I'm glad you do feel connected to England, though, because I have this unquestioned link to England, and it's good feeling like you belong somewhere. I suppose it's like the difference between being gay and having a gay friend. You never quite live as they do or understand their life. (Um. Not you 'you'. Or me, actually. But straight people.)
You seem like the most English person I know. Working in a bookshop, going to Oxford, etc. (I think my idea of an English person is firmly rooted in 19th Century literature. *g*) Oh, I don't know. I'm not sure where this is coming from. I think I have Oxford-longing. I'd hate to think you weren't appreciating the bizarre Englishness of it all. ;)
Then again, I remember going to Holland, and feeling thrilled when I was back in England again. They spoke English, they were kind of similar, but ugh - oh so different. Very strange. Hmm.
Hell, I know from being atheist, bisexual, sci-fi geek, non-drinker, vegetarian, home-educated, non-feminine, engaged-at-18 how pushed to the outside I could feel. Adding something so obvious as a different skin colour - I can't imagine how that would feel, especially while trying to overcome all the other differences and trying to feel assimilated.
Yeah, I really don't know where I'm going with this. It's just interesting to think about. Identity and so forth - especially while rebuilding my concept of myself, and what I want for my life.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2007-05-12 01:51 pm (UTC)I'm glad you do feel connected to England, though, because I have this unquestioned link to England, and it's good feeling like you belong somewhere. I suppose it's like the difference between being gay and having a gay friend. You never quite live as they do or understand their life. (Um. Not you 'you'. Or me, actually. But straight people.)
You seem like the most English person I know. Working in a bookshop, going to Oxford, etc. (I think my idea of an English person is firmly rooted in 19th Century literature. *g*) Oh, I don't know. I'm not sure where this is coming from. I think I have Oxford-longing. I'd hate to think you weren't appreciating the bizarre Englishness of it all. ;)
Then again, I remember going to Holland, and feeling thrilled when I was back in England again. They spoke English, they were kind of similar, but ugh - oh so different. Very strange. Hmm.
Hell, I know from being atheist, bisexual, sci-fi geek, non-drinker, vegetarian, home-educated, non-feminine, engaged-at-18 how pushed to the outside I could feel. Adding something so obvious as a different skin colour - I can't imagine how that would feel, especially while trying to overcome all the other differences and trying to feel assimilated.
Yeah, I really don't know where I'm going with this. It's just interesting to think about. Identity and so forth - especially while rebuilding my concept of myself, and what I want for my life.