[Image Description: A seven page comic, done in grayscale with green backgrounds. The main narrator in the comic says, “I was born in Lebanon. I grew up in Nigeria. My family is Palestinian. But I don’t have a single one of those nationalities in my wallet.” There’s a wide shot showing that the main narrator is sitting at an outdoor café by a cathedral. The main narrator says, “On paper, I’m French.”
Back to a close shot of the main narrator. They say, “My mother has Senegalese nationality which makes my sisters and I French. Sort of as an apology from France for colonizing it. But I’m not French. Even if I tried, French culture is almost impossible to integrate into.” There’s a close up of the main narrator’s drink. They continue, “It’s elitist. Conversation is a cycle of humiliation to prove who is smarter. And the way people complain! They feel entitled to everything. It’s no joke!”
Another wide shot of the café. The main narrator says, “I came to Montpellier to study medicine 3 years ago. And I know what you’re thinking, it’s just the people I’m around.” The person the main narrator is sitting with says, “Haha, I mean, you are in medicine…” The main narrator replies, “Haha okay I mean maybe that’s some if it… But because I didn’t grow up with this culture, it’s hard for me to understand a lot of social cues. Especially when it comes to people being ‘honest’.”
There is a whole page shot of the café and the cathedral. The narrator says, “I don’t mean to offend at all, but you have to understand. It’s hard to be around people who have everything and complain about nothing. I come from a small town in Lebanon. We have one of any store that Montpellier has 5 of. One cinema, one mall, actually, that closed down. In 2006 we went through a war, my friends and I grew up processing fear, trauma and gratitude. We see things differently.”
The main narrator and the person they were drinking with are now waking side by side. The main narrator says, “For me, it’s incredible to be in France, to walk in a road that isn’t just dirt, next to cars that won’t run you over, and (underline) public transport (end underline)! France is so accessible, when someone comp,Ian’s about trams taking too long to be remodeled, I just want to shake them- and say: look what you are complaining about! In a way I completely understand. When your country truly appreciates art, culture, education, and loves it’s people… no wonder they turn out smart, and defensive of their rights.” The main narrator winks and says, “And yes, elitist, but like I’m saying - I get it!”
The panels slowly pan towards the main narrator’s shadow as they say, “I guess I mostly feel a gray at my own country for not loving its people the way I do, at the end of the day, Lebanon just isn’t a choice for us to live right now. All my friends there wish they could leave. Lebanese pounds have dropped like crazy, we don’t have any export… it’s unbearable.” The view goes back to the main narrator and they ir drinking partner. The narrator says, “I know how luck I am to be here.”
We go back to a close shot of the narrator. They say, “I am grateful that at least this country recognized me. I can’t claim any legal prof that Ik: front t,he country of my mother tongue. It hurts to be rejected from your home. But I also know that’s just not how culture is defined. Look at me, complaining and getting defensive.” The narrator smiles and finishes, “Maybe I am a bit French after all.” End Description.]
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