So, here in Blighty it appears that as a nation, we are dealing in some ways with an identity crisis.

I hear on the radio that Being British and identifying with Britishness (don't ask me for a definition), is becoming more difficult for the indigenous population

So I'd thought I'd link from the poms thing and ask the expats, do they feel more British now than when they lived in Dear Old Blighty?

personaly i feel much more in touch with my viking ancestory, since departing blighty on a quest for spiritual fulfilment.
and of course a little sacking and pillaging.

I get to feel all sorts of things now.

Being British is not high on that list.

I certainly feel like an "inbetweenie", pleased to be an Aussie citizen but my accent (broad Yorks) will always give away my heritage.

Certainly not proud to be British or anything.

Hey,I'm just a person enjoying the life in Adelaide.

Scottish first and see being British as an irrelevance.

Like TB I never really gave a fig about being British.

Align myself with Celts.

Ok -if we are being like that..........I'm a Yorkshireman first.

Posted that and I'm p@#$%^d - so I'm prouder still. ;)

whenever i hear a british accent now, i normally say hello, and ask where they are from, etc.

however even some(well 2 anyway) australian born have very british sounding accents.

Scotland and Yorkshire are both in Britain.

No arguement.....that is a fact.

However it doesn't mean all the inhabitants necessarily feel a strong Britishness.


I suspect it's the same in Haiti and Alaska.
Yes, they are part of the USA but I doubt they feel American.

And I suppose you could expand, do British feel European? Do Australians feel oceanic... Australasians... er whatever its called this week?

For me I don't feel anything, it's where I'm going that counts!

The UK is no more than an association of countries. This association could be disbanded tomorrow but the country of birth will stay with you forever! Hence the irrelevance of the UK in my thinking.

Its easy to say where you are going which counts and that is very true for day to day living but no matter what happens in life, good or bad, the history and association of where you came from will stay with you forever!

really?

or is it another "campaign" from the English tabloid media?

Thats one thing I will not miss, each and every time an "English" team do something or compete in something, it is their "God" given right to win it (and they tend not to)

For example (a really good example too):

Andy Murry (tennis dude from Dunblane, Scotland). When he wins a match or competition he is reported on the BBC/SKY News/tabloids as being best of Brittish.
But when he looses, he is reported as Scottish.

The media are coursing the rift in the divide. We all accept that we come from and associate ourself with our own parts of the countrys, and years ago as part of being Brittish. But with the media scramble to sell "sensationasium," we are becoming disgruntled as other areas of the UK seem to be getting prefferential treatment, thus the (reported) growing divide.

I used to be proud to be English (although I was frequently somewhat embarrassed by the English behavour and attitude abroad) - but now I'm proud to be Aussie and have not yet experienced the embarrassment.

I have renounced my country of birth in favour of this lucky country.

Im Scottish....and always will be... I just happen to live in another country

Just because one may take up oz citizenship, to an Australian YOU WILL NEVER BE AUSSIE...

Why cant people just enjoy it for what it is without having to detach themselves and cling onto something else :blink:

K

I think that's probably true.

We are what our roots made us and that may be Irish, Welsh or whatever.
We may not feel British persay but our prejudices were learnt at our roots.

I thought Haiti was an independant country...

OOPS. :doh:

Yep, I meant Hawaii.

What a crock..... :sigh:

I have many Australian friends who would refute that statement.

What is it that people are clinging onto - and I also don't understand the detachment aspect! If anything I would imagine it would be the other way around.

After 10 years I wouldn't know how to be English

Yes.. well everyones got their own opinion and thats mine

and I know lots who would agree with me.. ;)

I cannot believe the amount of newbies over here who so deperately cling on to becoming Australian and are so quick to make that statement ( that was not directed at you solely... just many other ridiculous posts on here of late)

I was born in Scotland, lived 29 years in UK.. therefore regardless if i stay here 10 years or not.. i am only a Scottish born individual who happens to be living in Australia, not a big deal.

