I always felt as though my personality made up who I was, not my culture. I guess you can say I was raised “un-cultured”, or at least that’s what other people like to tell me. It was always a challenge for me to be around either side of my family because of this, not so much from when I was little, but once I came of age to the point where I could fully understand what culture was is when it became …show more content…
This is when I decided I needed to convey myself in a different way when I’m around either side of my family, versus when I’m just with my parents or friends. Alas, my two identities were born, the first one I consider the real me, or the “un-cultured” me, I’m not focused on showing my heritage, I only speak English, I have a bit of a potty mouth, I’m more relaxed and my personality really comes out, which I believe is a little bit wild and crazy and definitely unacceptable to express when I’m around my family (not including my parents, who have always been more laid back). The second one is kind of the complete opposite of the first, and I only switch to this one when I’m around my family, this is what I consider my “cultured” side. I speak the language of the family that I’m around, which is either Spanish or Patois (I learned both from other family members, not my parents), I’m more quiet and respectable, I always try and dress appropriately for the elders, I’m less opinionated and just the complete opposite of how I am personally. Of course when I’m around cousins that are near my own age, this second identity shuts off and my first one comes