NationStates Jolt Archive

What does it mean, to you, to be a citizen / inhabitant of the country you happen to live in (or be a citizen of)? How would you define your own sense of national identity? Also, are there other forms of identity (religious, belonging to an organisation, regional...) that are more important to you than your national identity?

In other words, if you're an Australian, what does Australian identity mean to you? If you're Canadian, German, Japanese, French, American, Brazilian, Polish, Italian, Chinese, Armenian, Swedish, Tunisian, Setswana or ni-Vanuatu, or anything else, same question about your own nationality.

Being German is not being quite sure what one's identity is. :D

Yeah, it's complicated.

Nationality is irrelevant. There is no need to belong to a nation.

Being Irish is hard to explain. Its like, a way of looking a the world and dealing with problems in a way I have not yet come across in other countries. Its a lot more of a state of mind, psychological to me.

Being Irish is hard to explain. Its like, a way of looking a the world and dealing with problems in a way I have not yet come across in other countries. Its a lot more of a state of mind, psychological to me.

National identity in general can probably be described as a state of mind, but that's an interesting comment. Can you think of any specific differences between the Irish "way" and what you see in other countries?

I’d say I would identify myself as British because it just feels like home (and Sunday roasts naturally:) )

I’d say I would identify myself as British because it just feels like home (and Sunday roasts naturally:) )

Ah, a Brit. That raises new questions. :) I see you're English. Do you feel more British than English, or vice-versa? Or have you never really wondered about it? What (if anything) do you think makes English identity different to a more general British identity?

Britain "feeling like home" is another interesting perspective on national identity, so thanks. Anything else you can think of?

National identity in general can probably be described as a state of mind, but that's an interesting comment. Can you think of any specific differences between the Irish "way" and what you see in other countries?

Ack.... Its hard to without being here. Of course, this is just my perspective on it. I know people of different nationalities who live here (German, Swiss, French, Nigerian, Arab-Iranian, American, English, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Turk) and most look around after a while and simply say "You Irish people are strange."

There are contradictions in the way we look at life: fatalistic but upbeat about it at the same time, a certain joie de vivre with an attitude of live for the moment and everything will be alright, having a good time in life is more important than anything else, friendship and being very sociable with each other are cornerstones I feel.

There are many more, but it's hard to explain. When thinking of "Irishness" I immediately think of our closest neighbour and think "what makes us different from them?" Nothing tangible, from the outside looking in, but scratch the surface and everything is different at the same time.

Like I said, it's complicated. :)

Ack.... Its hard to without being here. Of course, this is just my perspective on it. I know people of different nationalities who live here (German, Swiss, French, Nigerian, Arab-Iranian, American, English, Spanish, Polish, Italian, Turk) and most look around after a while and simply say "You Irish people are strange."

There are contradictions in the way we look at life: fatalistic but upbeat about it at the same time, a certain joie de vivre with an attitude of live for the moment and everything will be alright, having a good time in life is more important than anything else, friendship and being very sociable with each other are cornerstones I feel.

There are many more, but it's hard to explain. When thinking of "Irishness" I immediately think of our closest neighbour and think "what makes us different from them?" Nothing tangible, from the outside looking in, but scratch the surface and everything is different at the same time.

Like I said, it's complicated. :)

Indeed, but interesting. :) And the reflex of looking at others to see what makes you different is what most of us do to a significant degree, of course. Anyway, thanks for that. I'd be curious to see whether other Irish people see it the same way if they come into this thread.

The French live in France, the Romans live in Rome, The Turkeys live in Turkey, but the English live at home.:D

There's all kinds of peculiar social quirks to being English; I'll go into a couple if you're really that interested, but at present I'm still drunk after a party adn typing is hard.

It mostly means not being some other nationality and not having to live somewhere else.

I'm not proud of my nationality in the sense that I take any particular pride in it (nationality)...after all it's a complete accident from my own point of view, and one shared by millions of others.

I am proud of aspects of my country, just as there are aspects that I am less pleased with.

The French live in France, the Romans live in Rome, The Turkeys live in Turkey, but the English live at home.:D

There's all kinds of peculiar social quirks to being English; I'll go into a couple if you're really that interested, but at present I'm still drunk after a party adn typing is hard.

