Over 2 years blogging and I don't believe I have done the 'Get To Know Me Tag'. It's an unoriginal list of questions hanging around on the internet just waiting for the narcissists to answer about themselves, suiting for me, naturally. This post is featuring my living DNA results, I was so excited to be able to work with them as I have wanted to test my DNA for years. My dad was born in Jamaica and my mum was born in England with her parents originating from Jamaica too. So I've grown up in a Caribbean household with the basic knowledge of 'we all originated from Africa'. Yes I know, Africa is not a country and this is why I have been eagerly awaiting the day to pin point where exactly, if you want to find out my results then keep reading. *forces everyone to find out minor irrelevant details about my life before spilling the tea*
1. WHAT IS YOUR MIDDLE NAME?
Rochelle, full name is Sharaye Rochelle with my mum contemplating Rochelle Sharaye. Decent name, not too popular 7.5/10 mum.
2. SHARE YOU FAVOURITE SUBJECT IN HIGH SCHOOL?
Media and Graphics which is kind of a combination of what I am doing now but it was definitely English pre GCSEs.
3. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DRINK?
Mint tea and honey or Apple juice.
4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SONG AT THE MOMENT?
Bob Marley ft. Lauryn Hill - Turn Your Lights Down Low
Queen - Don’t Stop Me Now (lifetime favourites)
but I am currently vibing with Burna Boy - Ye (Song of the year) and Koffee (Toast)
5. WHAT WOULD YOU (OR HAVE YOU) NAME YOUR CHILDREN?
Woah, for someone to come and name their child that this very month. No thank you, but I have chosen my kids names, they are short and simple-ish and they will be called that by default no matter what there father thinks lol, (half joking).
6. HAVE YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY SPORTS?
I was great at Athletics in primary school, played all of the sports available, I loved being on the Netball team and now as an adult I occasionally walk to the train station.
7. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK?
Alice in Wonderland. I stopped reading books at about age 12 if you can’t tell.
8. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR?
Dusty pink and grey
9. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ANIMAL?
Elephants and Panthers
10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PERFUME?
ROBERTO CAVALLI NERO ASSOLUTO - My happy smell
11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOLIDAY?
Jamaica is 10/10 every time and Croatia was the best the week of my life.
12. ON A SCALE FROM 1 – 10, RATE YOUR CHILDHOOD.
8.5 to be fair.
13. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF THE COUNTRY?
Yup, New York, Canada, Florida, Jamaica, Barcelona, Venice, Paris, Croatia, Aiya Napa, Greece, Ibiza
14. DO YOU SPEAK ANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES?
Sadly not
15. DO YOU HAVE ANY SIBLINGS?
Yes, 3
16. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE STORE?
Zara
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT?
Chain restaurant Zizzi and others Roka or Chiltern Firehouse
18. DID YOU LIKE SCHOOL?
Yes, I was THAT kid
19. WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE YOUTUBERS?
Patricia Bright, Lydia Millen, Chriselle Lim, Elle Darby and Kyrah Stewart
20. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?
Love and Basketball & The Notebook
21. WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE TV SHOWS?
Scandal and Orphan Black
22. CRISPS OR CHOCOLATE?
Crisps, savoury girl here
23. WHAT PHONE DO YOU HAVE?
Iphone X
24. HOW TALL ARE YOU?
I’m 5”5
25. DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
Dog, Oscar Rambunctious, OTT, never listens. Cat, Eli Low-key, distant, loving, personal fave (both already named and we didn’t want to confuse them).
So without further do, let's discuss my Living DNA results. The process of providing my DNA was very straight forward, you are sent out a kit which includes your swab kit and very clear instructions. I used the swab in my mouth, put it in the sealed packet and put it in the envelope ready to send back to the lab, exciting. The envelope has everything you need on it so it's a quick trip to the post box.
Next, was the big wait. As expected these things can take a little while and I would check my emails daily waiting for the results. A few months later I was notified via email that my results were ready online. Please bare in my mind these results have only tracked my mother line hence why they only make up 45%.
These results fuelled deep family chats and family history chats over the dinner table at Christmas time. I am 25% Mozambican, 13% Kenyan and 7% Ethiopian, I honestly was not expecting these countries. It really is the starting point of me wanting to find out more about my family history. My next plans are to track my father line and keep researching. I hope you guys enjoyed this post feature Living DNA. They have been great with making everything super simple for all ages to use and they provide great background information and maps on their website too.
Love, Shay.
