an accent seasoned with salt

I recently had the chance to meet someone from Brazil. Her native language is Portuguese, of course, but she spoke English very well. Naturally, she had a very distinct accent. When told, "Say that again, I love your accent!" she responded with, "Oh? I hate it." That thought struck me as strange.

Accent / ac·cent /ˈækˌsɛnt, / noun
1: a way of pronouncing words that occurs among the people in a particular region or country

Everyone has an accent. When we speak, our accent tells people where we're from.

When I speak, I'm sure that people can tell where in the country I'm from. Those from the south usually have a southern drawl. Those from New Jersey have a distinct New Jersey accent. Those from large cities even have an accent. Those from other countries have different accents when they speak English--even those who speak English as their native language such as the British and Australian. I'm sure I have an American accent when I speak German. It would be strange if I didn't and had, say, a French accent!

Our accent can define us. What do I want my accent to say about me? That I live in the US, that I'm smart, that I'm...what?
What is my lifelong goal? to live a life worthy of the Lord - Colossians 1:10
My accent needs to reflect that.
My accent is to be evidence of the love of God in me. My accent is to be seasoned with salt.

My accent tells people I'm from the body of Christ.

Matthew 5
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them, saying: [...] 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.