Speaker
Description
Moving to a new country and living abroad for a considerable amount of time transforms you, whether you consciously realize it or not. Living in a culture that is radically different from ours can be challenging due to differences in customs, traditions and values. Our sense of identity evolves, and this can lead to a feeling of identity confusion and loss. Growing up in Chennai, one of the largest cities in India, came with its fair share of struggles, however there were moments of great joy and happiness. Visiting home every year reminds me of all the beautiful memories, whether it is going to the long sandy beaches, celebrating diwali or eating traditional South Indian food on a plantain leaf. But returning to reality, I need to reconcile with the fact that I am not as Indian as I used to be. Years of living and travelling across the world has eroded my Indianness and reshaped me into who I am today. Identity is shaped both by the messages we absorb from others and by how we interpret our own experiences. Figuring out who we are can already be a challenge in everyday life, but when we live overseas, we also have to face the stereotypes and biases others may have about us. At the same time, we’re constantly navigating between what we feel to be true about ourselves and the expectations that come from social and cultural norms—ranging from harmless clichés like "Indians eat curry" or "Indians are good at math" to more serious issues like racism. Maintaining our sense of self involves carefully negotiating what we accept or reject, both from within and from the outside world. Living abroad reshapes our sense of identity in profound ways. Exposure to different cultural values, customs, and traditions can lead to both personal growth and feelings of disconnection from one’s roots. Negotiating identity as an immigrant involves balancing internal self-perceptions with external stereotypes and cultural expectations, from benign clichés to serious challenges like racism. I hope that our collective experiences, and how we negotiate these challenges enable us to navigate our life in a better adjusted manner.