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Linguistic and Cultural Identity Blog Post: Finding Balance

Growing up in a rural, predominantly white, Christian Reformed community in West Michigan, I often heard educators refer to our community as lacking ‘cultural seasoning’. My family shared similar views as well. I feel that my parents didn’t teach my sibling and me much about our culture because they believed we simply lacked one. For example, I do not know the specific origins of my ancestry, and no recipes or family heirlooms get passed down to the next generations like many of the ‘cultural’ families I grew up knowing. However, through formal education and life experiences I have grown to understand the true meaning of culture. I am excited to realize that what I used to know of as my culturally ‘bland’ family and community is undeniably full of ‘flavor’, whether I was taught about it or not.

Through formal education and reflecting upon my upbringing and personal experiences, I have come to understand concepts about cultural intelligence and linguistics, recognize and dissolve personal ethnocentric biases, and enhance my abilities in connecting with those of other cultures. The definition of culture I know has been constantly morphing in my mind as I develop intellectual and emotional maturity. When I was little, I thought culture derived from familial ancestry and the religion practiced. Now I understand that culture can apply to large groups of people, but can also be unique to each person. Culture is present and embedded in nearly everything I do, from how I celebrate holidays and greet others to how I eat and the words I use.

The concepts of linguistics–connecting language to culture–are completely new but fascinating to me. As I continually reflect on my childhood, connecting how my use of language has evolved alongside my emotional changes is astounding. For example, as I have learned more and bigger words coupled with social intelligence, I see that I have also begun to actually use less words when I speak and display a much more reserved communication style. Additionally, in my reflections of my childhood I have also realized that I now struggle with communication much more than I did when I was younger. My cultural upbringing strongly emphasized formal Midwest American communication styles. While I could develop an informal relationship with my parents, they raised us to still communicate with them formally. This cultural upbringing emphasized what our culture considers ‘good manners’, like saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ frequently, and apologizing for inflicting even the most minor inconveniences. Additionally, formal body language was taught, a few examples of this being keeping our elbows off of the table, walking quietly, and maintaining eye contact when someone is talking to us.

Due to the lack of cultural diversity in my community, I had no idea these examples were reflecting the very specific culture of Midwest America. However, because I grew up so isolated in this culture, this formal linguistic style has seeped into how I think and unfortunately grown ethnocentric biases. Furthermore, I am realizing that I struggle being immersed in cultures other than that of Midwest America, and specifically those that prefer informal communication and linguistics. This struggle undoubtedly stems from a cultural focus on formal communication and little on informal communication, and this unevenness has also led to ethnocentric biases against informal cultures. I struggle expressing my emotions with informal language, and find that I only feel comfortable expressing emotions using professional phrases and tones despite situational needs for informal vulnerability. My biases cause me to feel uncomfortable when forwardly and informally approached by strangers and even lead me to think their actions are rude when I lack cultural intelligence.

While I have continually grown throughout my life in recognizing and dissolving these biases and lack of cultural intelligence, my shortcomings have persevered in creating a disconnect between me and those of other cultures I interact with, seek to learn about, or even want to be a part of. Another challenge my cultural communication style has created is difficulty connecting with peers my age, especially within Gen Z College culture. While many of my peers gain new communication styles from each other and especially social media, I notice I tend to fall behind in understanding their use of newer language. When my peers use new slang words when talking to me, I recognize that they use this linguistic style in an effort to build a communicative relationship, yet I am frequently confused and even thrown off at points. When I make similar efforts to build communicative relationships but fail to disassemble my communicative formality, I am often met with similar reactions to that of my own. My reserved and formal linguistics stray from their openness and informality, creating a painfully obvious awkwardness that tends to challenge any communicative relation from forming.

Finding a linguistic balance has been something I have been mentally targeting for several years now, and though I know I have made significant strides, at points I still feel far from my goal. However, exposure to other cultures proves to help me get closer and closer to finding this balance. With each experience, I get better at taking a step back from my instinctively analytical and biased perspectives, and improve at simply absorbing new cultural norms and communications without analyzing those perceptions with labels and emotions. This strategy allows me to more easily make connections with others, and understand how our differing cultures can still seamlessly blend in different relations.

