D I V E R S I T Y: CANADIAN IDENTITY
In September 2011, I began my career as a graduate student in an International Affairs program here in NYC. It wasn’t necessarily my acceptance that made me feel unique or distinguished (though I felt very fortunate to be granted the opportunity to advance my studies), but the fact that I was identified as an International student. Of course, I’m Canadian not American, but I thought to myself, I can hardly explain the difference. Then I got to thinking about the identity of a Canadian more in depth and since then have been challenged by Americans and by other friends who are most certainly international. I was even more compelled to seek answers when on a recent trip to Mexico, a dear friend asked me what made me feel Canadian and I didn’t have an immediate answer. In order to try to provoke one, he told me a personal anecdote of a traditional Mexican dance performance he witnessed on a national day of celebration and how it literally gave him goose bumps. I have had no such Canadian experience, though of course I feel pride when I tell people I am from Canada.
