Culture is something we are all born into; it gives us a sense of who we are, and is woven into the very fabric of our lives. Our culture has he ability to influence us, our behaviours, belief systems and values, but culture can also change; the way we think and behave, but there is a chance, we may also lose sight of what our own culture is.
When people ask why I like to travel so much, I often say, it is to experience different cultures. To witness new things, and see how other people live their lives differently.
However, an incident in Vietnam has led me to reflect on whether we are aware of our own culture, particularly those who have travelled and lived away from their own home for significant periods of time.
For the purposes of this piece, I am talking about and reflecting on the Culture of Northern Ireland, where I am from, but the principle of this can apply to anyone.
My Background
Firstly, I feel that I am a bit of a cultural hybrid. I was born in Northern Ireland, but moved to England for further education at the age of 19, where I lived for 5 years. I then moved to New Zealand and travelled for the past three years.
Not such a big deal you’d think, as many young people leave Northern Ireland to study or travel, each year.
However I tend to pick up accents and quoloclisms very quickly. I adopt cultures, and behaviours to those that I surround myself with very easily.
So much so that when I travel, people can’t work out where I am from.
Sad really.
However, when I am back in Northern Ireland, I speak like I’ve never left the place.
The incident in Vietnam
When I was in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in September last year, I had stopped at the park to have some rest time after a busy day exploring the city. I was approached by two young Vietnamese students, who asked if I’d come sit with their group to talk with them. They were practicing their English with each other, as it is a requirement of all schools in Vietnam is to pass a basic level of English.
I was happy to help, so I joined their circle of about 15 of them. We talked for a good length of time. Initially the questions were fairly basic; I was asked my name, age, where I was from, and what I liked about Vietnam. Then a girl who had been sitting there quietly, turned to me, and said:
Can you tell us about the culture of Northern Ireland?
15 young faces sat there and stared at me, eagerly awaiting my answer.
Um. I said. I .. I don’t know … it is different, very different to Vietnam.
I was stumped.
Thoughts about football and other sports, excessive drinking, Ulster Fry’s, or having a wee cup of tea and a bun, a welcoming hospitality came to mind. But there was no clear way of answering this, I thought.
The heavens then opened, as it usually does in the Monsoon season. I was saved from answering that question.
As I walked back to my Guesthouse, drenched. I felt a little ashamed. I thought:
Why was I unable to answer the simplest of questions?’ I was born in Northern Ireland, I lived there for the first 19 years of my life. This should be an easy question.
But I didn’t know it. I knew about the history, and I could easily recommend places to go and what to see, but the culture. I had no idea, what it was or meant, to be from there. I knew it was vastly different to the culture of Vietnam. You won’t see people sat on plastic stools cooking noodles at the side of the road, for example, or carting half of their life on the back of a scooter in Northern Ireland; for one, health and safety laws would prevent it. But in reality, Vietnam and Northern Ireland are extremely different.
When people think of Ireland, images of Guinness drinking, potato eating, fiddle playing leprechauns often come to mind. Of course Ireland is not really like that at all.
When people think of Northern Ireland, most will think of ‘the troubles’ or ask if you are from Belfast, as that is all they’ve heard of; that and the Giants Causeway, which just so happens is pretty close to where I grew up, and is beautiful.
So is it really possible to lose sight of your own culture, or have I just lost touch with my roots, and need to get back to them?
I have recently embarked upon a journey of discovering what Northern Irish Culture is and what it means to be from Northern Ireland. For this I enlisted the help of some local friends and family from Northern Ireland. Some of which have travelled extensively, and others not so much. Their responses are filtered within the rest of this article. 10 people were asked, all of whom have travelled extensively, with the majority of the respondents current living or travelling outside of Northern Ireland.
As well as this, I spent a lot of time reflecting, in what it means to be from Northern Ireland, to have been brought up there, rather than another country. Although sometimes I wonder how much different my life would be, if I was born in another country, and raised into a different culture.
What is your understanding of the word culture?
First off, a definition. Culture is defined as:
The ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society – Oxford English Dictionary –
To me, culture is the fundamental backbone of a society, it is what makes us into the people we are. It influences how we behave and respond to a variety of challenges and events.
Most people surveyed recognised that it was the norms of a given society, or a collection of aspects which were unique to a country.
Culture is
What does it mean to you being from Northern Ireland?
I am very proud to be from Northern Ireland and to be part of the Island of Ireland. Northern Ireland is and always will be home. No matter where I am from.
When I travel, and I meet other Northern Irish people, I get excited! They understand me (and thats not just the accent), but we seem to have this connection. I imagine this is the same when people from the same area or country meet each other on their travels.
When I asked a small selection of people their responses were fairly positive, with those who had moved away still feeling that they have a connection with the country, as a place that they were born, grew up, and where their family still remain,
I have so much love for my home country and just love being back there. It fills me with such warmness. People are so friendly!! It took me leaving to realise that – Sharron, London, UK
Home, land and family – Angela, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
I grew up there. My family live there – Allan – Bangkok, Thailand (from Live Less Ordinary)
For better or for worse, it’s where I was born – Justin from ikimasho.net
Some were proud of the size of our country, and highlighted that it is undervalued, but gave room for growth.