K

So if you all lived in Germany would you alll want to become German, me thinks not.
You lots talk a load of twaddle sometimes.
Agree with Sigh.
Tracey

having just come back from the UK (after 8 and a half years here), I have to say I felt like a visitor.
I obviously recognised people and places, but my "connection" with them had gone...quite a surreal experience.

For me.......history and passport details are not really that relevant.....empires wax and wane, borders change, countries appear and disappear.
As far as I am concerned I am Australian, Australia is my home and I love my home.




I suspect there are many in Germany who might feel the same way, but I'm not sure that we would hear about it......

I'm interested in finding out why you chose Germany as an example.

And why is it a load of twaddle to become nationalised to the country where you live?

Does that mean there are many Germans who love the hilly part of Adelaide? Or many Germans who love Germany.

If it's the first then you'll probably be invaded eventually. They're like that, the Germans. See it, invade it, lose, then pretend it wasn't them.

If it's the second then that's good as they can't invade themselves and they'll stay where they are. Hopefully.

Deutchland, Deutchland unter alles...

do you know stan boardman?

He was his father

his father?

:blink: Thats a new one on me I always thought Haiti was a former french colony that was & is populated by Zombies raised by all the voodoo priests to do the bidding of various mad dictators over the past few yrs .

Is it possible that you meant Hawaii ????

You didn't read all the thread did you ?

that's it steveo, the same place that father christmas comes from...

Interesting thread Gonga.

I tend to think one way but act another.
Not that I'd say I'm a hippocrite, I just can't help giving away my root's I suppose and that's a common ex-pat trait.
I know a few ex-pat communities around the world and they all do the same.

Personally, I don't really care for England any more and the only part of Britain I ever miss is Scotland, but I often exaggerate the fact that I am English. If 'Being British' is wanting exactly the produce we had in Britain, expecting other nations to do things our way, wearing long socks with shorts, shorts with shoes or staying out in the sun until I'm burnt, then forget it, I'm way past that. But like the British abroad in Europe, I will often wear an England football top, or a Premier League shirt while shopping (Newcastle of course). Loads of people stick England/Scotland flags on their cars and I have an NUFC football strip in my car windscreen. But talk to the same people about their feelings for Britain and lots will say they left because they'd had enough of the place.

The time might come when I adopt Australian nationality because I really do like what Australia has to give, but I'd probably want to retain my British passport, I guess it's part of defining who I am. In the meantime, I'll support both countries in sport when I can, but if it came to a crunch, I'd support England/Britain. :unsure:

Maybe as time goes on, I'll forget about my British baggage and concentrate more on what's Australian, I'd like to think so. There is one thing I will never give up though - NOT EVER! You see to tell you the truth, I'm not really English at all, aa'm a Geordie 'n a aalways will be ...like. :loopy:

Maybe Im not British :ph43r: .You wouldnt catch me wearing a football shirt :sign68: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...........................unless I was playing football :D

I'd rather be Australian :)

For everybody here saying that they don't consider themselves British, What are you doing visiting Adelaide BRITS ?

Something to do out of boredom,

:bouncy: Liam, I just LOVE your reply!
:D Caroline.

hmmmmmm............not really ...... more of a stranger in a strange land

one thing i find is that whilst the Pomms have a stiff upper lip and tolerate a lot

the Ozzies are quick to judge and are some times quite abrupt and rude

i dont care what anyone says, i am so proud of being english...even if we do make d**ks out of ourselves....and if anyone asks me i say i am from mighty barrow in furness....most then ask, where is that ahahahaahahaha and talking about union jack bumper stickers and stuff...my dad got a personalised reg saying BARROW ahaha...my mates from home peed themselves when i told them...and its in the footy teams colours (blue and white) its sad, but it looks cool, n english people always comment on it :P

Thats the beauty of being here, you can be Australian and still be British. We will be applying for citizenship as soon as we are able. No renouncing of the mother country in order to be part of the new country.

I shall have an Australian and British (well E.U.) passport and shall use them both to my advantage.