Have you noticed how we, as immigrants or “expats,” become more patriotic and sometimes more passionate about our country and its rituals than we ever were when we lived there? I’m not talking about jingoism, which can be incredibly negative, but an almost amplified love of our country’s traditions.
I am writing about this having been recently to a Scottish festival – which was inexplicably held in Belgium. I’ll clarify that I am not Scottish but have quite a few Scottish friends here in the Netherlands. That being said, I am always open to hear traditional music wherever it’s from and who can turn down a weekend that involves friends, whisky tasting and live music?
As I watched people enjoying the event (I’m guessing some were Scots away from home and some had Scottish ancestry) I wondered, “What it is that creates this loyalty to our homeland?”
Celebrating our uniqueness
Since moving away from England 26 years ago, I have lived in the United States and the Netherlands and have definitely felt more British at times than my family who live in the UK! Admittedly, it’s usually during the World Cup – football or rugby – or the Six Nations rugby tournament. But royal weddings and coronations have also given me a little British buzz.
Don’t get me wrong; those rose-coloured glasses are definitely not being worn and I am under no illusion that home is better than where I am currently hanging my hat in the Netherlands. I am sure there are people of many nationalities who currently are very happy to not be a resident in their home country, but of course that doesn’t take away that need to occasionally touch “home.”
The Irish find themselves drawn to Irish pubs around the world and immigrant communities are drawn to each other in most of the world’s cities. It’s generally the traditions and foods that provide a sense of cultural identity for those of us finding our way in a new country, and the opportunity to speak our own language and chat to fellow countrymen.
We enjoy celebrating our uniqueness with other compatriots who are like minded.
Beyond politics
The foods are a big part of our cultural identity and as a Brit I yearn for good British bacon, Marmite, Branston Pickle and decent cider! Certainly, the Scottish festival was shoring up that need for the Scots, with its sale of whisky, and other Scottish treats.
As I wandered around the festival, even though I’m not Scottish, I could sense and identify with the innate pride that those nationals had in their cultural identity, and the joy in being surrounded by fellow lovers of the bagpipes and their iconic bespoke tartan kilts.
As expats we all need to touch our own cultural identity and sense that feeling of national pride occasionally, even if the politics of our countries make them seem less deserving of our patriotism.
Photographer/writer Jackie Harding was born in the United Kingdom. As a long-time expat, she lived in Boston for 12 years and in the Netherlands for the past 10 years.
Trained as a nurse in the U.K., she worked for nine years in the United States as a special education teacher’s assistant. Since moving to the Netherlands, she has discovered writing and photography.
Contributing to Dispatches since 2016, Jackie has written about her travels around Europe as well as about expat life and issues.
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