Where am I from?

I have been teaching for about 15 years. One common point of interest from my students (sometimes more than what I am teaching) is where I am from? I usually let students try and figure it out, which until two years ago was what I thought was essentially impossible (bravo to Ilia!).

Where am I from is an ill defined question

If it simply means: where was I born? The answer is quite simple.

I was born in Jos, Nigeria.

But that’s probably not the right answer to the question as I left Nigeria very young and do not remember it at all.

Earliest memory

I lived to the age of about 7 in Mthatha, South Africa. I have some fond childhood memories and often wonder what would happen if I’d stayed in South Africa. Perhaps, I’d have a South African accent and be a big springbok fan? But I don’t.

Going to the Caribbean

From South Africa I went to the Caribbean via a very short pit stop (9 months) in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

From there I moved to Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic). I spent about 2 years living on Dominica. I spent a year in a local school and a year being home schooled there. I really enjoyed my time exploring the rain forest and the huge number of rivers on the island. Mainly doing so with my dog Scouty.

After Dominica, I moved to the French island of Gaudeloupe, France. I was put directly in to a local primary school. I remember looking at my CM1 teacher as we both were working out how we were going to communicate with each other.

I became fluent in French going through the French education system up until the age of about 16. These formative years where quite important and I felt French and still cheer for the French rugby team.

Rugby School in St Claude

I spent my last two years of secondary education at a rugby School in Saint Claude, France. This was a period of my life I look back very fondly on.

Cardiff

After completing the French Baccalauréat I moved to Cardiff where I studied mathematics, met my wife, had my children and got my chair.

So where am I from?

I don’t really know. I have been a foreigner my entire life. I learnt that often children with pasts like mine are call Third Culture Kids although as I have learnt more about myself (especially as I became a parent) I have realised that that does not really apply.

I do have a British passport (from one of my parents) so perhaps that’s another possible answer.

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