Having lived in London for over three
months, I finally had had the feeling of maybe being an unwanted
guest. This is not about a specific case. Actually, if I were asked
to provide any example to make this statement clearer, I would not be
able to do it.
I do not know what exactly makes me
feel this. Maybe I am getting too paranoid, but every time I go out,
I have the strong feeling of being a foreigner. Of course I am, but
people shouldn't know it at their first glance. And of course every
time I open my mouth to speak, it is evident I am not from this
country; and as I haven't got a French accent...Well, they just don't
feel comfortable with my Spanish accent, that's all I can say.
I am starting thinking that my Spanish
accent is getting even stronger with the passing of time. I have a
kind of nostalgic accent: an accent that misses its country
and tries to reinforce its identity by putting itself forward. Will I
ever sound like a British person? Do I really want to bother myselft
by trying to achieve that aim? What do people think when I am trying
to express myself?
Although I have met really nice people,
there are some who just expect I should know everything about them. I am
in favour of getting used to the culture of the country you are
living in, but there are plenty of things to learn. I just need time.
Therefore, if I do not know on my first day at uni that I have to put my ID card under a bar code reader to complete my registration process, or that potatoes are usually outside at an offlicense
shop, or that tips must be over a pound or two to be something
acceptable... Do not look at me as if I were the most despicable
human being on Earth, because I might seem stupid here, but I deserve
a little bit of patience.
I don't really know where this
proud-of-not-being-you attitude comes from. We, the invaders
may also be intelligent human beings, no matter how hard it is for
you to believe it. That is all I have to say.
