Linda’s #SoCS prompt this week…
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “inter-” Use the prefix “inter-” any way you’d like. Enjoy!
Inter-national.
That’s where I’m gonna go with this Stream of Consciousness post.
Here I sit, in lil old England born and bred, yet I’m not English.
British, I call myself, or a British Asian. Some say British – born.
Yet my background has a little more colour than your average Brit.
Yes, I was born here, but to Sikh parents.
Who moved here from Kenya.
Who were born in Kenya.
Who’s forefathers came over from the Punjab in India to help build the railways in Africa.
So there is a huge Kenyan influence on my upbringing, and life. I spent many summers there growing up, so I was able to cultivate relationships with all the family we had out there.
But I’m also Indian.
That’s a part of me I can’t hide. My skin tells that story. And whatever anyone else thinks, that is a part of my heritage I am proud of too. From the clothes we wear, to the music we listen to, the food we eat, to the way we practice our religion, it is all part of me.
So… Am I a British person, a British Asian, a British Kenyan, a British Kenyan Asian…?
And while we’re on the subject of international family, my brother lives in Finland, married to a Finnish girl, with a beautiful Finnjabi/Finndian son! Another dimension to add to our family!
On top of that, my extended family have managed to spread far and wide… From India, they dispersed to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Then there came the UK, Canada, the USA and Australia. Obviously we invaded Finland, but there was already a branch of my family in Norway and Sweden! Dubai is another place!
(Oh and I didn’t mention that my ancestors from my Pops side many generations previously, were apparently Muslim, so there is probably a Pakistan link there too! Sikhism is a relatively new religion and most families were either Muslim or Hindu before they converted to this new religion, so it really annoys me when there are Sikhs clashing with Muslims… unless you have researched it, you don’t know if your own roots were in Islam!)
Inter-national connections, that’s what I have!
But I Smile Anyway... 
May 09, 2017 @ 10:16:15
Wow…such a rich legacy….superb!
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May 09, 2017 @ 11:20:10
Thanks Anisha!
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May 08, 2017 @ 17:41:16
Global citizen 🙂 That’s an enriching life!
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May 08, 2017 @ 17:50:09
It is indeed Prajakta!!!
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May 08, 2017 @ 12:51:36
Great post
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May 08, 2017 @ 12:59:41
Thanks!
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May 07, 2017 @ 08:01:55
This is quite a rich map of heritage 🙂
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May 07, 2017 @ 09:23:29
It is indeed!!!
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May 07, 2017 @ 05:03:08
Sounds wonderful!
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May 07, 2017 @ 04:25:40
Such a glorious, rich heritage!
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May 07, 2017 @ 09:19:18
There sure is a lotta colour goin on over here!!
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May 07, 2017 @ 23:30:54
Oh yeah. Won’t it be wonderful when our species evolves past the myth of genetic superiority based on race?
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May 08, 2017 @ 06:46:46
So true Robert. The day we are all accepted for who we are, not what we look like, or believe in, would truly be a wonderful day!
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May 06, 2017 @ 23:20:10
A very INTEResting and wonderful lineage Sister!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 23:30:30
Lol thanks Brother!!! 😁
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May 06, 2017 @ 23:33:48
You’re welcome dear Sister!!! 😁
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May 06, 2017 @ 21:07:22
So international! Let’s say human in a great positive wonderful Way!
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May 06, 2017 @ 21:11:50
Aw thanks Dom!
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May 06, 2017 @ 20:51:53
This is what’s making you you and us us. Have a great weekend!
