Nationality. Is it about where you were born or

In My Humble Opinion
1

where you grew up, or what you decided felt best?

I watched the movie “Double Je0pardy” tonight (there was bugger all else on tv and it’s not a bad movie).

As soon as I saw the actor that played the husband I thought it was Dennis Quaid. Then I realised it was that guy I always think looks like Dennis Quaid but isn’t…you know that guy, hmmmm he was in that other thing, oh bum what IS his name!

So went to IDMB and voila! His name is Bruce Greenwood (you knew that already!) and apparently he doesn’t look like Dennis Quaid to anyone but me. Apparently he looks like Sam Neill (I can’t see it myself!).

While reading about Mr Greenwood (who is Canadian) a Canadian person said something about Canadians who had won awards and mentioned Anna Paquin. Now I have never met Miss Paquin (who moved to New Zealand aged 3) but she always seems to describe herself as a New Zealander.

Because of “The Piano” link between Anna Paquin and Sam Neill, I read about him. Born in Ireland he came to New Zealand aged 7. Sam Neill is Kiwi, he always acknowledges that.

Russel Crowe was born in NZ and moved to Australia as a teenager. He always says he is both a Kiwi and an Aussie.

My husband was born in Manchester but moved to Edinburgh aged 2. He felt he was nothing but a Scot, he might have commited physical violence if someone claimed he was English.

So are you the nationality that you are born into, were raised in or do you just get to decide yourself?

2

No, otherwise I’d be Kenyan and my 2.5 year old daughter would be Greek. We’re both British. I think I always will be, but there’s room for her to become another nationality. At a guess I would say where you spend your formative years is most important.

But, having just said that I thought of my Dad. He was born in Kenya to British parents and didn’t leave until university, which was in the UK. After marriage he returned to Africa, living in Zambia and Kenya, before settling back in the UK. I think he has always thought of himself as British, despite not seeing the country 'till he was 18.

I left Kenya when I was 3, but have lived in various parts of Southern Africa since. I would never call myself Kenyan, or African, but I do feel at home there. I also feel at home in Greece, but am in way Greek.

3

A great deal of my Celtic ancestry comes from my mother’s side- but she was adopted. Doesn’t matter. :smiley:

4

This should read “I also feel at home in Greece, but am in no way Greek”.