What does being a part of diaspora in a country mean to you?
Posted by Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 25 comments
Hey everyone! I was born in Canada, and I've lived mostly in Canada, while spending a year in total living normally in Turkey (not summer vacation).
What's it like to you being born in or moving to a different country? Do you see yourself more by your ethnic and cultural identity, or closer to the nation you were born in?
This is a casual question, so feel free to make it a discussion.
ExcitedKayak@reddit
I feel like I’m too ethnic to belong to the main socio-cultural sphere here and I’m too western to belong in the Balkans. So something in between I dunno.
I was born in Australia so whenever I travel I identify as Aussie first and foremost. But at home I feel very Balkan as it’s the way I grew up with immigrant parents and feel a bit detached from the standard Anglo-Saxon cultural norms.
Usual-Package7120@reddit
Same here. I was born in exyugo but grew up in Oz with an ethnic name though that also factors in and my ethnic lunches were better than the Devon and tomato sauce crap the other kids ate but yes, you stick out haha
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
I feel the same way! People in Canada always view me as Turkish, people in Türkiye view me as Canadian. Too “ethnic” and too “western” for each respective nation
Hefty_Jaguar4305@reddit
I understand what you mean, you have different ethnic ancestors, right?
BissmarkMC@reddit
What do you mean too ethnic? Everybody is ethnic something. Please don‘t start the thing Americans do where they use ethnic as exotic or non-autochtonuous.
ExcitedKayak@reddit
That’s also the case in Australia unfortunately
JimmyPuffpuff@reddit
I grew up in Romania and moved 6 years ago to Germany. I went to German speaking school and uni in Romania and I can say I kinda grew up with some German values but ofc I am Romanian at heart. I feel like I am a combo of both countries. I have my Romanian core values but I spent my 20ies mostly in Germany and developed myself here. I like representing both countries because it's a fun combo. Where I live in Germany there are lots or foreigners so I am not neccesarily perceived as odd. I even have German friends 😂. At home I notice sometimes I am different from my friends and people I know but that's okay. I have a more progressive mindset regarding certain topics but I just avoid them with the people that I know just want to argue for the sake of arguing. Not worth it for my mental health.
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
Hahaha, you sound a lot like me! That’s great that you can celebrate both identities. And honestly, silence / ignoring those who are ignorant or stubborn is the best move
CockamouseGoesWee@reddit
My home is across the ocean and I'm stuck here because of a lack of opportunity.
I think Hoser made a video about Greece's crisis. My family was part of the wave caused by the Junta. Ever since then we sort have just been on standby, wanting to go home but unable to. America sucks royal unwiped ass though
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
I’m glad you’re putting in the efforts to not assimilate. I’ve lost a very big chunk of the Turkish language, so I hope you don’t lose that with greek.
In Canada, we literally have Greek heritage month. We have a shit ton of problems don’t get me wrong, and don’t move here unless you have a guaranteed job (because you will NOT find one once you move) but just know that the discrimination your family faced no longer exists.
OkoMushrooom@reddit
If I were to move abroad I’d do just about anything to assimilate in my new country, as much as I can of course. My identity isn’t tied to my country, ethnicity or culture. It’s tied to the memories I made in this place, and those can be made elsewhere too.
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
That’s an interesting perspective. Assimilation is a difficult topic for me. I know if it’s not me, it’s going to be my children, but it’s still a frightening thing in a way. I’m glad your identity isn’t tied to a certain nationality or culture.
But I’d say, it’s easier to say you’ll assimilate than it actually is. Depending on where you might move abroad, you’ll see
OkoMushrooom@reddit
True it’s harder for some and easier for others, but at the end of the day I actually want to try out a new way of life other than the one I’ve always known, and adopt the positive aspects of the culture in the new country out of respect and try to reconcile with the negatives I might encounter. The last thing I want is to bring Macedonia’s baggage with me to a fresh start in life.
El_Jefe___@reddit
I grew up in Serbia then moved around in western Europe, ended up settling in Spain for a few years now. Of course I consider myself Serbian and always will because I grew up there but truthfully I don’t have any nationalism or patriotism in me. I always had much higher aspirations and didn’t like living in a country that’s not extremely developed. Primarily talking about the quality of life and wages; it’s mindblowing to me how people work for that minuscule amount of money in the balkans 🤯
As for Spain, I really like it here. Climate and the environment are much more fitting to my own personal preference than Serbia. It was easy for me to socialize with Spanish people and there are many similarities between Serbian and Spanish people but also some differences. I obviously don’t feel Spanish and this isn’t my final destination but it’s a good temporary stop. I will always have some kind of connection and respect for Spain because I got to build my life the way I want it to be here.
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
I’m happy to hear that for you!
El_Jefe___@reddit
Thank you! 💕 So many people from my own country are judgmental when I speak like this; yet what was the choice really? To stay and be constantly frustrated and unsatisfied with the country and living conditions or to move on to a more developed country I actually resonate with? It’s extremely difficult to explain this to people who are still in the country and struggling. I really like when I meet people from the Balkans on my travels who moved on because of more opportunities, since they realize what I’m talking about
PurpleMclaren@reddit
It makes me sad, going back to Macedonia every year and I watch it get worse and worse slowly, less and less people every year.
Its sad, no other word for it.
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
I can understand that feeling, I’m sorry. Do you reside in West Europe or North America? For North Americans I think yearly travel would be out of budget for most
PurpleMclaren@reddit
Im in Toronto
Youre correct most people are unable to afford an overseas trip here in their lifetime let alone yearly, most people consider me very wealthy even though I dont.
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
Haha I’m in Toronto too! Most Turks here either act cheap and don’t go for years, or are recent immigrants and are restricted by their visas
PurpleMclaren@reddit
🫱🏻🫲🏼 Macedonians here are bigger Jews than the ones on Bathurst
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
LMAO
ComplicatedSunshine@reddit
Born and raised in Serbia, moved to Belgium. I've never seen myself as typically Serbian and I've always hoped I'd move to western Europe. I don't feel completely at home in Belgium (would have preferred to move to the UK or Ireland), but I do feel much better overall. I define myself by my values, which are very progressive, rather than any ethnic or cultural markers, so while I will say that I am "of Serbian origin", I don't feel particularly Serbian in Belgium, more sort of vaguely EU 😅
Hungry_Battery_Eater@reddit (OP)
That’s so interesting, and I’m glad you do feel much better. Maybe opportunities to see the UK and Ireland will come your way.
Hefty_Jaguar4305@reddit
Not everyone belongs to a diaspora. We Adakalehsiz (descendants of the inhabitants of Ada Kaleh, the flooded Turkish island) live scattered around the world.