In a generation where our culture is so diverse, it's easy to forget that some of your friends have different lives back at home. Those who come from Asian backgrounds are especially used to entering a different culture as soon as we walk indoors.
Our parents grew up in completely different worlds and, for a while, we were the spitting images of native Asian children until we became absorbed with our current school, friends, and interests. Whether or not you wanted to Americanize was pretty much up to you and how accepting your parents wanted to be.
However, no matter how much of your parents' culture you kept with you, you'll always be able to relate to a few things.
1. You have a huge appreciation for your elders.
I don't know where most Western families have missed this lesson, but the adults in your family have lived an entire generation or more before you were born and they automatically have more life experience than you do. Sure, times have changed. Most of us don't live in the same country as our families and you don't always have to agree with them on any political issues, but you should always turn to them for moral/life/adult advice. They have lived this long, so you should trust them.
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2. You put family above everything.
It's not in the sense that you have to go to your second cousin's fifth-grade graduation when you don't want to, but you will do anything to make your parents proud. Accomplishments in your adult life are equally for them as they are for you and you want nothing more than to bring success and happiness back home.
3. You never cook rice when you're away from home because it was equal to breathing air when you were younger.
I did not go a day without it for my first 18 years of life.
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4. When you return home, eating the almost-bland home-cooked Asian meal is the best thing that your taste buds have ever experienced.
Mom's tofu, spinach, and rice with no sauce or spices is all that I need for the next two weeks.
5. Work first, then play.
Are all of your friends at Billy Bob Joe's house? Did you do your SAT prep and homework for the next week? Do you want to continue living?
6. Honestly, you did not mind this because you were able to spit out a bomb resume by the end of high school.
You could survive an entire school day, hours of your high school sports practice, violin lessons, ACT classes, musical dress rehearsals ending at 11:30 p.m., and still be able to turn in your 10-page paper by midnight.
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7. You say things wrong all of the time.
There are a lot of words that don't come up in your conversations with friends. Having adults with English as their second language in your life leads to misconceptions about words for you as well.
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8. Your parents hated presents.
Simplicity is the only thing that they know. Extravagant presents only symbolized you spending your money on things that they might only sort of like, which is a huge risk of energy and finances.
After 19 years, maybe you can figure out what they enjoy in life.
"An avocado.... thaaanks..."
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9. Working during the school year was highly discouraged.
That's what the summer was for. Wanting more money for recreational purposes when you were not yet an adult was a sign of foolery and taking time away from improving your brain.
10. Sometimes people are really surprised that you can speak your native language.
You're pretty much "American" outside of your home life, so picking up the phone to talk to your grandparents can lead to some shocked faces.
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11. "Dad, we're in Paris. Please don't look for Chinese in Paris."
Your parents have taken you to see the world because they love you and they want you to be cultured, but they're not going to try the food. For them, grease, butter, and cheese is too fake and it will probably disrupt their stomachs, having habitually eaten comforting greens and protein for their entire lives.
12. You don't really care about pop culture.
Superficial news is exciting for about 30 seconds, then you realize that none of it is important and that your life is going to be unchanged. Again, simplicity is key.
13. You've seen the competitive pre-adult life on the other side of the world and all of the factors above seem like nothing.
It's easy to forget how lucky you are sometimes, especially when the majority of your peers don't need to think about any of this. Never forget your roots.
