Me as an African;Me as an African;What it means to be What it means to be

hybrid;hybrid;

KEY CONCEPTSKEY CONCEPTS

Identity and representationIdentity and representation

Shamiso ButawoShamiso Butawo

ME AS A BRITON;ME AS A BRITON;

For me personally the british culture is For me personally the british culture is so rich and diverse in its own domain, so rich and diverse in its own domain, once l used to be an outsider looking once l used to be an outsider looking in and my thoughts and opinions on in and my thoughts and opinions on the culture were bias now that i am the culture were bias now that i am an insider looking out l have a better an insider looking out l have a better understanding. British culture is more understanding. British culture is more based on democracy and the rights of based on democracy and the rights of an individual…………an individual…………

““Being British is about driving in a German car to an Being British is about driving in a German car to an Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, Irish pub for a Belgian beer, then travelling home, grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the grabbing an Indian curry or a Turkish kebab on the way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American way, to sit on Swedish furniture and watch American shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of shows on a Japanese TV. And the most British thing of all? Suspicion of anything foreign. Oh and......Only in all? Suspicion of anything foreign. Oh and......Only in Britain... can a pizza get to your house faster than anBritain... can a pizza get to your house faster than anambulance. Only in Britain... do supermarkets make ambulance. Only in Britain... do supermarkets make sick people walk all the way to the back of the shop sick people walk all the way to the back of the shop to get their prescriptions while healthy people can to get their prescriptions while healthy people can Buy cigarettes at the front. Only in Britain... do Buy cigarettes at the front. Only in Britain... do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a people order double cheeseburgers, large fries and a DIET coke. Only in Britain... do banks leave both DIET coke. Only in Britain... do banks leave both doors open and chain the pens to the counters. Only doors open and chain the pens to the counters. Only in Britain... do we leave cars worth thousands of in Britain... do we leave cars worth thousands of pounds on the Drive and lock our junk and cheap pounds on the Drive and lock our junk and cheap lawn mower in the garage. Only in Britain... do we lawn mower in the garage. Only in Britain... do we use answering machines to screen calls and then use answering machines to screen calls and then have call waiting so we won't miss a call from have call waiting so we won't miss a call from someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place. someone we didn't want to talk to in the first place. Only in Britain... are there disabled parking places in Only in Britain... are there disabled parking places in front of a Skating rink.”front of a Skating rink.”

Me as an africanMe as an african

l spent 15years of my life in Africa, the l spent 15years of my life in Africa, the weather was grant the people were weather was grant the people were reasonably nice and the culture if full on reasonably nice and the culture if full on in comparison. However with the in comparison. However with the migration to England being an African migration to England being an African here is so very different. Even thou l still here is so very different. Even thou l still speak my mother tongue fluently speak my mother tongue fluently sometimes it feels like its my second sometimes it feels like its my second language because am surrounded by language because am surrounded by various ethnicities……..various ethnicities……..

Theories; (me as a hybrid)Theories; (me as a hybrid) Jahari window; my public self is undoubtedly Jahari window; my public self is undoubtedly

British due to the way l walk, talk, dress and think British due to the way l walk, talk, dress and think sometimes, private self is African mostly because sometimes, private self is African mostly because most private time is spent with family.most private time is spent with family.

Being hybrid comes with a lot of advantages Being hybrid comes with a lot of advantages however sometimes it can lead to gate keeping however sometimes it can lead to gate keeping especially when my knowledge of other aspects especially when my knowledge of other aspects of the British culture is limited. It makes you feel of the British culture is limited. It makes you feel like you have nothing to offer especially in like you have nothing to offer especially in interactions with peers.interactions with peers.

Goffman talks about performance and roles Goffman talks about performance and roles (african/british), the scripts we (representation) (african/british), the scripts we (representation) use, how these are delivered and interpreted. He use, how these are delivered and interpreted. He also goes on to say signs and signifiers are used also goes on to say signs and signifiers are used in projecting the front…….in projecting the front…….

To get further clarification on the To get further clarification on the topic in question l also interviewed topic in question l also interviewed fellow hybrid students in the college fellow hybrid students in the college and these were their responsesand these were their responses

http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5t6-bE8n00v=G5t6-bE8n00