…I am reintroducing myself to you.
Why?
First of all because I like YOU!
Let me explain.
A few days ago I had a few minutes on the phone with fabulous Jen from CraftOmaniac.
Don’t you love her?
I do!
I had the chance to meet her for the very first time and share a wonderful girls night out with her yesterday.
I am so lucky… I know. I had a blast!
Here we are doing some shopping last night!
OK … lets go back to before we met.
After… I don’t know, a few minutes on the phone this is what she said:
{ Keep in mind that she had NEVER heard my voice before… }
“Oh, my GOSH! You have an accent!”
I had mentioned before that if you could hear me speak you will hear an accent when I talk,
but I think no one is prepared to know how I really sound.
How do I sound?
I sound like me.
{ one year old }
I was born on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean… In a small island call Lanzarote,
near to the North West Coast of Africa.
I spent the first 21 years of my life there.
A while ago believe it or not I was a little six years old girl that loved to play,
to spend long summers in the beach and dream BIG DREAMS!
{ school picture }
As a teenager if you asked me how did I imagine America
I would have probably described a scene of Bay Watch.
{ Sorry that was the closest thing to Google Earth back then }
My answer would had been something like this…
“Everyone wears red swimming suits and people don’t know how to swim that well…”
But what do you expect from a 12 year old…
I also spent my 80s in my little island… without an “accent” but listening for the very first time to tourists that had one 
And heck yeah with a Madonna attitude…
{ Los Carnavales! }
And before I knew I was 18 still rocking my wave!
I was all grown up loving the fact that I knew my world perfectly,
every street and every door…
every ocean and every shore…
every remote place of that small island that for so long I called home…
One day however I woke up and I realized I was in love!
In love with a man that had an American accent and go figure but he was in love with a girl that had a Spaniard one.
What a pair!
Yes… we got married and shared bellies.
{ My mon and dad with me at 6:00am, the morning that my handsome Devin was born }
And this same image repeated itself four times
{ 6:30 am on my way to the Hospital with Mimi}
I am a blessed woman!
{ in the Hospital just minutes after our Mimi was born }
… Somewhere between those bellies something happened.
I realized that I had a new home and that somehow I was the only one with an accent now.
He didn’t have one anymore…
Confession Time:
I was back then a 20 something year old sad child!
For the longest time I hated my accent.
{ Can you believe it? }
It bothered me that I couldn’t speak PERFECTLY, that people could notice that I was from some place BUT not here.
I hated being different and I felt perhaps for the very first time afraid to speak.
I remember one day crying like a little girl inside of the bathroom of my first job here.
I had been in the USA for a few month and I felt like an idiot,
I could not communicate, I could not express myself freely,
I felt my accent and language was a thorn in my life and I hated it…
Between those tears of frustration and anger the memory of my grandfather came into my mind
and like a whisper inside of my soul his wisdom came to me:
“Desirée… why are you crying?
Don’t you see what you are doing?
Don’t you see that you sound just like me?
Like your mother…
{ my mom and I }
Like your roots…
{ my grandmother ( abuela ), my mom, me and my Saydi… Four Generations! }
Like your island…
You sound like you!
{ me }
I love this picture above because that is actually what happend.:
I opened my arms and my heart to my new accent!
I share this with you because I have noticed that so many of us have an “accent”.
Yes we do!
Some you can hear like mine… others you can see, like… a birth mark.
Some other accents we hide so well that we don’t allow anyone to see them for fear to be judged or to stand out.
The beautiful thing about our accents
is that if you really think about it Abuelo was right…
It makes you YOU and a anchor to those that you came from.
So I have an invitation for all…
LOVE YOUR ACCENT!
Love your YOU-niqueness!
Embrace it, share it, celebrate it… and hate will become love,
tears will become laughter, insecurity will become personality and fear will become courage.
And those around you will love you for who you are
instead of for how you look or sound.
I promise YOU!
Thank You Jen my Sweet Friend for a great evening!
Desirée
{ with an accent}
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45 Responses to YOUR Accent!
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I am Desirée, the heart behind
The 36th Avenue.
I am a mamá X 4, a thrifty shopper,
a fabric lover,a paint brush best friend
and a never ending makeover believer.
Thank you for visiting with me today!