I am. I'm actually of English descent myself. I have family in England and I have a British passport, but I've always lived in France. I tend to see myself as "bicultural" (although I've not quite sorted out whether I feel more "British" or "English", especially since some of my ancestors were Welsh... but I've never been able to identify as being Welsh.) But mine is an "expatriate" English identity.

So yes, I'd be interested to see (well, read) your perspective. Unless you want to sober up first. ;)

It mostly means not being some other nationality and not having to live somewhere else.


That's an interesting choice of words ("not having to live somewhere else").


I'm not proud of my nationality in the sense that I take any particular pride in it (nationality)...after all it's a complete accident from my own point of view, and one shared by millions of others.

*nods*


I am proud of aspects of my country, just as there are aspects that I am less pleased with.

Any specific examples? (Also... what is your country?)

Nationality is irrelevant. There is no need to belong to a nation.

So how do you define yourself, if at all? Does your nationality mean nothing to you? Are you aware of cultural differences between yourself (as having a particular nationality) and other people? Do you use other aspects (religion, region, membership of organisations, politics, beliefs of any kind) to define yourself?

What does it mean, to you, to be a citizen / inhabitant of the country you happen to live in (or be a citizen of)? How would you define your own sense of national identity? Also, are there other forms of identity (religious, belonging to an organisation, regional...) that are more important to you than your national identity?

In other words, if you're an Australian, what does Australian identity mean to you? If you're Canadian, German, Japanese, French, American, Brazilian, Polish, Italian, Chinese, Armenian, Swedish, Tunisian, Setswana or ni-Vanuatu, or anything else, same question about your own nationality.

I have American citizenship, but I can't really say what is to me because when I was young, I also spent a lot of time in Canada (I used to have a lot of family there and that is accent I have) so I had a weak national identity in the first place.

It is more difficult for me now because I am really lived in the US or Canada for more than 5 years. I am not allowed to apply for citizenship in any of the countries I have lived in since then because I have moved back and forth too much, the UK and France principally, and have had student status for most of the time so the time restrictions are much longer than you are there with a work permit.

When I go the US, I feel that I have a lot least in common, culturally, lifestyle wise, etc. with Americans than I do with the Welsh. I am very fond of Wales and the Welsh, but I can tell that I am different that them as well.

To make things more complex, I will be marrying a German in December. I haven't spent much time in Germany before meeting him, and my German is very limited even though I am trying to learn because that where I plan to settle with my fiancé after I finish my PhD. If anyone has any tips for learning German, I am up for them. :)

For me, it is always strange to answer the question "Where are you from?" I know they mean in that question, where were you born, where did you grown up, but I don't really feel much attachment to the US or Canada so something doesn't feel right if I say the US and/or Canada. If you ask me where feels like home for me, I would say Wales even though I am not Welsh myself because that is where I feel the most like myself. I miss Wales when I am not there, I support Wales whenever they manage to make it to international competitions, I feel comfortable with the Welsh and feel accepted there even if I still have mild Canadian accent. I don't feel British though, I have spent about as much time in England outside of London as I have in Belgium. I don't have homey feeling England like I do in Wales. I haven't been to Scotland much either and never been to Northern Ireland. Maybe in a few years, I will say I feel German, it is hard to say, especially as the German identity is more tangled up than Welsh, American, Canadian, or French identity because of historical reasons and having to adapt to a whole other language.

Being German is not being quite sure what one's identity is. :D

Hey, maybe I am German then. :D

For me, it is always strange to answer the question "Where are you from?" I know they mean in that question, where were you born, where did you grown up, but I don't really feel much attachment to the US or Canada so something doesn't feel right if I say the US and/or Canada. If you ask me where feels like home for me, I would say Wales even though I am not Welsh myself because that is where I feel the most like myself. I miss Wales when I am not there, I support Wales whenever they manage to make it to international competitions, I feel comfortable with the Welsh and feel accepted there even if I still have mild Canadian accent. I don't feel British though, I have spent about as much time in England outside of London as I have in Belgium. I don't have homey feeling England like I do in Wales.

