PORTFOLIO 18.1: WALLS

PORTFOLIO 18.1: WALLS

"Don't ask me where I'm from, ask me where I am a local."

When someone asks you where you're from … do you sometimes not know how to answer? Writer Taiye Selasi speaks on behalf of "multi-local" people, who feel at home in the town where they grew up, the city they live now and maybe another place or two. "How can I come from a country?" she asks. "How can a human being come from a concept?"

The writer Taiye Selasi compares herself with Nike "a multinational brand" stating that she is not an object neither a concept. She establishes that she belongs to numerous places that she has been visiting ,and therefore she cannot be tied to a single country, her parents were born in countries which nowadays do not exist anymore. It can be said that the identity is the mixture of experiencies, Selasi affirms she is multi-local so she does not forget all the cities she has been before and now.  The writer proposes asking ourselves where are we local, she names the three Ts which imply rituals, relationships and restrictions, these are the steps we have to take into account to define our identity.

To my view, this point of gathering the experiences that you have lived is a good way to not to be attached to an unique concept, sharing moments with different people in your daily life. Then, people will be able to be open-minded in terms of cultures, values and stereotypes, and realized the fact that the country of origin does not define ourselves; in a way being local is the best option that we can choose to meet deeply foreigners, classmates, workmates and listen to each other stories. In my opinion, everyone has rituals, relationships and restrictions in other places. Last year I felt serene and relaxed when I went to Misiones, far away from the bustling Longchamps, people from there were so respectful and I could rest from the noisierand rushing daily routine.

"Don't ask me where I'm from, ask me where I am a local."