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May 06, 2017 @ 21:11:31
True Cecilia! Have a great weekend!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 19:56:17
You’re a woman of rich background, but to me you’re just Ritu. I love reading about different cultures and so sometimes that makes you more interesting, but I’m happy to look at your pictures of food and your cat, and those are … basic. lol
I kinda feel the same about some things. I can feel the south in me, and the Italian, but when I look in a mirror, I see only Dutch. Perhaps it’s the melding and blending that makes us who we are 🙂
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May 06, 2017 @ 20:00:02
It’s all exactly what makes us what we are Joey!!! Xx
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May 06, 2017 @ 19:32:39
You indeed do have an iinternational family Sis, but that makes you so rich in culture 🙂
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May 06, 2017 @ 19:48:52
It does sis. Makes me who I am.i guess!!!
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May 07, 2017 @ 14:32:10
Absolutely! 🙂
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May 06, 2017 @ 16:16:48
What a wonderful and interesting background, Ritu! You are very fortunate to have such an enriching experience. So glad you shared! 🙂
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May 06, 2017 @ 16:55:08
Thanks Tonya! I am lucky indeed 💛
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May 06, 2017 @ 15:08:20
Fabulous family tree! 😎🌹
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May 06, 2017 @ 15:35:37
Thank you Dorna!!! It’s a mish mash of exotic blooms!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 14:59:17
My kids father was Jewish. He passed away when they were 5 and 7. My DIL was born in Brazil to parents whose grandparents and great grandparents had settled there from Ukraine. It can cause a headache thinking about my granddaughter’s lineage. 🙂
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May 06, 2017 @ 15:35:15
Lol!!! But what a conversation starter!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 16:48:31
My maternal grandfather told my mother that he had native American heritage. Hard to know how true that is, but his family was French Canadian and it wasn’t uncommon in the 1700 – 1800’s. I’ve been tempted to get genetic testing just to see what’s actually there.
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May 06, 2017 @ 16:55:52
It might be fascinating to find out!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 14:27:38
I love your multi-national family and the many countries around the world in which they live. It’s wonderful that you embrace your cultural heritage and family so enthusiastically.
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May 06, 2017 @ 15:34:43
Thank you!!! I’m lucky really!!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:56:11
A one-woman melting pot. I love it. There’s a richness to your heritage and it’s a good thing to honor.
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:57:24
Thanks Dan!!! I am Indian with so many international layers!!!!!!!! Lol! I love to keep all those layers fresh!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:35:17
That’s such an interesting blog Sis my family is similar not Indian but we have English, Irish, Chinese, and we have had Iranian, I have a half Iranian niece born here in England, and a half Chinese nephew born in Hong Kong, quite a mixed bunch! Loved your post 💝💜💖
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:49:15
Oh wow sis! Your background is so colourful too!!! 💛💛💛
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May 06, 2017 @ 13:59:13
It is isn’t it and there is more if I dig deeper 💝💜💟
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May 06, 2017 @ 14:10:10
So cool!!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 14:13:25
🤗💚💝
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:32:43
Nice one…
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:48:23
Thanks 🙂
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May 06, 2017 @ 11:56:05
You have a cool story with a very colorful family.
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:03:39
Thanks Tony!!! Definitely colourful!!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:04:39
It’s interesting the number of folks from Kenya who have Indian roots. Frankly its a story we don’t hear much of in the USA.
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:05:59
There is a huge Indian community there!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 11:49:04
Wow, sis! Your family rules the globe 😄 I love that!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 11:50:28
Lol!! We do kinda get around!!! 🤣
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:00:26
The whole globe is literally home for you!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 12:05:34
😁😁😁
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May 06, 2017 @ 09:39:20
A very interesting background you have, Ritu. Kenya is a lovely country. I am an England born girl living in South Africa married to a Scot with two English/South African children and who travels to Botswana and Namibia.
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May 06, 2017 @ 10:28:41
See you have that wonderful mix like me too! Kenya is beautiful indeed!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 08:33:23
wow – beautiful said and introduced, valuable!
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May 06, 2017 @ 08:35:54
Thanks Mihran!!!
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May 06, 2017 @ 07:08:01
Great to know about you 🙂
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May 06, 2017 @ 08:16:29
Thanks Reena!
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