Now that's very interesting. Well, your whole post is. :) Are you of Welsh descent at all? If not, what drew you to Wales? Any idea what makes you feel most at home there, other than having spent a lot of time there?

I see you're English. Do you feel more British than English, or vice-versa?

more British than anything though of course there are the old ethnic tensions between Englishmen and everyone else and of course there is the world cup (so depends really as a nation Britain but sports and culture wise English)

Or have you never really wondered about it? What (if anything) do you think makes English identity different to a more general British identity?

Never really think about it though the English identity is allot more crusades and tea as opposed to lets say Scottish kilts (actually comes from old work clothes not some Scottish heritage) and porridge

Britain "feeling like home" is another interesting perspective on national identity, so thanks. Anything else you can think of?

Heritage weird thing in Britain since Empire and roman imperialism is a thing only really Englishman boast about whereas everyone else is rather hush hush about it

I am a Texan. What does that mean? It means, that I have to explain my accent if I go anywhere noth of Oklahoma or west of New Mexico. It means I have to explain that I am not a cowboy. I do not wear a stetson or overpriced cowboy boots (and I hate horses Y'all). I have to explain that I am not a bible thumping conservative republican. I could go on.


*I do seem to have the slight ego problem that is a Texan trait.:p *

more British than anything though of course there are the old ethnic tensions between Englishmen and everyone else and of course there is the world cup (so depends really as a nation Britain but sports and culture wise English)


*nods* There seems to be an interesting revival (or birth?) in the feeling of "Englishness", mainly via sport (and, I suppose, awareness of cultural differences with the rest of Britain). Ten years ago or so I can't remember seeing (m)any English flags in England (it was mainly the Union Jack), whereas now you see quite a lot of them.


Never really think about it though the English identity is allot more crusades and tea as opposed to lets say Scottish kilts (actually comes from old work clothes not some Scottish heritage) and porridge

Heh. That's certainly one way of defining it.


Heritage weird thing in Britain since Empire and roman imperialism is a thing only really Englishman boast about whereas everyone else is rather hush hush about it

Well, the Romans only occupied England (and Wales), so that's not a part of Scottish of Northern Irish history. The British Empire, though... Non-English Brits were quite active in that, so I'm surprised at that. Maybe Scottish, Welsh and Irish people don't want to think of themselves as former imperialists?


I am a Texan. What does that mean? It means, that I have to explain my accent if I go anywhere noth of Oklahoma or west of New Mexico. It means I have to explain that I am not a cowboy. I do not wear a stetson or overpriced cowboy boots (and I hate horses Y'all). I have to explain that I am not a bible thumping conservative republican. I could go on.


So is being Texan mainly having to explain what being Texan is not? ;) Or is it possible to define "Texan identity"? And to what degree do you feel American, compared to being Texan? Do you think it's specifically Texan to feel a greater sense of belonging to the State than to the country as a whole?

That's an interesting choice of words ("not having to live somewhere else").
Intentional, I have a right to live here, which means I dont have to live elsewhere.

*nods*
Any specific examples? (Also... what is your country?)
Not really, the question is too generalised for me to quite know where or how to begin... I suppose I can a really general example of the tug-of-war between pride and shame.
Probably the best example off the top of my head of conflicted pride and shame is the Americas Cup fiasco. We were a great host the first time we held the regatta and a shame-hearted bunch of gollums the next time round (frankly we deserved to lose it, and it was probably in our best interests to do so if the shannanigans witnessed at the 2nd regatta are any indication of what we were letting darn thing do to us...)
My country (by the way) is Aeoteroa New Zealand.

{snippage}
So is being Texan mainly having to explain what being Texan is not? ;) Or is it possible to define "Texan identity"? And to what degree do you feel American, compared to being Texan? Do you think it's specifically Texan to feel a greater sense of belonging to the State than to the country as a whole?

First, I have to explain what I am not, which is the stereotypical "Texan" To many people see that stereotype and assume that because I am a Texan, I have to follow the stereotype. Meh. As to whether I feel I am a Texan or an American: I am Jim. I would be me regardless of where I happened to be born. Right now I am feeling especially Texan, because it has started to get cold here in New York, and I miss the warm weather.

