I mean, who we really are. Many of us have parents, grandparents, ancestors who came from other places. Other than the one we live in or have made our home.

I was listening to a comedy show last night, Russell Peters was on. For those of you who don't know who he is, he is an Indo-Canadian comedian and is really, really funny. Anyway, something he said made me think. He said that apart from the color of his skin and the fact that his parents are Indian, there is nothing Indian about him at all.

I can so relate to that. Often people ask me about India, and in all honesty, I know next to nothing about it. Infact I have found that others, who have no connection to India at all, often know more than me. I am as Canadian and as Western as anyone who is white.

So, anyway, my question is this, do you live in a place/country/area that your ancestors did not orignate from and what kind of experiences have you had because of that? Also do you look different from most people around you and do people expect you to behave or be a certain way because of that?

p.s. I attend to travel around India in the near future to try and learn more about it.

Originally Posted by Jilly

I mean, who we really are. Many of us have parents, grandparents, ancestors who came from other places. Other than the one we live in or have made our home.

I was listening to a comedy show last night, Russell Peters was on. For those of you who don't know who he is, he is an Indo-Canadian comedian and is really, really funny. Anyway, something he said made me think. He said that apart from the color of his skin and the fact that his parents are Indian, there is nothing Indian about him at all.

I can so relate to that. Often people ask me about India, and in all honesty, I know next to nothing about it. Infact I have found that others, who have no connection to India at all, often know more than me. I am as Canadian and as Western as anyone who is white.

So, anyway, my question is this, do you live in a place/country/area that your ancestors did not orignate from and what kind of experiences have you had because of that? Also do you look different from most people around you and do people expect you to behave or be a certain way because of that?

p.s. I attend to travel around India in the near future to try and learn more about it.

That's a really interesting question, Jilly! It doesn't really pertain to me, since I'm about as white bread as they come and am living in Central Illinois. But I'd love to hear from others here on the subject, too. Btw, Russell Peters is hilarious!!!

Traveling through India is going to be so exciting! I hope you'll get lots of pictures to share with us. After I saw your pic on your profile, I tried to figure out what your background might be. I never thought of India. I just knew you were beautiful and exotic-looking.

Jill

Thanks Jilly, it's kind of you to say so

It is an interesting subject though isn't it? I was actually born in (Northern) India, but left when I was five years old, so can't remember much of it. Yes, I definitely want to go back and see what it's like for myself. I think it would take at least 2 or 3 months in order to see it probably. It's just finding the right time to do it....

Hmmm i cant really imagine being connected to another place, my ancestors are all from western Europe. I have a family tree from my fathers side and mothers side going back to the 1400's, and they come from France on my fathers side, and Germany on my mothers side. But beeing Flemish since 1800, and offcourse Belgian after the 1830 revolution

I am as european as you can get

So i never really understood the people that were born here but longed for another country they dont even know nothing about, but were their parents are from.

Mike, I am surprised. I remember you mentioning that you have black hair. I thought you must be Spanish or from Eastern Europe.

Other places interest me, not only because of where ancestors come from, but just because it's always good to learn how other people live, their customs etc. I find it fascinating.

You have been able to trace you family tree really far back. I can only go back as far as my grandparents.

Originally Posted by Jilly

Mike, I am surprised. I remember you mentioning that you have black hair. I thought you must be Spanish or from Eastern Europe.

Other places interest me, not only because of where ancestors come from, but just because it's always good to learn how other people live, their customs etc. I find it fascinating.

You have been able to trace you family tree really far back. I can only go back as far as my grandparents.

Yeah turns out a lot of people in France have black hair. And for my family tree i am very lucky to have it in such detail. Now offcourse if i look good enough their might be some relative that did marry a Spaniard or eastern european person, its all "close" toghter here so anything is possible (going to check it out one of these days) but those relatives wouldnt make the difference.

As for being interested in other countries and cultures, i got that to, but i think its a different kind of being interested

True, a lot of French people do have darker hair and complexions. Even here in Quebec

Well....hummm....I'm an American born in raised in sweet'ole Texas with a mix of Mexican and Japanese what a mix I tell'ya, lol...ehhehehehehehehhee....

i am pretty sure i am me
although if you name a country in europe you will probably find i have ancestors from there lol
i am Aussie and proud of it!!!
and i have some convict (as in the first fleet if you don't know look it up Australian history lol) in me !!!

Sky, that would be great.

Cavtiva, that's interesting. Don't we all have some infamous people in our past. I know I do.