For example, I had an American government class in high school, and an exchange student from Serbia sat next to me. She was not a particularly strong English speaker, but what English she did speak felt very direct and even aggressive to me at times and I was often uncomfortable. However, she would frequently ask me for help because she found American governmental concepts were quite confusing and she was frustrated by our teacher’s seemingly shallow attempts to explain them to her. As I got to know her better, I learned that Serbian and Eastern European linguistics are naturally more assertive than that of American English and particularly the reserved communication style of Midwest America. I learned to not take what I perceived as her linguistic aggression personally, and she learned that what she perceived as our teacher’s ‘shallow’ attempts at helping her simply lacked the cultural understanding and assertiveness that she was used to from her Serbian educators.

After we cleared the cultural hurdles, our friendship continued to grow over the years and we are still close friends today. Not only have solutions and experiences like these led me to make stronger social connections in a much more effective fashion, but they have additionally helped me work to dissolve my ethnocentric biases from my isolated cultural upbringing. I recognize growth inbeing able to more objectively conceptualize other cultures and their practices, and notice that I can certainly partake in those cultures better than I could previously. My hobby of cooking and baking is another example of this mental growth. While I used to only prepare traditionally American foods out of comfort and lack of interest in the foods of other cultures, I now have great curiosity and desire to prepare dishes from other cultures around the world. Some of my favorite discoveries of foods from other cultures include Shakshuka from Africa, Bánh xèo fromVietnam, and Canelés from France, each of which not only require the ingredients but also the cooking technique of their cultures. Even better than just the taste of these new foods I have learned to prepare is the experience of learning the expansive variety in cultural cuisines but also sharing them and their history with my family.

As I prepare to enter a new chapter of my life, I feel rooted in my Midwest American culture and am equipped with a newfound confidence in my ability to navigate surrounding cultures of America and even those from all around the globe. While working on growing incommunicative versatility will be a lifelong task, being able to identify shortcomings and emotions surrounding awkward interactions will continue to help me grow in communicative cultural intelligence. Through reflection, cultural exploration, formal education, and social interaction, my previously embedded ethnocentric biases are steadily dissolving, and my cultural intelligence continues to improve. While I am proud of my American Midwest cultural roots, I welcome and seek to understand those with differing cultures and new communication styles. I am committed to continuing exploring different cultures and growing in communicative maturity, understanding that no culture is superior to another and that each is uniquely valuable.

Linguistic and Cultural Identity Blog Post : Breaking Free

I am a 36-year-old white woman from a small rural town in mid-west Michigan, USA, raised in the typical poor white American culture. I don’t know where my ancestors came from, and I don’t adhere to any ethnic traditions—except, perhaps, the quintessential "American family" culture. The only consistent cultural practice in our family was gathering for turkey and ham on major holidays, which were the only times we came together as a family.

Growing up, I lived in a conservative Christian household and community, but I was always the black sheep. Despite being forced to attend Sunday school, I never followed Christian teachings. Unlike the rest of my family, I developed a deep interest in learning about different cultures, watching documentaries, reading books, and listening to music from all over the world. I made a conscious effort to distance myself from the racism, homophobia, transphobia, and xenophobia that were prevalent in my community and subtly present within my own household. I never believed that people from different ethnicities and backgrounds were inherently different from me.

My family, like many in our town, loved old Western movies and cowboy shows. Most of their understanding of other cultures was filtered through an ethnocentric, white American lens. As a result, they saw other cultures as inferior to American culture. Despite their reverence for John Wayne, a man whose racism was well-documented, I was drawn to Chinese action films and creature features rather than Westerns.

Coming from a predominantly white and economically disadvantaged area, my public education was subpar. Much of what we learned about history was whitewashed, and the literature we read was written exclusively by dead white men. There were very few opportunities for cultural exchange, aside from occasional foreign exchange students and the limited exposure we got in foreign language classes.

While the community was overwhelmingly white, there were a few families of different ethnic backgrounds. We had small groups of Native Americans, African Americans, and Filipino Americans. The only real cultural exchange I experienced growing up was when our town’s Native American community hosted an annual powwow by the city pond. There, we could watch traditional dances, purchase handmade textiles, and sample native foods. It was the one consistent opportunity to engage with another culture in my childhood.

I was in eighth grade when 9/11 occurred. I remember sitting in government class, discussing the role of national news organizations when the news broke about the first Twin Tower being struck. We watched the tragedy unfold live on TV. From that moment on, the level of hate and vitriol toward Middle Eastern people and those of the Islamic faith in America, particularly in white-dominated communities, surged. Initially, I absorbed these same views. However, after joining the U.S. Army and meeting people from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, I came to realize that those beliefs were based on fear, not on reality. My time in the military began to shape my own evolving cultural identity.

