25identity

Suzanne Estelle Ernst April 6, 1977 Peterborough, Ontario Languages: English, French, Hungarian Current City:Toronto, Ontario

culture | everyday life by suzanne ernst

starting the day

Fatima Ben Amhamad June 25, 1975 Fès, Morocco Languages:Arabic - Darija, French, English Current City: Casablanca, Morocco What time do you get up to start your day? at 6:45am What do you see when you look out your window? I see the green leaves of the trees and the blue sky What are the first things that you do as you get out of bed and prepare for the day? I bathe, get dressed, and pray. Then, the agony of the toil that I am about to confront for the day sets in! What do you eat? Do you prepare it yourself? Where do you normally purchase your food? I don’t often eat in the morning when I wake up, unless sometimes when I am feeling good, I drink a glass of milk. If not, I wait until 10:00 to eat my meal. I prepare the food myself so that I can eat it when I get to the office. I do all of my grocery shopping myself. What do you have to drink? Milk. How do you get to work? By car or else I take the bus and then a taxi. How long does it take? 1 hour a day (22km/ day work is really far) What do you do for a living? I am an executive assistant. What are your favorite clothes to put on for a day at work? I like to wear something classy, either a dress or a skirt, and sometimes I wear jeans but with a blouse and blazer to give a little style and class.

I chose this picture of myself (above) because I believe that it best represents who I am. My definition of myself, my identity so to speak, like me is in constant flux and motion. I was born on April 6, 1977 in Peterborough, Ontario where I lived until the age of 19. The place that I grew up, my activities, my family, teachers and friends helped to shape my early identity. I am, however, no longer the same person that I was then. I am not even the same person that I was yesterday. When thinking about my own identity, I realise how it continues to shift and change as I discover new people, places and things. For nine years I lived, worked and travelled abroad.This time away from home, these memories and experiences are a part of my identity. I decided to focus on nine people from around the world that have played an important part in my own journey of becoming. Rather than ask them to define themselves, I decided that I would focus on one common moment in their lives and ask them all the same simple questions about their morning routines. Their responses and the pictures that they have sent to me help to demonstrate the uniqueness of each of these individuals.

Anna Font Vacas August 1, 1983 Barcelona, Spain

Languages: Catalan, English, Spanish Current City: Buenos Aires,Argentina

What time do you get up to start your day? 8am.There is a construction site in front of my apartment and they start hammering sharp at that time. What do you see when you look out your window? The building’s courtyard garden facing north and the palacio across the street What are the first things that you do as you get out of bed and prepare for the day? Teeth, shower, coffee What do you eat? Do you prepare it yourself? Where do you normally purchase your food? I’m inclined to a fish, salad and fruit diet, but since I moved to Argentina meat has become the primary element of my kitchen. I eat out a lot but I like to cook simple things like vegetables, salads, pasta, rice and quick sandwiches. I get ingredients in the

neighbourhood’s supermarket. What do you have to drink? Basically water, still, no ice. How do you get to work? By car but sometimes I walk.

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How long does it take? 15 minutes, 40 if I walk. What do you do for a living? Architecture, teaching. What are your favorite clothes to put on for a day at work? A pair of jeans, a shirt, flat shoes.

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