She speaks with an accent, her dialect is slower, swimming is not a natural part of her up-bringing, "yes ma'am, no ma'am, yes sir, no sir" are a common part of her daily talk. Her dietary intake includes collard greens, ham hocks, grits and chitlings. Obviously, this person is not a native Bermudian. But somehow we've managed to occupy a common space, with our difference including age and nationalities. She's my mom.

the concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding each individual is unique, and recognising our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

The idea of celebrating diversity for me starts at home. My mom is an American brought up in the south with its unique culture, traditions and southern drawl. When visiting my relatives in the states, I am exposed to churches that are quite different in their style of worship than that of which I am used to in Bermuda. I ear some of the foods that my mom craves from home and some of the foods I can't imagine eating.

My father is a Bermudian from Cedar Hill. My father's tradition is steeped in Gombeys, cod fish and potatoes, fishing with lines and making kites out of tissue paper. I recall my mom discussing with my dad why he chooses to fish with just a line instead of a rod and reel. He simply answered, "that's the way we do it here."

Not only is there a difference in nationality in my house there are also age differences. The age difference makes its way most visible through the reference in taste in music and clothing. I prefer, as a teenager, the likes of Chris Brown, Usher and Kirk Franklin. On the other hand my parents enjoy music from Hubert Smith, Stan Seymour, Steve Wonder and The Gaither Singers. My mother's clothing is professional and conservative whereas my clothing is stylish, very cool and funky. My father's style... well that may not exist.

Do these differences sometimes cause issues in my household? Yes. Do we exist as a functioning family that loves, respect and allow our difference to enhance the unit?

By all means!

I celebrate the differences that exist within my home. It allows me to experience and appreciate the variety that life has to offer. This appreciation is translated in the diversity which exists in my school, in my church and in my Island home called Bermuda.

I close with the following quotes;

"I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stifled. I want all the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any." Mohandas K. Gandhi

"We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same." Ann Franks