Finally, most Texans do feel A greater affinity for their state, than the rest of the USA, but so do a lot of people from other states. Once the EU has integrated all the various nations that comprise Europe, I am sure the same feelings will prevail.

Now that's very interesting. Well, your whole post is. :) Are you of Welsh descent at all? If not, what drew you to Wales? Any idea what makes you feel most at home there, other than having spent a lot of time there?

Nope, I am mostly French and German as ancestry goes. I ended up in Wales a bit by accident. I had to go to Europe for at least a semester for my undergrad and decided to go to the UK because my French wasn’t what I would have liked it to been to attend a Francophone university. My university only had study abroad programmes in the UK in big cities and not having spent much time in big cities decided I didn’t need the culture stock of going to a country I have never been to and living in a big city so I went to the study abroad division and they had some brochures for University of Wales Swansea. It looked like about the right size city and university and it was by the sea, which was exciting for someone that had spent most of her life in the Midwest and Ontario. So I went there. By the time the programme was over, I was trying to figure out how to come back. One of the professors suggested I do a Master’s there, which I did. I am doing my PhD in Wales now, though at a different university because the professor that does my subject area, moved on to a different university, while I was in France working on my French.

Anyway, why I do feel at home in Wales? I think it is outlook on life the Welsh have in general. Of course, these are generalisations and I am sure you have no problem finding Welsh that don’t fit in to my view but this is what I have the impression of the Welsh. The Welsh are very friendly in general, I like that is okay to have a conversation with a total stranger. It was a bit bizarre for me at first when I would be standing a bus stop or in the queue of a supermarket and people would start talking to me, but it feels strange for me now when I am elsewhere and this doesn’t happen. The Welsh are pretty helpful. When I didn’t know my away around, people were very helpful in giving me directions, etc. I remember one time walking home from the supermarket and one of my bags caught on something, and it split open in the middle of a pedestrian street. There were 2 people helping me put the stuff in other bags almost as soon as I had bent down. I like that the Welsh are more laidback. When I chose to go to a UK university, I remember people warning me that British professors don’t like talking to students, and everything is pretty formal. I found the opposite, most professors were very happy talk to me if I had trouble understanding something we were studying, and we could just informal chats about most things after they helped me out. From talking to others, they say the situation is often the same in workplaces, less hieratical but not in a superficial way. I think that people I have made friends with in Wales in general are more loyal that in other places I have been. Most of them would give me their last pound if they thought I needed it. I can talk to them about anything and even if we have a disagreement, we will still be friends.

I think that you could find some qualities in other nationalities. The French and Germans are very helpful and are good friends when you can get them in general, but they are very formal and shy as well. The Americans are very informal, but I find they seem to be suspicious of strangers and more sensitive when it comes to discussing certain topics. I feel that I can be myself in Wales and people will accept me for that, when I am elsewhere I feel that have to adjust more my behaviour than I do in Wales.

Not really, the question is too generalised for me to quite know where or how to begin... I suppose I can a really general example of the tug-of-war between pride and shame.
Probably the best example off the top of my head of conflicted pride and shame is the Americas Cup fiasco. We were a great host the first time we held the regatta and a shame-hearted bunch of gollums the next time round (frankly we deserved to lose it, and it was probably in our best interests to do so if the shannanigans witnessed at the 2nd regatta are any indication of what we were letting darn thing do to us...)
My country (by the way) is Aeoteroa New Zealand.

Ah. :) I have a particular interest in New Zealand, so please forgive my curiosity. I recently wrote a 150 page research report on issues of national identity development in NZ, in relation to the British cultural/institutional/historical heritage.

Is the Americas Cup the first thing that comes to mind for you when ou think of people being proud of being New Zealanders, then? What other aspects do you think there are?

I notice you call your country Aotearoa New Zealand. Do a lot of New Zealanders use both names? Are you Maori, and, if not, do you consider yourself Pakeha? If you do, what does it mean to you?

Sorry for all the questions, but I have a strong interest in identity issues, especially in NZ. So when I come across a New Zealander... ;) (I'm also interested in the whole South Pacific region, and I sometimes pester an Australian friend with questions.)