From 2008 to 2009, I was deployed to Iraq, where I had the opportunity to interact with local Iraqis. Through deep conversations with interpreters and developing relationships with the people there, I realized we shared more similarities than differences. While our languages and cultures were different, at our core, we were the same. Those experiences began to shift my perspective on culture and identity.

At my second duty station, I interacted with people from all over the world—anyone with whom the U.S. had an agreement. This exposure further broadened my understanding of different cultures and allowed me to see how American culture is often seen through an ethnocentric lens. It became clear to me that many nations, not just the U.S., still judge others based on their ethnicity, nationality, and language, especially toward those whose first language isn’t English.

In high school, I chose French as my foreign language, which, in hindsight, was a mistake. Spanish would have been more useful, as many of my military friends spoke it. That was my first real exposure to learning another language. After joining the military, I encountered a wide range of languages: Spanish, Mandarin, French, Japanese, Korean, German, Arabic, and more. This sparked my curiosity, and I began learning bits of several languages, but I focused more deeply on Dari, a dialect of Persian Farsi. Over the last six years, I have continued expanding my linguistic skills by studying Japanese, Korean, and, more recently, Mandarin Chinese.

Much of my interest in language and culture was influenced by my military experiences, but my personal interests also played a significant role. Watching foreign films, listening to international music, and reading books, webtoons, and graphic novels from other cultures deepened my desire to learn their languages. I realized that, despite reading translated versions, much of the meaning—especially cultural nuances—gets lost in translation. Language is deeply tied to culture, and understanding a language better allows you to understand the culture more profoundly.

As I integrated my experiences from the military, my travels abroad, and my interactions with diverse cultures, my personal culture began to take shape. It’s now vastly different from the culture I grew up with. I have become more open-minded and accepting of people who are different from me. This shift in my worldview also led to a change in my morals—or perhaps my true values could finally emerge once I left my small, conservative community. Regardless of how it happened, my evolving culture and values have distanced me from family and friends who don’t share the same perspective.

This is a difficult reality because, although one of my brothers and many of my white friends also served in the military, they do not share my respect for diversity and cultural differences. In fact, many of them seem to harbor contempt for people from different backgrounds. I believe this stems from a deep-rooted fear of the "other" embedded in American culture.

Recently, with the rise of social media apps and better technology, more people are interacting with others from all over the world and beginning to recognize and respect different cultures. Platforms like TikTok and YouTube have been pivotal in this cultural exchange. However, with the recent ban on TikTok, many Americans have migrated to Red Note (Xiaohongshu), a Chinese app where people around the world are learning Mandarin to communicate and engage with Chinese users. This shift has led some historians to call it one of the largest cultural exchanges in modern history—a historical cultural event.

I believe that cultural exchange, through apps like these and hopefully in person in the future, is key to fostering greater understanding and acceptance. It helps people recognize that much of the hatred directed toward diversity and inclusion is rooted in racist ideologies that have been ingrained in cultures by governments and elites. While more people are waking up to this truth, we still don’t know what the future holds for the acceptance of diverse cultures and ethnicities. What I do hope for is that Americans—and people worldwide—continue to evolve, reshaping our cultures to be more inclusive and understanding of diversity, and working to dismantle the ethnocentrism that remains embedded in American society.

My Cultural Identity by Ben Wenzel

As an awkward and introverted young child, I learned quickly that in order to make friends, I would have to put myself out there in order to connect with my peers. This was fairly easy in many cases, as five and six year olds tend to have a lot in common, if only because there is a limited amount of life experience to reference. But even in those early days, I knew there was a subtle yet ever present distinction between me and other children. As I grew older, I would come to understand this as merely one aspect of religion dominating every aspect of culture around me growing up, and by extension my personal identity and outlook on life. When the question of culture comes up I always default to thinking of religion because of it’s outsized influence on my place of birth as well as my personality and outlook. Being born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, I had to contend with the religious majority of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS).

To most other Christians the LDS faith would seem familiar on a surface level, however would come off strange upon closer scrutiny. They have many beliefs unorthodox to other forms of Christianity, chief among them the addition of another holy book and the idea that America will be the holy land along with Israel during the second coming of Jesus Christ (hence the LDS name). Growing up my parents were protestant rather than Mormon, regardless I was raised to believe many of the same things as Mormons theologically (for example, an emphasis on a personal relationship with God. Yet, the structure and cultural influence of the LDS faith left me as a clear outsider; all the Mormon kids were all in the same wards (congregations), all their huge families knew each other for decades, and as a child I knew I was not in the clique.

