Skip to ContentSkip to Navigation
About us University College Groningen
Header image UCG Blog

UCG Blog

Nationality: Still in progress

Date:28 October 2018

I travel every single day of my life. I rotate between places like Zimbabwe, India, China, Australia, the middle East or anywhere in Europe. Since last year, I’ve entered an ongoing cultural excursion without having to adopt a jetsetter lifestyle as there’s a stamp in my passport that says: UCG. That is, because our faculty belongs to one of the most international faculties, hosting students from various continents throughout the world.

I myself have lived in various places throughout my life. I was born in North Carolina in the United States, then moved to Berlin where I then entered primary school, then five years later I moved to a different place in Germany. As soon as I graduated from High School I then shifted my residency to Botswana, southern Africa. Now, I find myself here in the Netherlands. Even if the Netherlands might not be significantly different from Germany, Groningen feels a lot more worldly. Being exposed to such a diverse range of cultures has triggered me to contemplate: To what extent does my national identity define me? What does it actually mean to be german? What nationality do I identify with the most? For me, the process goes both ways: On the one hand, I become more aware of my nationality and the cultural traits associated with it. On the other hand, I find myself adopting bits and pieces from other cultures that seem to suit me.

Having a dominantly british friend circle, I’ve realized that their eccentricity and slang has definitely rubbed off on me. Meanwhile, I’ve absorbed the positive energy from the Italians. My australian friend has introduced us to a variety of local indie bands, while my palestinian friend regularly spoils me with amazing culinary experiences. This might make you think: Does such a lifestyle not make you abandon your own culture? Not at all, in fact it triggers the absolute opposite effect: I’ve started to think and reflect a lot more on my german identity. I now also appreciate things about Germany that I’ve never actually recognised before, for example that most germans are not artificial but rather direct and outspoken but also their cynical humor, that I have very much internalized myself. Nevertheless, I often hear that I don’t come across as very german. That doesn’t surprise me as I do not feel a strong attachment to Germany as such. Also, there is probably rather few germans who are wild and free spirits like me. After all, my experiences in different places such as my studies here have transformed me a little into what they call a “third culture person”.

To give you some insight about how other people here at UCG perceive the international atmosphere, I’ve interviewed one of my very close friends, Ava, who I think has through lived quite a unique life path.

Do you think nationality defines a large part of your personality?

Somewhat, nationality is important as your nationality affiliates you with a certain culture. However, it is complicated when there is a mismatch between your personality and your national culture. I put myself in this category of people. This discord certainly plays a large role in defining me.

What nationality (of the places you have lived in/travelled to) do you identify with the most? For what reasons?

While I am largely Scottish I actually know as much, if not more, about Bosnian culture and history having lived there for some very formative years of my life.

I would define myself as European if I got to choose.I feel most at home where there’s laughs and booze, this is a large part of Scottish and Bosnian culture.

Do you think your sense of nationality has changed since coming to UCG?

Yes, UCG has allowed me to make a yet stronger network of friends all over Europe (and other places, but mainly Europe) which make more and more places in Europe accessible to me. It has also allowed me to feel completely as home in the Netherlands, which will always be an important part of my life. These factors further deepen my connection to Europe as a whole rather than an individual country.

Ever since I’ve met Ava, I’ve learned an awful lot about eastern European, specifically bosnian culture. Without having been there, I already have a pretty accurate imagination of what it must be like – this of course also accounts for all other cultures. Of course, the journey doesn’t end here at UCG. There’s still lots of free pages in my passport – now that I’ve built up all these connections, the next step is visiting all these people in their countries. With the friends I’ve already visited, it’s come to my realization that again you get to know a different side of your friends when they are in their own surroundings.

At the end of the day, UCG has taught me that it’s alright to not feel attached to the nationality on your birth certificate, you affiliate yourself with those cultures and places that have made their way into your heart. When people ask me where I’m from, I’ll always tell them I’m german but my soul rests in Botswana. And who knows, maybe in a few years I’ll be somewhere completely different and say: this is it, this is where I belong. But right now, we’re still busy finding our own selves.

Until then, I say “Nationality in progress”.

Greetings,

Eva  

Tags: Student Blog