Nina Charlier is a senior at the University of Minnesota studying Ecology, Evolution and Behavior Biology with a French minor. Charlier’s dad was adopted by Belgian parents and grew up there.
Byline: By Kinsey Gade (Data Editor)
“Having two languages growing up was a little off-putting. Up until age five, I spoke French at home, and then we stopped because they were concerned that my English was going to be inhibited, which is why my French is not as good as I wish it was. I remember when I started kindergarten, I was embarrassed that I didn’t speak English as well as the other kids. My parents made the decision to stop putting me in French lessons because I was having trouble spelling words in English.
I relate a lot more to my grandparents being immigrants because I got to visit them abroad in Belgium quite often as a kid. It’s a huge part of my identity and why I still speak French and why I like traveling. I remember being 10 or 11 years old. We were eating dinner at my grandparents’ house, and my grandpa offered champagne to my siblings and me. I was so offput by it and didn’t want to drink it. My parents were like, ‘Oh it’s fine.’ My older brother and I didn’t want the champagne, so we gave our little brother our cups. It was just so normalized there. In a lot of ways, I think it’s like our binge drinking culture, but it is so different, especially as a young kid. Yeah, that’s kind of a silly memory.
My grandparents are no longer alive, so we don’t (visit) as often anymore, but my dad still tries to incorporate the culture. He will be like, ‘Oh, this is Belgian,’ or we will cook foods that my grandpa used to make. I was there last April, and every time I go, it just reminds me of family. I really just identify as American. I don’t think I would ever say I am Belgian-American. I think because it is also such a small country that not a lot of people know about it, I definitely do resonate with it when I visit, it feels familiar.
I haven’t really found community on campus. I think coming from a white immigrant, I think in the U.S. it’s so much easier to become naturalized, especially in Western Europe. Because Belgium is so small, speaking French is a way for me to associate with the culture.”
This interview has been modified for length and clarity.
Interview by Kinsey Gade