Dutch | Surinamese
My Mother was born and raised in Paramaribo, Surinam and came to Holland in her early 20’s. My Dad was born and raised in Holland. As I grew older, I have definitely experienced challenges in my life based around my mixed identity. Humans have a built-in tendency to want to belong in groups. There was a period in my teen years where I was struggling whether I was Black or White enough to fit in. You’re actually neither one thing or the other while simultaneously being both. My cultures have affected the way I connect with food, music, language and fashion. I will say it loud & proudly; Surinamese food is seriously one of the best foods in the world. It has all kinds of influences from different cultures like Creole, Indonesian, Chinese and Hindustani. But the White part in me loves the Dutch food as well. Like I said, I’m a sucker for ‘stamppot’ and also haring (a small oily silvery-colored typical Dutch fish). My Mum used to play the old-school R&B songs back in the days and I think my music taste has stuck in the 90’s/ 00’s music area. Furthermore, I also love Zouk, Soca, Latin and some Dutch singers as well, like Marco Borsato. I speak fluently Dutch and understand the Surinamese language, but I can only talk a few Surinamese sentences. Back in the days, it wasn’t common for my Mum to talk back in Surinamese to her parents when she was younger, because it was considered ‘rude’. So I think that played a role of me not talking back in Surinamese either. Being mixed-race has taught me so much about accepting two different cultures. Although I stand by my personal beliefs and ethics, I try to remain open to seeing the truth in what others think. I take on the role of an explorer and allow myself to be fascinated by how the unique configuration of a person’s personal traits, family background, culture, schooling, and life experiences shapes their unique perspective. Eventually it gives you a more open mind about understanding and accepting all cultures and differences. And even though I have experienced some challenges around my identity, I also receive great compliments from many people of different cultures!
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