Ripples of I – Blog 113: Belonging is not an accent

Every Wednesday, I share one article made up of three little ripples: 

One Inspiration 

Yesterday I reached an important milestone: I’ve now spent half of my life living outside Italy, the country where I was born. 

I left Italy at 19, with an extra-large red suitcase, no real plan and a head full of dreams. Since then, life has taken me on a bit of a scenic route - first England, then Scotland, and now Canada, where, since 2024, I’m officially Canadian. 

My Italian accent is still very much alive (and I am sure will always be), but I’ve learned that identity is about much more than the way we sound. 

It’s about the places that shape us, the cultures we absorb, the people we meet, and the choices we make about where we build our lives. 

For a long time, I used to feel a little (OK... very) frustrated when people asked me, “Where are you from?” 

Sometimes it was simple curiosity. 

Other times, it carried a subtle message: you’re not quite from here. 

That’s why questions like this can feel like microaggressions for people who live between cultures. Not because anyone intends harm, but because the question can unintentionally suggest that belonging has to be explained. Want to learn more? Click here.  

The reality is that the answer is more complex than a single country: 

• I’m Italian by birth (that's where my childhood and teenage memories were made) 

• Shaped by years in the UK (just over of decade of first experiences... life, love, work etc.) 

• And deeply connected, with all my heart, to Canada (since 2017, it’s where I’ve built my life with my family)

  
  

And the truth is: all three live inside me at the same time. 

One Insight 

Living across countries has taught me a few things about identity, belonging, and home: 

• Identity evolves. Where you are born is just the starting point. The places you live, the people you meet, and the experiences you collect continue shaping who you are. 

• Belonging isn’t about an accent. An accent might hint at your origins, but truly feeling at home comes from participation, connection, and choice. 

• Home is layered. It’s not always one city, one country, or one culture. Home is layered - a mix of memories, habits, relationships, and values from all the places that have touched you. For example, I feel home when I have a tea and think of my times in the UK, or when I listen to Italian songs from my childhood or when I spend time in nature in Canada.  

• Living between cultures is a superpower. When you experience multiple cultures, you begin to notice things that others might miss. You learn to translate ideas, connect perspectives, and link worlds that don’t always see each other clearly. 

  
  

In many ways, people who live across cultures become bridges. 

One Invite 

This week, I invite you to pause and think about the places that have shaped you. 

Not just where you were born, but the countries, cities, neighborhoods, communities that have left a mark on who you are. 

Which places live inside you, quietly shaping how you think, speak, and see the world?