This religious divide grew even more apparent in middle school, an already tumultuous time for everyone due to puberty. My parents had me take many of the advanced course options, placing me in classes that were majority Mormon. This was perhaps because the lines of religious and class separation much resemble each other, at least in the more suburban area of the city I lived; because of this I was separated from my typical friends in these classes as they tended to be from lower class families with less educational support. I got along with my classmates amicably enough, and even joined them in the cafeteria table after math class (my divide from my friends extended to different lunch periods). I quickly learned that being treated amicably is not necessarily the same as being treated as a friend. I was pretty much ignored and dismissed by everyone in the group in my attempts to ingratiate myself; I was not owed any friendship necessarily, but it did come off as an odd form of condescension, like I hardly mattered at all to even acknowledge. After some time of this, I made the library my lunch spot.

This was perhaps the first time the cultural divide between me and my Mormon peers crystallized in my mind. I felt forced to be more discretionary with who I approached socially, which maybe is not a bad thing per se; but it was also the beginning of my jaundiced view of religion. Or at least organized religion, as the LDS church has a very top-down corporate structure. Individual members are assigned what church to go to and even what time their service is. It was not mine nor any of the other kids, or our parents' choice to have this separation, it was just a consequence of arbitrary, religious bureaucracy. From then on I had a more critical eye towards the effect religion has on culture, and how it affected me.

Everyone in many ways lives like a Latter-Day Saint regardless if they are of that faith, as many aspects of Utahn politics and culture are influenced by their doctrines implicitly or explicitly. Many businesses are closed on Sundays of course, and there is a proliferation of soda shops over coffee shops as they do not drink anything caffeinated or alcoholic. In terms of legislation, liquor sales are extremely limited, and gambling is illegal. The layout of Salt Lake City’s roads is a grid around the LDS temple. The streets are named by the distance from the temple in city blocks. Religion permeates every facet of life for even the most secular citizen. Even polygamy, while illegal for a long time, is still practiced if rarely in Salt Lake City. I distinctly remember seeing a pro-polygamy bumper sticker once in Moab, in the form of one of those stick figure families, just more populous.

Plural marriage is just one aspect of another way my perspective and identity was altered by the culture I grew up in, and that is the LDS faith’s adherence to strict gender roles. Gender is a foundational element of one’s spirit; before you are born, you are male or female. This part of LDS culture reflects in social reality as adherence to rigid gender roles, which fit very neatly into the American ideal of the nuclear family. Men are providers and women are homemakers; there is immense pressure to fit into these roles growing up Mormon, and this even transfers over to a lesser degree if you aren’t. An example I’ve seen anecdotally is that some LDS men will not date a woman who went on a two year mission, which is traditionally an important rite of passage of sorts for young men alone, now women are (optionally) allowed to as well now. As for nonmembers, those that are part of the LGBT community have felt pressure as well for not fitting into traditional gender roles.

Salt Lake City is now somewhat known for its burgeoning LGBT community; I’ve been personally familiar being a part of it myself. I think this community has popped up in spite of the religious culture, rather than despite the culture, because of my own experience with religion. It took me a long time to fully realize my sexuality, in part because of the influence of the LDS church. Another gendered expectation for Mormons is chastity and modesty. I experienced first hand the woeful sex education throughout middle and high school, which is taught puritanically, focusing on abstinence near exclusively to the point of being ineffective. It took me a long time to learn basic things about normal sexuality, and I never knew much about being gay until I was thirteen; I did not know about being transgender until I was fifteen. Even then, I didn’t feel comfortable trying to express my own sexuality until my first year of college. In high school, I also saw how other gay and trans students were treated by some, especially those from LDS families.

Growing up in a culture that excludes you to a degree gives one a more critical perspective, at least to me I think it did. Because I was not part of the dominant culture, I had to learn early and quickly the ways in which I did not conform, and learn to either adapt to those facts, or eventually overcome them to define my own identity for myself. I am much more comfortable with my sexuality and identity as an adult. While I am no longer religious, and am skeptical of religious influence on society, I am not fully against religion. My personal experience with religion, being raised Lutheran, was very positive at times. The church my family attended was actually more supportive of LGBT rights, which helped influence my own acceptance. This dual experience is what gave me a critical eye, religion is not bad per se, but it shouldn’t be imposed on others unwillingly, and myself personally should not let it define my identity. This also gave me the drive to try to expand my worldview more, and try to understand the perspectives of other individuals and cultures.