First, I have to explain what I am not, which is the stereotypical "Texan" To many people see that stereotype and assume that because I am a Texan, I have to follow the stereotype. Meh.

*nods*


As to whether I feel I am a Texan or an American: I am Jim. I would be me regardless of where I happened to be born.

I often wonder how true that is. I mean, you, like everyone else anywhere, were brought up in a particular society, with particular values and beliefs. Even if you rejected many of the beliefs you've been taught, your frame of reference remains that of the culture you live in. If you'd been born and raised in, say, Ireland, Thailand, Venezuela, Canada or Papua New Guinea, your cultural frame of reference, and its influence on your sense of self, would be significantly different.

I suppose the fact that I'm "bicultural" (which of course is hardly unusual) is in great part what made me take an interest in such questions. I've been aware since childhood of being different in some ways from other French people (whatever "French people" may mean), and gradually I came to equate those differences with characteristics of being British (or English), at least as I saw it. Which implies that if I hadn't been half-British, I wouldn't be "me" as I am today.


Right now I am feeling especially Texan, because it has started to get cold here in New York, and I miss the warm weather.


Thanks for that; it's fascinating to see all these different elements people associate with the land (country or other) they "belong" to.


Finally, most Texans do feel A greater affinity for their state, than the rest of the USA,

Any idea why that is? Obviously there are historical reasons at play, but do you think there's more than just that?


Once the EU has integrated all the various nations that comprise Europe, I am sure the same feelings will prevail.

Well, the EU is still very different from the USA, since the 25 EU members remain (for now and well into the foreseable future) seperate countries. And some of them (such as Germany) are themselves federations, like the US. (Not to mention the complex case of Britain, with four nations within one State.)

As a Frenchman, though, I do still feel a lot more French than European, no doubt because I feel only a limited sense of connexion (or shared identity) with, say, Irish, German, Swedish, Polish, Greek or Latvian people.

<SNIP>

Thanks; that's very interesting.

I'm ashamed to say I've only been to Wales once, despite the fact I'm of partly Welsh descent. (My father's father's father was Welsh, so I even have a Welsh family name.) So I've not had the opportunity to experience life in Wales, and relations with Welsh people, in the same way as you. (I did feel a slight sense of connexion, but only in the very vague "this is the land of my ancestors" sort of way, since I had little else to base it on.) The way you describe the Welsh in general (and bearing in mind indeed the limitations of any generalisations) does seem similar to my experiences with English people, though.


I think that you could find some qualities in other nationalities. The French and Germans are very helpful and are good friends when you can get them in general, but they are very formal and shy as well.

Yes, that's probably true. I've tended to find English and Australian people a lot more informal (and rather more helpful too) than my fellow Frenchmen, and than German people (who from my perspective seemed more formal even than us.) When I spent a year in Australia, Australian informality (and helpfulness!) was even something of a minor culture shock.


The Americans are very informal, but I find they seem to be suspicious of strangers and more sensitive when it comes to discussing certain topics.

Well I've never been to the US so I can't really comment. I'd be curious to see whether other Americans (who have travelled abroad) agree with you, though.


I feel that I can be myself in Wales and people will accept me for that, when I am elsewhere I feel that have to adjust more my behaviour than I do in Wales.

I've never heard that said before, so that's quite interesting.

*nods*



I often wonder how true that is. I mean, you, like everyone else anywhere, were brought up in a particular society, with particular values and beliefs. Even if you rejected many of the beliefs you've been taught, your frame of reference remains that of the culture you live in. If you'd been born and raised in, say, Ireland, Thailand, Venezuela, Canada or Papua New Guinea, your cultural frame of reference, and its influence on your sense of self, would be significantly different.

I suppose the fact that I'm "bicultural" (which of course is hardly unusual) is in great part what made me take an interest in such questions. I've been aware since childhood of being different in some ways from other French people (whatever "French people" may mean), and gradually I came to equate those differences with characteristics of being British (or English), at least as I saw it. Which implies that if I hadn't been half-British, I wouldn't be "me" as I am today.

True my frame of reference would change, But I fell that the essential me would not. I value myself above any group (including nationality) that I might belong to. I personally like to learn of other cultures, and will adopt any traits of another culture that may fit me.



