Diamond In The Rough

My identity has many facets. There are many categories and subcategories that I could use to attempt to put the description of who I am into words. I feel, however, that the one that's been laid most heavily on my mind lately is the idea of my national identity. National identity is a person's place within a nation. People will often ask "what does it mean to be American?" The answers would make up that person's national identity; things such as rights and privileges, historical events and aspects of daily life. Personally, I think of my national identity by the way that people from other nations see us. I love asking non-Americans what they think of the American people and culture. The answers are always surprising, often humorous, and frequently true. To me, the view that we portray is our identity.

One of the characteristics of the American identity is that we are very loud, we tend to open up conversation to deep, personal things quite quickly in relationships, and we are very focused on ourselves and our own agendas. I don't always fall into those stereotypes, but I admit that at times I do. In contrast, the British people are very reserved, yet not unfriendly. They don't immediately delve into the deepest, most personal parts of who they are, and share their emotions sparingly. This, of course, does not apply to all Brits all the time. My host mom has spent many hours over tea and digestives telling me her thoughts and opinions with passion and emotion, although I've only known her for a few weeks.

The other night as I was spending time with a new group of friends I've made since arriving here in fair-weathered London I began sharing the way I'm going to look at America differently when I return home. Because I myself am more reserved I feel like I fit into the British culture very well. The already apparent difference between my personality and the American cultural norms will seem even more pronounced after spending so much time amongst the British culture. Also, I always feel more aware of our faults as a nation after returning from another country. Things such as the way we treat each other, our government, our cultural norms and what we place value in will seem skewed and out of place. I think I'll feel that we are constantly putting ourselves on pedestals as a nation, and I'll be constantly wanting to humble myself. I won't necessarily stand out to others, but I'll feel out of place. Being able to see these differences and perspectives will influence the way I think, feel and act. It will affect the things that I value, such as family and relationships, and eventually be modeled in the way I raise my family.

Taking time to examine one's own identity is vital. Everyone should be familiar with his or her own identity, and then allow themselves to see it from another culture's perspective. Where you are personally is almost irrelevant if you don't know how you fit in with, or stand out to, the rest of the world. It's only when you know your similarities and differences with the world around you that you can begin to solidify your own identity.