I'm considered half of English heritage, though my mother and grandmother were both born in Australia.

I can't say that I have language difficulties as much as I have cultural difficulties...

Every state has those areas where you don't want to be from, they have a bad rep, I'm from one of those. 

I learned not to mention where I was from at university where in class they would say "oh you're from there?!?" and judged based on that, I was one of those lot. I found my lot to be a lot more approachable and friendly because all we really had was each other in class. 

Even in church I learned not to mention it, that they treated me like I had cooties.

I may not have a language barrier, but I have a cultural barrier of sorts, that I got treated differently just because of where I'm from, where I grew up. 

Someone once said to me that if someone can't or won't accept you, they're not worth your time or your friendship. 

Where I grew up is part of my story, part of me, that's not going to change. Hiding it doesn't help me find my people, because they're only accepting of what I show them, so I need to show them all of me, that's where I find true and honest friendship and community.