In ancient Athens, the single worst punishment you could impose on anyone was to exile them from the city; they were no longer Athenians. For the past 9 years I haven’t really considered myself an Athenian and more a citizen of the world. I can’t claim to be a complete Londoner. Could I ever truly consider myself as a Saidaewi (he who is from Saida)?

The real issue here is that I’m from all these places and yet I’m a mixture of all these places into one. Each place has had a direct influence on me. The people around me, the situations around me and my environment have all contributed to the person I am today. The added advantage I suppose of being from all these places and from none of them is the plane fact that I had what others that consider themselves from one particular city, country or village…perspective.

Because of my nomadic life, I’ve been able to gain a unique perspective of places and am able to not only appreciate all that is great and beautiful; but also what does not work and what could be enhanced or bettered. I don’t do this because of malicious intent, but rather the complete opposite.

The older I get the more I start believing that I am indeed a citizen of the world rather than confined to one place.

When asked whether he felt more from England or from Scotland, George Galloway responded:

"My flag is red, my country is the future"

Somehow that quote always resonates with me.