{ ...Read more HERE }
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First of all, I love your new look and new picture! You are so beautiful in every way! Although I’m trying to be a better blogger I don’t spend that much time reading a zillion blogs like I should. Yours AND Jen’s however, are my favorites and I always read them first (and then usually stop there):) I think the reason people may be surprised by your accent (and mostly that English was your second language) is because you write so flawlessly!! You are such a better writer than most of us (for sure me!) and English was NOT your first language. I personally can’t get over it! CRAZY!
P.S. I haven’t even heard your accent but I’m already jealous of it! Thanks for sharing your wonderful personality with us.
Oh my goodness!
I am so touched by your comment.
God bless your beautiful heart. Thank you so much!
Like, like, like and love this post. I have been following you for a while now. I just adore the way you write and share your talents with us. Thank you for sharing more of your journey with us in such a sweet, endearing and thoughtful way. You are so lovely. Thank you. <3
Aww Kim!
Thank you for such a sweet comment!
Hola Desirée, so I guess i can comment in spanish!! aunque no he tenido oportunidad de vivir fuera de mi país (México) si he vivido en el norte-que es donde nací- y en la capital- que es donde vivo actualmente-…he sentido un poco de angustia porque el acento del norte es muy fuerte, muy marcado y el del centro/capital es muy cantadito…así que mis hijos iban a notar la diferencia y les iban a señalar su acento ‘tan extraño’…pero gracias a Dios, tuvimos mucha suerte, el acento de mis hijos ha causado conmoción en el buen sentido, les encanta a los compañeros de escuela y a las maestras les encanta oírlos hablar en inglés con el acento norteño…y pues yo, me encontré con un grupo de maravillosas mujeres en mi clase de pintura y de las 7 que somos, 5 son del norte, así que ya contagiamos a las otras dos y empiezan a hablar como nosotras…creo que es parte de madurar, aceptarte como eres y eso incluye tu acento!!! y tienes toda la razón tu acento te recuerda donde estan tus raíces que es lo que define en gran parte quien eres…we’re a complete package: dark hair, not so fair skin, outgoing gals who HAVE AN ACCENT!! I had always wondered where you were from because of the word BESOS at the end of every post…bueno hermana, te sigo leyendo…te mando un gran abrazo
Alexandra,
Gracias mi amor, por tomar el tiempo de comentar y compartir un trozito de ti conmigo!
Mil besos preciosa!
That was such a great post! I am from Texas and have lived here my whole life, yet people here, yes TEXANS, make fun of my accent! Isn’t that crazy?! I too had a time when I tried to change the way I talked-softening the countriness of my voice, saying “you guys” instead of “y’all” but about 2 years ago, I was sad that I had become someone that I was not. So I decided to become ME again and I’ve decided that there is no turning back. I like the way I talk. I love that when I’m around my family or even talk on the phone that my accent gets really think. And I LOVE that when I’ve been visiting my family for more than just a weekend, everyone can here it in my voice! And yes, we all live in Texas. My family lives only 2 hours away from me! Ha ha! Just goes to show how diverse accents and dialect can be in just one state alone!
Love it!
Good for you Jordan!
Have a great day my love!
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful post with us, Desirée!
I am so glad you got to embrace and learned to love your accent. I am sure it sounds great and just like YOU!
When I first went to the US for one year in high school (when I was 16), I didn’t know much English but what they taught us in school. I had never really spoken a word to anyone but my teacher. For the first two months I refused to talk (just the necessary). I would just listen and absorb. I was just too scared of speaking, making mistakes and having too much of an accent. After two months of listening, I finally broke free from that feeling. And now, a lot of times people can’t even tell I’m not from the US.
But I know, the longer the hubby and I stay in Germany again, the stronger my accent will grow. But I’m okay with that. I learned to love the way I talk!
Lots of besos, Desirée!
Vanessa
Love this post! Now I wanna hear your voice!
I would love your accent! Love this post!
Debbie
Desiree, I’m so sad you had a hard time about your accent, and so glad you embraced it finally! I personally LOVE accents, I find them interesting, soothing sometimes, tuneful, romantic. My problem is I am english and lived in the UK all my life, now in my fifties I live in Canada were time after time I’m told how lovely my accent is. what’s the problem you ask. I can’t hear it, I don’t notice it…it’s just plain old me! It’s not pretty, romantic or tuneful to me…it’s just well, ordinary! How strange. And even stranger is that I have gotten so used to Canadian accents that when someone british comes on the TV I notice them and think it sounds odd…but it still doesn’t sound like me haha!
