BORN TO STAND OUT BY NICOLE JURADO

I was born in Paris, France, but I spent eight years of my childhood in Austria, where my mother influenced me with her Spanish culture and my father shared his Austrian traditions.

My father made sure I attended English-speaking schools for consistency because we moved frequently. His work would move us to Belgium, Brazil, and the USA for the next few years. There, I attended international schools, which prepared me for long-distance friendships and frequent goodbyes. During my travels, I was always asked, “Where are you from?” That’s when I really started to wonder where I truly belong. . . .

In France, I am not a citizen despite being born there.

In Spain, I am not local enough to fit in.

In Austria, I am just an expat, despite having lived there for nine years.

In Brazil, I am a tourist.

In the US, I am a foreigner.

So where do I really belong?

I realized that my identity is a backpack of accumulated identities, labels, stigmas, and stereotypes. So, I can sincerely say that the meaning of “home” has never been defined by the country where I was born.

To me, home is the memory of my mother’s voice; my Abuela’s food; my brother’s laughter; my lover’s hugs; my Oma’s apple strudel; my cat’s purr, and traditional Schlager music. It is the culmination of nostalgia and my life experiences.

Home, for me, lies in my fondest memories. It’s an ability to find meaning anywhere I’m located in this beautiful world and realizing that it is okay not to fit in: I was born to stand out.