I was born in France, grew up in the U.S. and have been able to make both of the cultures a big part of who I am today. I fluently speak/read/write in both languages, have family in both countries and celebrate the different practices of both cultures.
I can say things like “déjà vu” without sounding like a pretentious try hard all while defending the importance of a bomb burger (and no, you should not eat a burger with a fork and a knife *cough cough all of my French family*…).
Buuuuuuut there are things that you get asked over and over again if people know that you’re bicultural. At first, it’s sweet but after a while, you run out of original ways to answer these questions. If you come from a similar background of mixed cultures, I will gladly bet a large sum of money (monopoly of course because I’m a student) that you’ve been asked any of the following:
1. “What language do you dream in?”
Ah, this one always is the first one to get asked. Tbh I have no idea what language my subconscious dreams in, I could be dreaming in Dothraki for all I know. I mean, I did just finish reading the first Games of Thrones- it could be a thing.
2. “Do you have_____ in _____?"
I swear to god I got asked once if we have grapefruits in the U.S. That is all I will say.
3. “How do you say _____ in _____ ?” (Usually insert expletive)
Ah, French. The language of love, the language some claim to be the most beautiful to discover. And is there anything more romantic than some random dude at a frat party asking you how to say a variant of crude insults? I think not.
(FYI French people already know all of our curse words in English, we really do need to get more creative here.)
4. *Insert stereotype here *
French women aren’t hairy monsters, I promise. I’ve been asked more times than I can count “Is it true that you guys don’t shave?” Thus ensues my twenty-minute rant about how women in France wax instead of shaving (I’ll spare you the details).
On the flip side, I promise that American gastronomy compromises more than just McDonalds. This also ensues a twenty-minute rant on the subject of food but one that I really enjoy going into because… food.
5. * Explains the simplest thing ever *
Once got an attempted translation of the word parka. This was before I could tell said person that the word parka in French is the exact same in English.
6. “Do you feel more _____ or _____?”
This is a question that’s always very existential. This is also the question that gives me a chance to respond in a very sappy and stereotypical manner. I don’t think I could ever feel more French or more American because both have made me who I am. *awwwww*
Oh, also, word of advice: Please, please stop referencing Christina Aguilera. No one falls for the line “Voulez vous coucher avec moi.” Believe me, I’m doing you a favor.