Your Madonna outfit made me laugh out loud….because i remember dressing the same way! But on a serious note, I hate that you felt stupid or badly about yourself because you sounded different when you got here. It bothers me how so many people can treat others as somehow lesser just because they are different. I hope that didn’t happen to you, but I know it happens to a lot of people who are new here. I wish our country could be more welcoming and it’s people could realize that we are all citizens of the same world.
Stacy
So great to know more about you. I’m definitely jealous. I used to fake accents because I wanted one so bad. Though I wasn’t any good at it. Ha! You’re a beautiful woman, Desiree, who (I’m sure) has a beautiful accent. Lovely post!
What a sweet post..love that you have embraced your ‘acento’…I’m also a Spaniard and can relate to feeling insecure about having an accent especially when I was younger…. Now my kiddies and hubby make fun of it and I laugh along with them….que lindo mensaje…gracias ! Xo
Lu
Lucy,
What part of España are you from?
Thanks so much for sharing this! I definitely needed this today. It’s always such a hard thing to learn to embrace who you are, flaws and all. But it can be done
Maranda,
Thank you for leaving a comment. Have a sweet Sunday!
Desiree, I really enjoyed getting to know you better with this post! I actually already imagined your voice with an accent, because I knew you were from the Canary Islands. So I read your posts with an accent in my head! Is that strange? Anyway, I wish I could meet you in person like Jen…jealous!
I love your new blog header too! :0)
That is so cool Robin! I love it!
Hello Desiree!I just found your blog yesterday in vintage revivals blog crush linky party.. And I am so thrilled to meet u through your blog. You wete a beautiful baby and gorgeous women. I appreciate learning your story thanks for sharing. Its a lovely life. My mothers and grandparents are Campbells(Irish and scottish) and my Dads family is from mexico.I immediately text my sister telling her to check out your cute blog and Campbell table. She loved it as much as I did! I was raised in Ohio and my father died when I was in 4th grade and he taught us very little spanish. However all my family on his side speak very fluent spanish . It makes me sad that I did not learn more. I think accents are so sexy and you have a blessing in your tongue, in your heart, in your smile in your face and in your hands I am looking forward to being a follow from now on!Your joy shines through your posts and inspires me! My boyfriend keeps telling me to start my homework as I have been stalking your blog sinve 10:30am and its now 1:02pm haha! Have a wonderful day!
Melanie,
You made my day.
How wonderful it is to meet new friends through my blog.
Welcome to The 36th AVENUE!
I think accents are so beautiful. To me they are as intrinsic and unique as a
Singing voice. Sometimes I fancy myself a collector of accents.
when I was younger and worked as a waitress I would love to guess
Peoples origins. And I’m not to shabby if I do say so myself!
I’m so glad you love your voice!
P.s. since you shared your accent I’ll share mine. You see I’m from the south
But my parents made sure I spoke properly with correct
Pronunciation of all words. But the one thing they could never stop is
the fact that when I’m tired like exhausted I sound Luke
Scarlet O’Hara herself. Which is a good thing because my husband finds it
endearing.
Ooh! I love Scarlet!
I wish I could hear your voice.
Thank you for stopping by my friend!
Beautifully said and it applies to us in other areas, appreciate and accept who you are! I used to live on an island too, in Alaska. What a wonderful experience!
Thank you Laura for taking the time to visit with me today!
A wonderful post. You have a rich and valuable heritage, one you can be proud of. You are a wise woman.
Thank Y♥U Ellen!
While in London a few years ago, everyone I encountered knew I was from Southern California. Why? I wondered. “Because you sound like people on TV” I was told. Even though I thought I didn’t have an accent, I did.
Since then I’ve moved to Michigan and while you would think that no one in Michigan had an accent, they do. It’s quite obvious that’s I’m not from here. They say I talk funny. I say they do.
I’ve learned that everyone has as accent, and I (like you) have learned to embrace it. It’s who you are and reminds you of where you are from.
So lovely. I will be sure to share this with friends of mine who have ‘accents’. Thank you!
What a beautiful post! Thanks for sharing so much. I happen to adore accents. We’ve all got them, whether we know it or not~
So sweet!!! I am one of those that constantly gets asked where I am from. I am have a southern accent and do not live in the south anymore. But I am really happy to hear you say that our accents anchor us to where we come from and those we come from. My mother always told me when I moved away after college, “never forget where you come from and never forget your roots.” I haven’t. Southern accent and all!!!
Thanks for sharing and beautiful pics!!!
XOXO Dee
Love this post Desiree! You had me teary-eyed. Beautiful pics, thanks for sharing.
