsmen and women I hold fast to my traditions and
women I hold fast to my traditions and
women I hold fast to my traditions and more regularly show love and
more regularly show love and
more regularly show love and appreciation towards my country now I
appreciation towards my country now I
appreciation towards my country now I defend and examine my people all because
defend and examine my people all because
defend and examine my people all because I was no longer surrounded by them and I
I was no longer surrounded by them and I
I was no longer surrounded by them and I could do the same with other peoples
could do the same with other peoples
could do the same with other peoples when we heard about the Paris attacks
when we heard about the Paris attacks
when we heard about the Paris attacks last year each individual at my school
last year each individual at my school
last year each individual at my school felt it we were all in some way or
felt it we were all in some way or
felt it we were all in some way or another connected to the French to other
another connected to the French to other
another connected to the French to other students and faculty members here any
students and faculty members here any
students and faculty members here any news in Turkey or Mexico or Kazakhstan
news in Turkey or Mexico or Kazakhstan
news in Turkey or Mexico or Kazakhstan becomes my business I am more of a
becomes my business I am more of a
becomes my business I am more of a global citizen of the world now than I
global citizen of the world now than I
global citizen of the world now than I was before this is a prime example of
was before this is a prime example of
was before this is a prime example of the interrelationships of culture we are
the interrelationships of culture we are
the interrelationships of culture we are more connected less ignorant more woke
more connected less ignorant more woke
more connected less ignorant more woke however and there is a however sometimes
however and there is a however sometimes
however and there is a however sometimes the negatives do prevail in a highly
the negatives do prevail in a highly
the negatives do prevail in a highly globalized world we are on the precipice
globalized world we are on the precipice
globalized world we are on the precipice of large-scale culture shock removal and
of large-scale culture shock removal and
of large-scale culture shock removal and change I really a real-life example of
change I really a real-life example of
change I really a real-life example of this would be kpop beloved by the people
this would be kpop beloved by the people
this would be kpop beloved by the people who participate in it it has somewhat
who participate in it it has somewhat
who participate in it it has somewhat unfortunately taken the spotlight away
unfortunately taken the spotlight away
unfortunately taken the spotlight away from more traditional Korean music this
from more traditional Korean music this
from more traditional Korean music this Western influence may be seen in a
Western influence may be seen in a
Western influence may be seen in a variety of ways how we dress speak and
variety of ways how we dress speak and
variety of ways how we dress speak and even how we like to look are all
even how we like to look are all
even how we like to look are all typically affected by the Western namely
typically affected by the Western namely
typically affected by the Western namely American idea
American idea
American idea overall we should remember that we are
overall we should remember that we are
overall we should remember that we are as we are and it is important that we
as we are and it is important that we
as we are and it is important that we were made so no matter where we go and
were made so no matter where we go and
were made so no matter where we go and who we impress ourselves upon your you
who we impress ourselves upon your you
who we impress ourselves upon your you is important and should be preserved
is important and should be preserved
is important and should be preserved thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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