Thanks for that; it's fascinating to see all these different elements people associate with the land (country or other) they "belong" to.

One advantage to living in a geographically large nation is the variety of climates. Too bad american pop-culturalism tend to destroy regional difference so well. Sadly enough, it seems to be doing so worldwide.



Any idea why that is? Obviously there are historical reasons at play, but do you think there's more than just that?

Probably the human need for the "other" to feel superior to.



Well, the EU is still very different from the USA, since the 25 EU members remain (for now and well into the foreseable future) seperate countries. And some of them (such as Germany) are themselves federations, like the US. (Not to mention the complex case of Britain, with four nations within one State.)

As a Frenchman, though, I do still feel a lot more French than European, no doubt because I feel only a limited sense of connexion (or shared identity) with, say, Irish, German, Swedish, Polish, Greek or Latvian people.

Again true, but in time, the EU will most likely integrate. Remember, the USA started out as 13 seperate states, each with it's own "national" identity.

Also, in time (though not likely in our lifetimes), we will all live under a one world government, then our regional affinities will will be: world, continent, nation, region, town, on down to family. Indeed not too very different from the way humans are today.

True my frame of reference would change, But I fell that the essential me would not. I value myself above any group (including nationality) that I might belong to. I personally like to learn of other cultures, and will adopt any traits of another culture that may fit me.


Good for you, and I suppose you (your sense of self) can indeed be to a significant degree detached from a specific cultural background... but, I would argue, not entirely. I personally doubt you can ever fully seperate yourself from all the values (for example) inherent to your cultural background. Not to mention, of course, that leisure activities, food and other matters are also a component of culture. You can add to them by integrating elements of foreign cultures, but can you detach yourself from them without moving (permanently or for a long while) to another location?


Probably the human need for the "other" to feel superior to.


Yes, or at the very least "different from", with perception of difference often (unfortunately) being translated into a sense of superiority.


Again true, but in time, the EU will most likely integrate. Remember, the USA started out as 13 seperate states, each with it's own "national" identity.


True. And it's very possible, yes. Who knows what Europe will be in a couple of centuries, after all.

I feel British over English 100%. It may just be me but I subconsciously associate everything I like with the country with being British, (which I suppose is kind of logical, as a lot of these good things are shared by all of the Home Nations), but then also tend to associate everything bad with being English, classism, racism, general backwardness, (Conservatism, :P).

I don't like the idea of the St. George's Cross eclipsing the Union Jack in popularity, as the Union Jack is very majestic, very beautiful and also, very cool, (its no accident that its a popular motif on clothes and albums covers and so on), the English flag however is a nasty piece of cloth. It conjures up bad images in my head, maybe I'm being selfish if I'm the only one who dislikes it, but I just don't like it or what it stands for.

I think that it is great that Britain is diverse, but I think that not enough effort is put into emphasising our similarities. For example, I think we should have United Kingdom sports teams, and we should change the anthem to something like Rule Britannia (this anthem has a lot of advantages as it not simply an English anthem, it does not mention God or the Queen, at celebrates Britain's greatest achievement as standing up against tyranny).

I identify myself as a Floridian and an American. I'm not sure if I identify more readily with my state than my country. I think of myself as an American first, but in some other states I've been to it feels like a completely different place. I remember that when I traveled last summer (my family drove up to Michigan and then through Canada to New York to see Niagara Falls), I somehow felt more at home and more united to the other people in Michigan and Pennsylvania compared to people in Tennessee and states around there. I'm not really sure why.

Ah. :) I have a particular interest in New Zealand, so please forgive my curiosity. I recently wrote a 150 page research report on issues of national identity development in NZ, in relation to the British cultural/institutional/historical heritage.

Is the Americas Cup the first thing that comes to mind for you when ou think of people being proud of being New Zealanders, then?
No, it just seemed an easy example because it's generalised (ie sports rivalary). Both the good (the friendly fun hosting of the first event) and the bad (yucky borish attitude that seemed to pervade the next one).