Oh.My.LAWD! I LOVE this!
As you can see, hear, read, I TOO have an accent. A big southern one, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
This post seriously brought tears to my eyes Desiree. Very deep and thoughtful. It is so nice to learn more about you and where you came from. What a beautiful place! Thank YOU for being YOU!
xo~Amanda
What a beautiful post… I feel absolutely the same way!
I’m a portuguese girl living in England, so I know exactly what you are describing but like yourself, I embrace my accent and see it like a good conversation starter and an opportunity to talk about my country: “hey, love your accent, where are you from?”.
I’m just sad when I notice people turn their backs, ignoring or worst, when they notice that I came from a different place…
I’ve been to your home country when I was little, so I don’t remember much, but from the photos it is stunning – you should be really proud!
Cheers!
OK, you are COMPLETELY adorable from birth until now. Like I said your accent is just going to give people one more thing to LOVE ABOUT YOU. You are a beautiful creative wonderful person. You are my friend, and I adore you. Last night was so darn fun, what a blessing it is to know you and have you in my life. I felt so comfy around you and it was as if I had known you forever. Love you Spaniard. BFF! xo, jen
Besutiful post! Made my morning! Thank you!!
Maravilloso ! Muchas gracias por escribir este articulo. Me emocionaron mucho las fotos con la familia. La cuestion del acento fue tambien parte de mi vida. Mi madre es española y se fue a vivir a Francia a los 18. De todas formas hasta en su propio pais uno tiene acento. Ahora vivo con mi familia en Montreal donde hablan un frances con acento, que me encanta ! Me encantan los acentos de todos modos es como musica ! Y parte de nuestra personalidad ! Feliz dia.
Hello Desirée,
Thanks for sharing your heart warming story of your past. You helped me remember that we are all so special and unique.
Smiles, Paula
Hi, Desiree – I just discovered your blog, and have spent much of the past couple of hours looking around – you’re so talented!
I have an accent, too
– when I was a small child, I had an English accent – I was born in England, and lived there until I was 4. Then we moved to Australia. In my early years in grade school, I got teased for my English accent.
26 years later, I no longer had the English accent, and sounded just like most Australians. Then I moved to the US, and I have another accent – an Australian one.
I’ve been living in the US for almost 20 years, and I still have that Australian accent. This time around, though, I never get teased about my accent
First off… I have a daughter named Mimi too!!! I don’t know anyone else with a daughter named Mimi, so I got all excited.
Second, I think that were you grew up is magical! I have often wondered who lives in the Canary Islands. Yep, I have. You know why? Because I live on the southeast coast of Florida and it is from the Canary Islands that we get our hurricanes! As a child, I use to dream of the people who lived where you lived. I would come up with these ideas that they would gather together on the beaches and blow into the air creating the winds that would make their way across the Atlantic Ocean. Obviously, I realize the technicality of how hurricane actually form, but as a child I had those thoughts. I have always been afflicted with the idea that even what most people think is bad (hurricanes) I always saw the good in them… The cleansing of the winds and the rains…the way neighbors come together to help others re-build. etc.
I am so glad that you have come to terms with what you thought was a handicap in your accent. Our country is a melting pot. Accents are not only embraced here, they are celebrated!!! Welcome…
I happen to ADORE folks with accents…it sets my imagination into overload dreaming up where they come from and how they live! But YOU, well, most of us will never HEAR you-unless you VLOG sometime for us- but you are simply perfect with or without an accent. But the vlogging idea is a good one…just saying…
That was just….lovely!
Jessica @ Mom 4 Real
What a beautiful post!!!
Dear Desiree,
Thank you for such a beautiful post!! I completely understand what you mean about having an accent
I’m French, born from Portuges parents, and I now live in U.S. Wherever I went, I somehow always felt “different”.
In France, I was often asked about my origins because of my dark hair & eyes.
In Portugal, my pronunciation was source of frustration because so many people couldn’t understand me.
in U.S. I’m asked about my accent so often that I (unvoluntarily) came up with a “special” smile to go with my “yes, I’m French”. My smile reveals a little embarrassment and lots of hope for acceptance…
Today, I’m in my mid-thirties and it’s a lot easier than when I was a kid/teen !!! Most of the time I’m able to embrace my differences and even feel proud and special. Some other days, well let’s say that I have moments of doubt… but who doesn’t?
Thanks again for your post! Thanks for sharing your memories and your beautiful family!
Your blog is beautiful and I always enjoy reading you… with your accent
xo
Nat.