Small Town Knowledge

I grew up in a small town with less than 2,000 people. Everyone knew each other, and words spread like wildfire. When going to school, there was never much diversity or cultural differences. We all grew up with the same people our whole lives. It was never really on my mind that some people may have a different cultural background, nor did I understand what that meant. It wasn’t until I started a travel soccer league in a neighboring city, that I was introduced to more diversity. I played with girls from bigger schools surrounded by cultural differences and diversity, but some were in the same situation as me in our little hometowns. I never encountered a situation where I would have to be faced with cultural differences until I started working at a property as a leasing agent. I have worked with residents whose first language is Spanish, and who speak very little English. I learned when faced with a situation like a language barrier, that kindness and patience make all the difference in the world.

When I think about my own culture, nothing sticks out to me. In grade school, I took a child development class and one of our activities was to talk about your culture and where you got your physical features from. This task was hard for me. I was adopted as an infant and was not sure of my culture or where I got my physical features and characteristics from. So, I sat there and stared at my paper, trying to figure out what to write about. I feel I am in the same situation today. I am still unsure of my culture, although I have heard I have an Italian heritage. I have never been informed or exposed to any traditions due to my family who raised me having German and Irish heritage. I do not have any traditions or information about those cultures either. So, I am not sure where that leaves me.

There were multiple churches within my little town that most of the kids I went to school with found themselves affiliated with. I didn’t grow up religious, and it wasn’t because we didn’t believe or agree with the religious morals, we as a family just never found all of our morals and values within an organized religion. My mother and father taught me their morals and beliefs as soon as I could understand them. They taught me respect, empathy, kindness, loyalty, trust, and how karma can be harsh, but also be so beautiful. Having positive energy throughout our household was extremely important to my mother. I can remember her coming into my room and waking me up on a Saturday morning with burning sage and a feather. She would waft the sage into my room and all around our home. This was something that she would do frequently, and I would notice it more when she knew I was stressed or felt the need to abolish any negative energy from our home. My mother programmed into my mind that what you put into the universe, is what you will get in return. Today, I still feel very strongly about that statement. So, while my sisters and I did not grow up being a part of an organized religion, we all believed in karma and the universe.

My oldest sister went off to college and found an organized religion that she connected with, and became an ordained minister at a Unitarian Universalist church. Since my sister became a reverend, I finally found a church, and for the first time, I understood and felt connected to what was being said. I remember realizing what was being preached connected to my values and morals. I felt welcome and like I belonged. This religion is not god based but encourages people to find their spiritual growth. It is a liberal religious movement characterized by a “free and responsible search for truth and meaning”. As my family attended more services and caught an understanding of what this religion was about, we found ourselves connected within this community.

When I was a child, I was introduced to tarot cards. I first remember seeing my grandmother in a tent at an organized event, with her wooden box of tarot cards. She would read them as the past, present, and future to people who stopped at her tent. My mother had a deck of cards as well, and as I got older I obtained my own. My sisters and I all had our decks, and we made our own altar within our rooms to hold these special cards. Our cards are surrounded by crystals and rocks, water from the great lakes, candles that we made ourselves, and herbs that hold a special meaning to each of us. This is a practice we do individually, but we also enjoy doing together. It feels more radiant and powerful when we are together charging each other with positive energy. While my grandmother read the cards as past, present, and future, there are many other ways to read tarot cards. I like to think about a question while I shuffle my cards. I place three cards down and refer to them as the past, present, and future, but I always remind myself that the future is not set in stone, and it is up to me and my actions on how the future will play out. As some people would go to their bible for encouragement or guidance, I look to my tarot cards and align the cards with how I am feeling at the time in my life. The cards are a way of meditation, expression, emotion, and happiness.

Growing up in a small town, where there wasn’t much diversity or cultural differences, it felt harder to understand what my cultural identity was and anyone else. At points, it felt as if I was the cultural difference for not sharing the same morals, beliefs, or values as those around me. While I have been confused and at a loss for words, staring at a blank piece of paper and being asked to explain my cultural background, I have found that the way I was raised and the experiences I have gone through have shaped my cultural identity. My cultural identity has been changed by different experiences, meeting new people, and discovering a religion that allows me to use my values and practices to radiate positive energy into our world.