What other aspects do you think there are?
Mmm, well I kind of used the example to show that it's not really a national identity thing. Rather behaviour/actions in particular circumstance are either more or less pleasing to me. The wide-spread attitude the first time the Cup was held here is no more the result of our 'national identity' than the contrary attitude that characterised the holding of the 2nd event, only a few years later.

I notice you call your country Aotearoa New Zealand. Do a lot of New Zealanders use both names?
It's not uncommon.

Are you Maori,
No.
and, if not, do you consider yourself Pakeha?
I dont go about considering myself Pakeha, or Palangi for that matter, although I probably qualify as both...
If you do, what does it mean to you?
It doesnt really (mean anything) much at all, it's interesting enough to a point, but nothing to get excited about. I have ancestory from the Pacific Islands (at least 5 generations seperate me and the last fully Rarotongan ancestress in my lineage), and I find it very interesting that a hairdressor from Samoa was able tell I had Island ancestory simply by touching my hair.

Sorry for all the questions, but I have a strong interest in identity issues, especially in NZ.
I dont mind, but I'm probably not that helpful.

So when I come across a New Zealander... ;) (I'm also interested in the whole South Pacific region, and I sometimes pester an Australian friend with questions.)
There's a few New Zealand posters around and heaps of Australians.

Why are so interested in identities, what kind of interest do you have? (Are you more interested in group identification than individual identity, or is that a misinterpretation of the focus of your questions?)

Good for you, and I suppose you (your sense of self) can indeed be to a significant degree detached from a specific cultural background... but, I would argue, not entirely. I personally doubt you can ever fully seperate yourself from all the values (for example) inherent to your cultural background. Not to mention, of course, that leisure activities, food and other matters are also a component of culture. You can add to them by integrating elements of foreign cultures, but can you detach yourself from them without moving (permanently or for a long while) to another location?
{snippage}


A good point. I have lived for extended periods of time in other states, and have alway identified myself as, and been indentified as, Texan. If I were to move to France, I would always be identified as American (and possibly Texan), until I died. You are right, in that no matter what I may add to my cultural identity, I still have to add it to the base culture I was born to (or subtract it from. There are parts of my cultural heritage I no longer identify with, although where I was borne and how I was rasied will always have an influence on how I think).

Thanks; that's very interesting.

I'm ashamed to say I've only been to Wales once, despite the fact I'm of partly Welsh descent. (My father's father's father was Welsh, so I even have a Welsh family name.) So I've not had the opportunity to experience life in Wales, and relations with Welsh people, in the same way as you. (I did feel a slight sense of connexion, but only in the very vague "this is the land of my ancestors" sort of way, since I had little else to base it on.) The way you describe the Welsh in general (and bearing in mind indeed the limitations of any generalisations) does seem similar to my experiences with English people, though.

I have found the English to be a bit more shy than the Welsh, but I haven't been to England other than London (and I find big city people, especially a capital are different then the rest of the population) as much so I can't say myself what the English are really like.

Yes, that's probably true. I've tended to find English and Australian people a lot more informal (and rather more helpful too) than my fellow Frenchmen, and than German people (who from my perspective seemed more formal even than us.) When I spent a year in Australia, Australian informality (and helpfulness!) was even something of a minor culture shock.

Yeah, I have the impression that the Germans are very formal. I think miss some things because my German still needs a lot of improvement. They seem to take longer to call you by your first name, and even longer to call you "du". I find it odd even though I have meet my fiancé's family many times they still shake me hand each time I see them and his grandfather still calls me "Sie". That being said my fiancé was surprised with the informality of my family and my British friends. If you are used to one way, the other way seem awkward I suppose.

Well I've never been to the US so I can't really comment. I'd be curious to see whether other Americans (who have travelled abroad) agree with you, though.

It is harder to explain the suspicion of strangers for me because it isn't something verbal but more with body language when I have spoken to people I don't really know. But have been in the situation with Americans that act your friend and then if you have a disagreement about politics or religion (I study politics, it is a hard subject to avoid for me!) don't really want to be around you as much. I think they take it as a personal criticism rather than an opinion on a certain belief. That is one thing I love with the French that I have met. Most love to talk politics, and they don't get offended if you have a different view. The Welsh don't talk about it as much, but most don't get that easily offended.