Cultural Dialogue as Identity-Work

Abstract

I don't want to feel out of place (pauses, searching for the “right” words). I don't want to have my difference hinder me. But, help me if anything. So, I want to express myself so they can understand me—so, that I can communicate.But, in Jamaica, when I was a little kid, you always heard crazy little things when you're a kid (laughs). And, you're like: “Oh, they act like this, and they do this. They're so silly: They spell color without the u.” And they didn't necessarily seem to make it a bad thing to be that way, but it was understood that we were different. And, I liked being different. I liked being Jamaican.And, so I got here and um… It's like it didn't seem that weird. And, then I was worried that it doesn't seem that weird because I'm LIKE THEM! So, when I lost my accent, I was worried that I would lose being Jamaican. I was afraid that I'd lose my identity. (LeeAnn [pseudonym])