The Northern Times
  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • People
  • What’s happening
  • Economy
  • Opportunities
No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Culture
  • People
  • What’s happening
  • Economy
  • Opportunities
No Result
View All Result
The Northern Times
No Result
View All Result

Multilocal 2.0: What we can learn from a TED speaker about being local in Groningen

by Yelena Kilina
October 31, 2019
in People
Home People

‘Don’t ask me where I’m from, ask where I’m local,’ says Taiye Selasi in her TED talk in 2014. Growing up and living in different parts of the globe, she disagrees with the concept of belonging to a specific country as the only possibility. Her reflection on the complexity of being local in multiple locations in today’s world went viral. Yesterday, during the 1st day of Let’s Gro festival, Taiye Selasi gave a public lecture and answered questions of those who currently feel (or are starting to feel) at home in Groningen.

So what is multilocal?

For those who haven’t watched the TED talk by Taiye Selasi, the beginning of the lecture might have been a little confusing and lacked some theoretical introduction to which many of university folks are used to: What existing research is the multilocal concept based on? What methodology was used to investigate the possible implications of the concept? Instead of long scientific explanations, the Yale and Oxford alumna introduced her topic with personal stories (‘I come from Lisbon, this is my current local’), briefly explained the subjective nature of feeling a local to a place and touched upon the three conditions for it: relationships, rituals, restrictions.

Ask a TED speaker

To do justice to both parties, long enough before the event, the speaker asked the participants to prepare and send her questions; there was only one person who actually did it (not the author of this piece). Despite the fact that not all initial expectations were fulfilled, the undoubtedly strong point of the interactive masterclass was the full engagement of Selasi with her audience. Out of around 50 attendees, at least 10 managed to ask the speaker a question about their experiences as locals and receive a comprehensive answer from her.

International or currently local?

So what problems of being multi-local in Groningen were highlighted by the event participants, many of whom listed several cities and countries as their locals? One international attendee shared that she feels local in Groningen even though she dwells in an international bubble; however, she notices that her experience of being local is a parallel society for Dutch locals despite them living in the same city. Selasi replied that the mechanism of 21st-century multi-ethnic enclaves is not different to the ethnic ones in the past: when one comes to a cultural majority and creates an enclave with those who understands how it feels to be different. ‘It is still a painful phenomenon, but you should always insist that “even though I haven’t started my life here, I have every right to be here.”’

Is language a responsibility?

Another hot topic was touched by a Groningen-born participant who asked about responsibilities of new locals, namely, about internationals not trying to learn the local language as a part of a shared ritual. Selasi suggested to change ‘responsibility’ for ‘invitation’ and said that ‘invitation goes both ways’, meaning that the new locals are invited to share the ritual of speaking the language because their experience will be only enriched; however, the old locals shouldn’t take it for granted.

Not a piece of cake

In view of complicated sensations from both Dutch and international participants, it was clear that experiencing the phenomenon of the increasingly multilocal existence is not a simple matter to anyone. The speaker stated that this process is uncomfortable, but it has been happening for centuries: ‘The discomfort is inevitable, but we should find solutions to make sure that nobody feels unwelcomed.’

Tags: Don't ask me where I'm from - ask where I'm localGroningeninternational studentsLet's GromultilocalTaiye SelasiTED Talks

Related Posts

Groningen’s Bram Buigel runs towards his dreams
Sports

Groningen’s Bram Buigel runs towards his dreams

September 13, 2023
New water fountain to be added to Grote Markt
News

New water fountain to be added to Grote Markt

September 6, 2023
Hullabaloo Festival returns to a massive crowd
Culture

Hullabaloo Festival returns to a massive crowd

September 4, 2023

Popular News

  • Groningen Market Day arriving with its biggest market to date

    Groningen Market Day arriving with its biggest market to date

    381 shares
    Share 152 Tweet 95
  • More explosions rock Groningen province

    408 shares
    Share 163 Tweet 102
  • University of Groningen facing financial trouble

    362 shares
    Share 145 Tweet 91
  • University of Groningen becomes first official TOEFL test center in the North

    346 shares
    Share 138 Tweet 87
  • Three people killed in Rotterdam shootings

    338 shares
    Share 135 Tweet 85
The Northerntimes is powered by: TopDutch

No Result
View All Result
  • Arts
  • Contributors
  • Covid-19 News
  • Covid Chronicles
  • authority
  • personal
  • photo reportage
  • professional
  • Crime
  • Culture
  • Drenthe
  • Dutch history
  • Econ 050
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Eurosonic Noorderslag
  • Friesland
  • Groningen
  • Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Make it in the North
  • National
  • News
  • Nightlife
  • Opinion
  • Opportunities
  • Education
  • People
  • Expats
  • International students
  • Politics
  • Shopping
  • Sports
  • submitted articles
  • Top Dutch Business
  • Travel
  • Typical Dutch
  • Ukraine
  • Uncategorized
  • What’s happening
  • World

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Submit a article

Send in an article to be published on The Northern Times.

Send a news tip

Got a story idea or want us to be aware of anything?