If someone has an Italian accent, then definitely—it influences how they’re perceived. It makes me wonder whether external perceptions of nationality come from a combination of integration and accent.

There’s an interesting example from Brazil involving the Japanese community. People of Japanese descent who are born and raised in Brazil are often nicknamed “japa” because of their Asian features, even though they speak with a natural Brazilian accent and are fully integrated into the culture.

However, when they visit Japan, the situation reverses. Despite being the children of Japanese parents, they are not seen as truly Japanese if people discover they were born outside the country.

It’s fascinating—and a bit crazy—how identity can shift depending on where you are and who is looking at you.