Moving to the US at the age of 4 from Ukraine, I was raised in a Russian-speaking household, which made for a pretty unique childhood. Today, my heritage continues to have an effect on many of my interests, passions, and quirks. Here are a just a few (of the many) ways my Russian upbringing influences me:

1. It inspires my love of language

Being bilingual has helped me develop my love for communication, as I see the beauty in how it reflects a person's culture. Besides being able to speak Russian and English, I have been studying Spanish for 6 years, and hope to learn more languages throughout my life to be able to connect better to people from different origins.

2. It makes me more appreciative of diverse perspectives

Coming from a different culture, I appreciate the value that diversity has in classrooms, communities, and nations. People from different walks of life can offer new insights that cannot be gained if you only surround yourself with people from similar backgrounds.

3. It expands my definition of the word "salad"

If you have yet to try a traditional Russian meal, do not assume that a "salad" strictly includes lettuce and croutons. Russian salads can contain beets, fish, garlic, ham, and pretty much anything else, if you put your mind to it.

4. It results in me being more outspoken

While I was born a naturally loud baby who approached people on the street and said "I am Taiya, isn't that a beautiful name?", my confidence faltered in grade school. I became shy to tell people that I was not from an American household, as I began to notice how I did not know various American traditions, like going to baseball games, and eating black bread with kalbasa at lunch instead of PB&J. Yet, as years went by, I began to embrace my heritage and celebrate my culture, as it is why I am here today.

5. It teaches me how to live more sustainably

My mother has always had an amiable respect for nature, and has taught me to live more sustainably by valuing the resources I am given. She has always used every paper to the last margin, stored and reused plastic bags, repurposed jars and containers for various things, and will always finish the food that is on her plate, making me strive to follow her lead and not be wasteful.

6. It causes me to think deeper before accepting things as fact

There are many biases and stereotypes that cloud how people see the world, and coming from a different culture has made me much more aware of how politics and society shapes the way we perceive certain events and people. My dad always provokes me to question things that I unknowingly accept as the natural order, and opens my eyes to how things may not always be what they seem.

7. It scares me to do various everyday things

Being raised with Russian parents and grandparents, there are certain rules you must follow, even though you may not always know why. For example, in my home, you do not dare to go out with wet hair, abandon your slippers, sew on Sundays, whistle inside, or eat ice cream if you are sick. If you engage in one of these activities, you run the risk of catching pneumonia or will suddenly be struck by a meteor.

8. It deepens my knowledge about my heritage

To this day, there are many more things I wish to find out about my ancestors and the nations where I come from. In the future, I long to travel to Eastern Europe and discover my homeland firsthand.

9. It forces me to compulsively feed people

Whenever my friends come over and my parents are home, they are delightfully bombarded with offerings of every kind of food I have in my fridge and pantry. If you are not hungry, you will still eat. After moving to college, I realize that I, too, now have an instinct to push food into people when they come over, whether they want it or not.

10. It enables me to be a part of an extensive community

With most of my direct family being back home in Europe, my parents have many Russian friends who show me the strength of the Russian community internationally. Whether or not we know them, if my parents stumble upon Russian speakers, they will likely be over for dinner sometime in the near future.

11. It shows me how to celebrate

If you have never experienced a Russian restaurant, particularly on New Years Eve, boy, you are missing out. Imagine a banquet hall room with a disco ball and rainbow lights blaring, rows upon rows of food, constantly being updated with new dishes, lines of fur coats on chairs, and performers up on the stage singing the all-time best hits of Russian pop. Nothing more needs to be said.

12. It is why I value my family the most

Lastly, the most important way my heritage continues to influence me is inherently how I learned about it in the first place: my family. My family members are the brightest, bravest, most giving, and most loving people I know. They provide me with unconditional support through my journey of growing up, and are the best people to be around!