Turning Shame to Pride: Rediscovering the Brilliance of an Accent
<p>“You have a small accent?” I hear as I order a latte over the sound of bustling morning traffic through the coffee shop. This is my favorite thing to hear (not). I smile that sort of embarrassed smile as I respond in French. I can feel my cheeks blush with heat through the crisp morning air. I hate when people point out my accent.</p>
<p>It’s not that I am ashamed to have an accent. I am not ashamed to be an American, either. Not anymore. It’s that every time someone points out my accent, I experience a sense of failure. I’ve sat in classrooms for the last fifteen years trying to perfect my French. In an instant, a young barista has unknowingly torn it all to shreds.</p>
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