When I first moved to the States, my enthusiasm had taken me away from the culture I had come from. I must admit, I had fully immersed myself in the American dream. It was a rollercoaster of beauty, freedom, and just a different perspective on life. Back home, I was far too serious as there had to be certain etiquette I felt I required to follow. However, when I came to the States, I had this new-found taste of independence. When I had settled in and gotten over the honeymoon phase of first traveling abroad, homesickness hit me hard. I had the need to connect with other people on a deeper level, but it was hard. Mass media and politics have labeled so many countries as “bad,” and people who come from the Middle East have to pay the price. It took me a while to find the right approach to talk about my identity and where I’m from. Though there are multiple approaches, here are three simple approaches that could help you share your voice when you’re asked about your identity. 1. Smile and Be Confident I remember being filled with anxiety every time I told someone I was from Lebanon. I was proud to be Lebanese and Arab, but I constantly had this fear of being shunned by people. One thing I started incorporating was, simply, smiling. A smile really does go a long way. We often forget the power of kindness, simple/small compliments, or even a gentle smile. This will not only make you more approachable, but it will ease your nerves. When you smile, your eyes smile with you, and it creates a sense of openness with the people you are interacting with. This will make you appear more comfortable and confident which will make it easier to share your voice. 2. Acknowledge People’s Perception and Show Them a Different View Something I caught on quickly is that many people really don’t know differently than what they’ve been taught. We could blame things on Hollywood, the media, and politics, or we could have a genuine conversation about different points of view and the reality of how things are in different countries. Initial perceptions can be changed with research and sharing first-hand experiences. I cannot stress enough how much it is essential to be patient. You should be patient with others as it may take time to help someone understand your perspective. More importantly, you should be patient with yourself. You will get your point across, but it requires you to be calm and collected. You represent your home-country/identity, and it is a huge responsibility, one that we sometimes take very lightly. 3. Be Open to Questions You will be asked questions, so be open. The questions you will be asked will be humorous and insulting, sometimes both at the same time. It can be quite triggering to hear some questions. But these questions are an opportunity for you to be honest and transparent. They are an opportunity for you to express your own opinions and beliefs, they are going to help people fill in the gaps of their knowledge or perceptions, and you might even find things in common with the person asking you questions. Finally, we mustn’t forget that we are in a new era. This new generation is becoming more culturally aware. The pace might not be where we want it to be, but there is progress in how people view different countries/religions/cultures.
Do not be afraid to show who you are as authenticity is critical in this world. Also, I’d love to know about your experiences sharing your identity. What’s the weirdest question you’ve been asked? How do you share your own voice? Reach out to me through the contact section and social media, I’d love to know more about you!
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