Pride and a country which is unknown, under estimated and under mined, but never outdone – Jonny Blair, from Don’t Stop Living
I feel small in comparison to the rest of the world, but I wouldn’t change that. I love being from that small part of the world, it makes you more encouraged to grow – Jess from Found Astray
Insular, but proud of our roots – at times this means we live in the past too much. We are a funny breed, while there is shared heritage and culture and families live in the same area for generations, this means there is a sense of timelessness, but at the same time traditionally people have left northern ireland to seek out other worlds. maybe that means those that are left become more insular? It takes a long time for things to change in Northern Ireland. We are also afraid of admitting failure. We take a lot of persuasion to try new things. Again is this because the free thinkers leave the country? – Caroline, Coleraine, Northern Ireland
Do we have an identity crisis in Northern Ireland. Do you consider yourself to be Irish, Northern Irish or British?
Editors note: So this may be a bit of a politically sensitive question, but I don’t want to discuss whose side you’re on. I just want to know what you’d consider your nationality to be.
My passport classifies me as British; a citizen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but I would consider myself to be Northern Irish (not a nationality on its own I know), although I can interchangeably use the terms Irish and Northern Irish at times. When I travel, depending on who I am talking to, I tell people I am from Ireland or Northern Ireland. I can also have an Irish passport if I want to (but currently don’t).
Don’t get me wrong, I also love being from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I think it is such a diverse nation, and despite what most people say, I think we have a pretty good healthcare system (try a hospital in Vietnam and you’ll see what I mean!)
I do think we have an identity crisis however; most people read an address in Northern Ireland, and believe that you are from Ireland, and not part of the UK at all. My mum has had arguments with postal services wanting to charge her higher rates, stating Northern Ireland is not part of the UK. I have had people asking me if I need to have a visa to work in England, and asked if we use Euros in Northern Ireland.
I think we have a bigger identity crisis than those from Scotland or Wales (who will proudly tell you they are Scottish or Welsh, despite being classified as British in their passports).
Out of the 10 people surveyed, one person considered themselves to be Irish, four – Northern Irish, three – British and two people said they used the a mixture of answers when telling people their nationality.
When answering whether it was felt that Northern Ireland had an identity crisis, only a three people directly responded to this, but of those that did respond 2 said yes, and one saying no, but identified that some people did have an identify crisis.
Completely yes! People not from this country will always identify you as Irish. To me, I am Northern Irish. Its, its own country. I don’t oppose being called Irish or British though. I just feel like a fraud. – Jess from Found Astray
But what makes Northern Irish Culture unique?
Most people say that people from Northern Ireland are welcoming and friendly, but this is something I experienced a lot of in New Zealand, and indeed many other countries. Having been invited to a persons home for dinner, when I had only just met them for example, or being picked up at the side of the road by local Vietnamese youngsters, after a motorbike accident.
Some people say we have a great sense of community – but again I’ve experienced this living in New Zealand, especially in the post Canterbury Earthquakes.
When I asked others about this, some people alluded to the size of the country and how everyone knows each other and can have a good laugh with them (good banter), and at ourselves, as well as having a good sense of humour and generally being friendly.
The uniqueness of our political situation was alluded to:
Some people referred to its background, and heritage:
I do feel incredibly proud to be from Northern Ireland however; I will forever be connected to that small part of the World, and will consider it to be home. Generally I think Northern Irish (see, my reference to being ‘Northern Irish’ here) people are quite friendly, open and relaxed people. I love the fact that we often have a ‘don’t give a crap attitude’, (as in not overly bothered by things), our independent nature, and in general being proud of our local food, and local people.
Travelling really does give you an insight into other people’s lives and to a different culture. I feel however that I know more about different cultures in the World than my own. However, now that I am living nearer to my home country, I am keen to explore the culture a lot more.
So this may be the most uninspiring thing I have written, and I know it is heavily focused on Northern Ireland, but I am really keen to know – do you know your own culture? If you are living outside of your own home country – do you feel that you are still connected to that part of the World.
Is it possible to lose sight of what your own culture is, and adopt others?
Do those of you living in your own country (and perhaps have done for many years), know your own culture?
Comment, share or berate me below
Editor thanks
Thank you to those who answered my short survey, including the following travel writers –
Damien from Chasing Penelope
Jonny from Don’t Stop Living
Jess from Found Astray
Justin from Ikimasho
Allan from Live Less Ordinary
And for those who responded that aren’t travel writers, or chose not to leave your name – thank you too.
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yeah Id say identity wise im all 3 British Northern Irish and geographically Irish, i accept i was born on the island of Ireland, but when i go to the Republic of Ireland it feels different, the people are different so my Irish identity is not a National identity but a geographical one, then i’m Northern Irish i feel so much in common with someone from Fermanagh, Down, Derry, or Tyrone, then British, i love being from the UK the different parts of the UK but we all share the same food and traditions
Fair comment Paul.
I’d say I feel more Irish, when I am supporting Rugby, and I would feel connected to people from the ROI when away travelling, but if just visiting the ROI, I’d feel different. Though I don’t feel overly connected to people from mainland Britain. Perhaps more so to Scottish people – they seem to understand us a bit more.
