...the best of both worlds
By jeanneyvonne
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
Philippines
November 17, 2012 4:43am CST
I have a friend who has dual citizenship and I think I am quite jealous of her (I have only one). I mean, she gets the best of both worlds - influence, culture, and standing. If one of citizenship or countries went bust, it's easier to ship to the other one. Of course, she also have a different and somewhat a holistic view of both culture or societies. After all,she is part of tow different perspectives and she embodies the trend of globalization.
I just wonder soemtiems what she feels about nationality and patriotism. She has heard and told that she can't qualify for both since she's a mixed breed. Also, if she chooses one side, the other side will take some form of offense. It's like people are forcing her to acknowledge and pick one side. And even if she did, she might end up having to prove over and per again what she is made of. That same goes for identity.
But nevertheless, I still think she gets the best of both worlds. She is very flexible and versatile. Besides, having one nationality and nationality might not be always that bad.
1 person likes this
9 responses
@berting600 (3453)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
Your friend has a dual citizenship because she was working abroad for several years,that the government have granted her citizenship for being a loyal foreigner
in a foreign land.Now,it just sound like a heaven that she has dual citizenship,
that she could live and work in both countries.She has double taxation and double
payments of obligation to both countries also.You can also become a dual citizen if you wanted,yet you have to work to another country and when already reach the limit to apply for legal citizenship,you could become its citizen,then reapply the citizenship of your former country,so that you could become a citizen to both countries.
1 person likes this
@berting600 (3453)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
You are correct in one part but never to the other part,because marrying in as foreign country is very different in the Philippines.You maybe happy in the first part of your marriage,yet you are truly married to disaster because your values differ in many ways,their culture is very different than what you expect.Is that you like?To marry a foreigner just to have a good life and a citizenship you dream
of acquiring.I do not think so,because you maybe living with comfort but you do not wanted all that you were given to do.It is best that you work in other countries for your own benefit and earn your own citizenship in accordance to law.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
@ berting. Thanks for giving a realistic approach. However, she has double citizenship because her parents were of different stock. I dunno exactly how she got and the requirements are but she holds an EU passport.
1 person likes this
@passion4fassion (996)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
its true shes lucky because she work for it no worry you might get that too if you will work hard
marry someone in other country
marry someone in other country
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
18 Nov 12
I was born in Japan which qualifies me to be a Japanese citizen. Both of my parents are Filipinos and so I am also a Filipino. I was born in Japan coz my dad took my mom with him after their wedding (their honeymoon destination) coz he was finishing his Masters and Doctorate Degrees in both Marine Biology and Botany. However, when I reached 18 years old, I did not apply for dual citizenship because I have been staying all my life in the Philippines and so my loyalty is here. But even though I have chosen that citizenship, my love for the Japanese culture remains.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
I don't think they would require me to live there, but at least come to visit every now and then. Unfortunately, both my sister and brother were born here in the Philippines, coz 10 months after I was born, my mom and dad went back due to a heart attack of my grandfather. I think if my grandfather didn't get sick that time, we could have stayed a bit longer but definitely, we would be living here coz my mom was has a job in a government bank as the office nurse.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Love Japan. I could wish to be a citizen there but I hardly know what kind of everyday life they have. Also,there are Japanese qualities that I might find myself getting hard to sue to. Anyway, that might resolve itself in time. Today, you can choose which country you like to be a citizen of, but it is an advantage if you can balance two different identities and lifestyle.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
18 Nov 12
wow, your dad is so smart. if you applied for japanese citizenship, are you required to live there? were your siblings born there too?
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
18 Nov 12
Well I agree that your friend does have the best of both worlds. She can surely take the benefits for both. Your friend will just her e to be careful on what to say on either side since it might offend each side.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
That's the tricky part. People will insist that she is only part of one side and not of the otehr. I feels sorry for her when she gets pressed to choose when, technically she can choose both. There's no law preventing her to do that.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
17 Nov 12
Good for your friend. Dual citizenship can be a wonderful thing.
She shouldn't worry about any who would trouble her about having connections to two nations. One can have connections to multiple places and love each--just as a parent can have multiple children and love each.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Nice analogy. But there are some people who might be so insular. It's like, either you're one of us or agaisnt us attitude. it's like a small state mentality. Yes, you could survive with that but some people might not be keen on working with a person which concentrated to themselves too often.
@aabuda (1722)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
wow...so good for her...I wonder what culture is predominant in her personality? I just hope I can be like her someday...in that way, I can clearly differentiate one culture from the other...I think it is very cool..
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
I always fascinated when she tell tales of other cultures she has been exposed to. I would to experience it myself because I think the world is a big place despite globalization. I mean, you interact with different people and share some common things you thought you don't have.
@Jeffery_superman (179)
• China
18 Nov 12
Having an identity in another country will certainly bring you benefits. Apart from freely going from one place to another, if you got the so-called 'GREEN CARD", you could enjoy the benefits of local policy such as mediacl insurance or so on. If you just get bored or do not feel confortable to live in the current city, you can just hold your green card to move to another city.
Of course, there are many ways for you to get dual citizenship. You can just get married with a foreign guy, which has become more and more fashionable. Besides, if your relatives has lived enough years overseas, you can also win the opportunity to move there. Third, Overseas study will also help you a lot. Many overseas students entered the local company after they graduation, then the company can offer you the permission to live in this state. However, it's just a small portion and very difficult.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Thanks for the info.I might consider some of these options if I want to get a dual citizenship. Not that i like my country but I tihnk there is always good at the edge of the rainbow. At least, I know what I do if I ever want it really in the future.
@bhabycatch013 (9150)
• Philippines
17 Nov 12
hi jean,
Having dual citizenship is good but I heard some people having hard time to maintain it like you need to stay in that country for a months like this then you need to exit after that then go back again. Well maybe some people like it.
Discovering different culture and tradition is good what more if you can have more than one 
happy mylotting
happy mylotting
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
Yeah. It really what I like about it.I mean, it makes you want to explore and interact without having being restrictive on your identity. You can relate to others easily than some ethnic-centered person.
@Gretchen522 (715)
• China
17 Nov 12
I don't think we should admire those with dual citizenship,we have our own happiness and they have their life,two different world,just enjoy our life!
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
17 Nov 12
Is it possible to have dual citizenships? I never thought of it. I thought if you choose a citizen you will deny/denounce the other one. When you fill up forms and asked for citizenship you just have one space for it. Yes indeed that's very envious, taking two worlds. Does it mean to say that she can vote,too from different countries? Wow .. such an amazing thing. but somehow it will be expensive for her. She needs to go home from one country to another. Oh well, still she's envious. LOL good for her.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
19 Nov 12
I think so. It depends on the government, if they grant it or if two countries have an agreement on that. i guess it depends on the circumstances and the powers doing all the legal provisions for it.But they can't deny their people who have different ethnicity or nationality to be one of them. I think that you just have to pass a nationality test to be considered and you have to consider yourself to be a citizen few a place.
Does it mean to say that she can vote,too from different countries? Not sure. I didn't ask her about it but I tihnk she's not eligible to vote for two elections in both countries.
