Norwegian | South African
I identify as a mixed-race Norwegian and South African. My Mum is from Oslo, Norway and my Dad is from Durban, South Africa. My Dad is fifth-generation Indian-South African, so genetically I’m half Norwegian, half Indian-South African. They met in Johannesburg, South Africa. I grew up in Oslo, but my dad and that side of the family have been in Johannesburg throughout my upbringing, so I always travelled back and forth during holidays. I think it’s easy to feel different and perhaps excluded because people might perceive you in a different way. Growing up, it can be quite difficult to figure out how to identify yourself, when your identity is different to those around you and when you’re constantly questioned on where you are from. My impression is that most people are genuinely curious to hear about where I am from. I think people have gotten increasingly better in knowing how to raise these questions and how to frame these types of conversations. I think the bias attitudes or stereotypes towards mixed-race people might be due to a lack of understanding. I find that people sometimes object to the concept of being from two or several cultures A positive thing about being mixed-race is that I get to experience so much by being part of two diverse cultures and countries. I think it ultimately has made me more open-minded and understanding of other cultures, as well as given me the opportunity to see more of the world. One negative experience is the perhaps the lack of a sense of belonging. As I have gotten older, I have come to terms with the fact that identity can be more than just where you are from, and you can have a sense of belonging through other places and through people around you. If I were to be born again, I would like to return as myself. I would not want to change anything about my racial background or my upbringing as it has ultimately shaped me to who I am today. I am so fortunate to have been able to see and experience so much of the world, and to have been exposed to so many open and generous people because of it.
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