As I mentioned in my last post, I'm currently completing a Teacher's Training (in one year) so while stories have been bubbling in my mind, waiting to be written, my time and energy have been dedicated to assignments and studying.
The topic of identity and belonging has always been close to my heart, because my life is so multi-faceted.
Yesterday in my subject Communication and Consultation I attended a session on intercultural communication.
In a nutshell: look beyond someone's culture.
It was probably the most enlightening session I've attended during this course because it spoke directly to me.
One of the slides from the session struck a chord with me. It focused on microaggressions and discrimination.
The example was: "Wat spreek je goed Nederlands." (Translated: You speak Dutch very well.)
At first glance, this sounds like a compliment, and one would naturally think the appropriate response is: "Thank you!" I have certainly said "thank you" when I heard this line.
However, our lecturer explained that although the intention may not be demeaning, the underlying subtext can be: "Voor iemand met jouw etnische achtergrond." (Translated: For someone with your ethnic background.)
Learning Dutch was not as easy as people assumed it would be - despite Afrikaans being an official language in South Africa - but I did my best and continue to learn.
Over time, I started noticing that people asked more about my Dutch than about how I was doing. I had left my home and family behind, with my Dad having just revealed his cancer diagnosis, and moved to a new country. Instead of asking how I was coping with the move or settling in, I often felt reduced to only that aspect of myself.
Our lecturer also touched on diversity in the workplace. Do we see people from immigrant backgrounds in official positions? More often, we see them represented in the cleaning or catering sectors. I have heard many stories of people who were highly qualified professionals in their home countries, yet their qualifications are not recognized elsewhere.
The same applies to me, which is why I am following this training - so that I can be officially recognized for work I have already been doing for years. It has been one of the most difficult endeavours I have undertaken, but it has also pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me so much about myself.
I still need to map out all my thoughts, and I hope to continue writing about them as time permits.
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