A strange old World we live in eh!
Hmmmm – interesting read although I am none the wiser to what our ‘culture’ actually is to be honest.
All this talk of home makes me want to book my Christmas flights home though very soon in the hope of understanding more of our ‘culture’ whatever that actually is….
Hi shaz,
Thanks for commenting,
I think it is something you need to reflect on a little – but it is a huge topic, and one which I will ponder for a while. It would be interesting to talk to older generations, and see whether they have a grip on our culture.
As Caroline has said though – culture can and has changed.
Enjoy being back at home and discovering this, and thanks for your input into my article.
Abbi
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Abbi
This could be a very fascinating debate and I think it is true we are unaware of what our culture really is. It is easy to see how we have different education systems in terms of school hours, exam qualifications etc, or dress totally differently to some other countries or live in different styles of houses, use differing modes of transport and so on. Similarly we can notice quite readily that our religious and historic sites are not the same as others. In terms of eating, we can be aware that the whole world does not eat an ulster fry for breakfast or use potatoes as a staple part of their diet and that indeed some countries eat what we consider ‘main meals’ at breakfast time. I am already aware I am trotting out a stereotype here on the food front – for example some Americans recently were very surprised to hear that I quite frequently eat Mexican or Indian food, which amused me greatly, though I am sure I hold similar stereotypical views of the US.
Nevertheless this hardly touches the elusive term ‘culture’ and its one I find difficult to define without reverting to stereotype, but here’s a few viewpoints 1- we are still in a culture where man is seen as the provider, men still tend to be better paid, women to be the ones who end up juggling kids and a career – however I do think this is changing, and certainly in my lifetime. Coupled with this, people seem to be marrying later than a generation ago, and people are also much more tolerant of differing family arrangements. 2 -We are less likely to respect authority than in the past. I see this in my own work where young adults (most notably Asian ) are much more respectful of those they view as senior than local young people. As workers we are more likely to want to put our viewpoints across and wish to have autonomy in our working lives. 3 – we are generally materialistic, again this is a swing I have noticed, as a consequence we now work long hours, not because (as in the past) we do not have the technology to do the work, but because we want to have more money to make a ‘better’ lifestyle (i.e. buy more ‘stuff’) and because we want it immediately. We are quite self-indulgent really. On a related point, our attitude towards credit has changed, ‘back in the day’ it was only major purchases which were bought on credit, if you didn’t have money for something – you waited until you had saved it up. 4 – we mainly look after our own immediate household and our possessions – although there are a lot of good people who work tirelessly for the greater good of the wider community. Is this as a result of a more mobile workforce, and the loss of extended family or just materialism? 5 – we rely a lot on the public sector – for healthcare, schooling, jobs, grant-money, even to cut our grass verges! . 6- we are slightly risk averse, it takes longer for ‘trends’ to reach here. This is coupled with the fact that we rely on positive word of mouth from our reference groups before we do something new. This is complicated further by ‘covering up’ of mistakes, – we never want anyone to know we made a mistake. 7 – we queue – its almost a hobby – or does all the world do this? Take any airport departure gate as an example. 8 – we mostly believe that if you work hard you get rewarded therefore we are achievement orientated – see education, sports or work promotion as examples. These are off the top of my head, I am sure there are more. I realise that this is a mix of what I believe NI culture to be and also how I believe it has changed in my lifetime, but this may give you a different perspective.
Similarly, culture could be seen as a mix of national culture, work culture, and the way you are brought up. Two people born on the same street (or indeed in the same house) could lead very different lifestyles and have differing ideas on what they see and believe to be normal, e.g. some people are more family orientated than others, some more ambitious or materialistic. Therefore the above list is only some opinions. Many people, myself included, would like to believe we are open minded, but at the same time, we don’t often challenge our own logic and belief systems – mostly because we don’t have to. Its easier when you move out of your own culture to notice the differences, to question and judge the way you have been brought up, hence why travel really does broaden the mind. Interestingly it exposes us to what others think our lives in NI are like, which is often far from the truth. Keep on expanding your horizons. NI will forever provide your roots, but the world has many branches.
Hi Caroline,
Gosh – I think you win the longest comment award on my blog!
Seriously though – great feedback and comments. It is interesting to see how the World has changed from say 30 years ago to now, and with that comes and shift in culture. I totally agree with your comment on respect of the older generation – that is becoming less and less these days. Young people want things now, and they don’t want to wait or work hard for it, but I think this can be linked to the war-time babies – older people had to fight for what they wanted, or believed, they had to work hard, make difficult sacrifices, ration things, see loved ones disappear off to fight for their country; not knowing if they’d be back again. These days, it is more about how quickly you can get broadband at home, or having the latest smartphone. It is all a bit superficial.
Interesting comment about the credit thing by the way – the other day I bought my groceries on credit, as I had yet to be paid – whereas, I could probably have lived on what I had for the weekend, and shopped today.
Incredibly interesting discussion, and I agree, one which could be debated for a little while.
Feel free to share.
Thanks,
Abbi
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