By Shanil
Being an American shouldn’t be that weird in the UK, right? That is, unless you’re one of the few Americans that your friends know at Sussex and rely on you to explain everything that happens with America to them.
This week, I was asked to reflect on how my community has supported my identity and how my identity has changed. In a previous post, I wrote a little bit about how my identity in Europe is different from when I’m in America. This time around, I’ll write a bit about how it’s changed while I’ve been here.
First off, my American identity supersedes every other identity I would usually express most. My accent gives it away more than anything and it’s what most people see as the largest distinction between me and them. Rather than looking at the color of my skin, perceived religious beliefs that come with it, or anything else, my accent comes first. Second comes the “why are you guys letting Trump win” question. What I’ve learned from these simple exchanges are that my minority status isn’t the same here—my status of being an American (a minority here, naturally) is what sets me apart and allows people to create some sort of profile about my personality. Coming here, I expected to be the gay Muslim who went to military school all over again. Instead, I’m just… an American. It’s refreshing but also odd. I’ve found myself making up for how Americans think, vote, act, and function. I critique our political and economic system, yet find the need to defend being a proud American at the same time, just as I would defend my decision to be Muslim or my (non-decision) of being gay.
Refreshing yet odd. That’s how my community makes me feel about who I am now and what I identify as.