Growing up, I would always use the phrase, “My family is pretty international” as an explanation for a lot of aspects of my life. From the food I ate to the places I traveled to, whenever questioned, the answer was always, “Yeah. Well, I’ve got a pretty international family.”

I should probably give some background on this “international” family of mine…

My mom was born in Montevideo, Uruguay, probably one of the lesser-known countries in South America. She moved here when she was 19 without knowing a single person and, although she took English throughout her childhood, she barely knew any when she arrived in the U.S.

My step-dad was raised in Gothenburg, Sweden and moved to the U.S. when he was 24 in order to go to college. He, on the other hand, spoke much more English than my mom.

Ever since I was little, my mom spoke to my brothers and I in both Spanish and English. And although I took Spanish through middle school and high school, I never would have been able to become as fluent as I am if it weren’t for my mom. Spanish class is only about 40 minutes out of the day for most students taking it. But, for me, it was all day. Spanish was spoken at home, over text, and on the frequent phone calls and Facetimes with Abuela. My ability to speak Spanish has made it possible for me to get around when I’m traveling and even help translate for people who only speak Spanish.

I also feel as though having immigrant parents has given me a better understanding of different cultures. That’s not to say I have never said, “That’s weird,” when I have looked at someone doing something that wouldn’t be considered normal where I’m from. However, as I have gotten older, I have realized that what we may consider to be normal here in the states may be considered strange in other countries and vice versa.

They taught me that there is so much outside of where you grew up. I’ve been able to learn about so many different cultures in my 19 years. Most of what I have learned wasn’t from reading textbooks in my history classes, but from hopping on a plane and going to these countries. Thanks to my parents I have been able to travel to 15 different countries. Of course two of them being Uruguay and Sweden. In every country I have learned more about the different cultures and ways of life throughout the world than I ever could have in school.

Growing up, I do not think I ever fully appreciated the fact that neither my mom nor my step-dad grew up in the U.S. I always would make fun of the weird habits they had or things they would say, and even how they would say these things. Now that I'm older, however, I have learned that there are so many reasons I could not be more grateful for them.