We Forget That Not Everybody Had The Privilege Of Choice

We can still choose not to

Image by Anja

I always wanted to live abroad. It wasn’t that there was anything wrong with the home. On the contrary, there was a lot of good: many reasons to stay and no need to leave. I just wanted to live abroad.

Hard To Imagine

Ever since I moved, I have found it hard to imagine not living in a country different from the one I grew up in. Admittedly, it isn’t always easy: the moment you open your mouth, everyone around you knows you are not from there. You give away more than anyone should have to by simply being you. There are more questions, less common ground, fewer assumptions and many more stereotypes. Yet, when it is right for you, you wouldn’t want to live somewhere where even the most commonplace thing isn’t slightly different from what you know. It is difficult to picture how you would fit somewhere where you aren’t slightly exotic by simply being you.

Choose To Blame Those Couldn’t Choose?

Naturally, I had the privilege of choice. I decided to leave home to go abroad because I felt like it. Moreover, my accent may have caused surprise, but the colour of my skin never arose suspicion. I have been expected to act or react in a certain way to different inputs, but I have never been presumed to have…