Discovering My Cultural Identity by Payten Mclaughlin

Growing up in a middle-class white family in the suburbs, I believed I did not have a ‘culture’ per se. I grew up with my best friend named Dora and would spend time over at her house, watching her family make meals together that have been passed down for generations and are full of all kinds of ingredients, which tasted like her culture from her ethnic background. In school, I learned the history of different races and how America became a melting pot of all other races around the world, and would wish I had more connection with my heritage like some of my friends. Since reading articles in my writing in global context course, I have realized that ethnic culture is not the whole idea of culture. There are many aspects and characteristics of my life that I was unaware of due to my culture. For example, I love to read and have not gained that quality from my family or even from school, but from my generational culture that has expanded reading in my view and allowed me to find my love for books because I was born in this era. Now, if we are discussing ethnic culture, there is one meal that my mother learned and prepared with her siblings and mother growing up called ‘Pigs in the Blanket’ which is historically known as ‘Golabki’ and is a Polish dish made with tomatoes, cabbage, and beef. When my mother would make the dish with her family growing up they would spend hours preparing the cabbage to be wrapped around the rest of the ingredients and then put in the oven to cook further. As the years passed, we made the dish easier by shredding the cabbage in a pot with the ingredients to make a form of stew, but the dish still tastes amazing and I feel grounded in my ethnic culture when I eat it.

Other aspects of my culture that are specific to my family include the use of language among family members. In our family, we are always loud and speaking over one another to make our point heard. My family and I also use sarcasm in our everyday lives to express our humor. When there is an event or holiday where we are gathering, my siblings and I will crack jokes and insults at each other to show love and comfort to one another. My mother has also always taught us that we can do anything on our own through the application of projects around the house including painting and landscaping, to building and moving. There was never a project we paid for someone else to complete. We watched videos and read instructions and got to work on whatever project she had in mind. This mindset helps not only financially, but also mentally prepare you to achieve your goals. I believe there are inherited cultural biases in everyone because they are not born from meeting someone of another culture, but instead by being passed down through generations and depictions in media. However, just because we have a cultural bias towards other cultures does not mean it is purposeful and can be fixed through time and education. A big issue with cultural bias is that we do not discuss other nations and their cultures in our primary education, and many do not leave their homeland to witness and experience other cultures than their own allowing future generations to continue to believe the misconceptions. One’s cultural intelligence is not due to one factor, but many. As youth, we gain cultural knowledge from our family, school, and community, and then as an adult, we gain more cultural knowledge from college, work, traveling, and personal experiences. Cultural intelligence grow this dependent on the individual’s ability to actively search for knowledge in others’ cultures. To believe your culture is the only right culture is to be ignorant of all other ways of life and beliefs

but to learn about another’s culture without wanting to adapt to change is the ability to accept all forms of humanity. I have not personally traveled to a lot of other foreign countries, but I wish to in the future, so I can experience more cultures than just my own. However, I have taken many courses since attending college, that have allowed me to witness the different perspectives of foreign countries and give me insight into the reality of their life rather than the propaganda people inherently believe because of our faulty primary education system. Growing up in the home I did, I heard a lot of beliefs and morals that I agreed with and other general perspectives of people that I believed to be true. These were a part of my culture and many I still do believe, like the importance of family, and treating your pets as family, simple basic morals in my family. However, there are others that I do not agree with anymore since gaining my perspective and knowledge on topics. I believe college has expanded my cultural intelligence, but also my own culture. Some of my new mottos include, never taking anyone’s dignity away, everyone being a human, and being the voice for those who cannot speak. I do not believe I am perfect in my cultural intelligence, and I believe there is still much growth to occur, but I know I will never stop trying to gain more knowledge and understanding for people who are ignored or looked down on because of misconceptions. Knowledge is not passive, and everyone should try to be a little more understanding. Just because your own culture does not do what another does, does not make it wrong or judge worthy. Everyone needs to be a little more open-minded, and accepting, and a whole lot less ethnocentric.

Yes, I am a White American. Yes, I Have Culture by Rachel Gage

am a white mutt living in the United States of America: the melting pot of cultures that are not my cultures to claim. I am tired of being told that I don’t have a culture. I am exhausted frombeing asked to write about a culture I am frequently told I do not have the right to have. I remember a trend that passed around TikTok and other social media platforms about NorthAmerican culture. Specifically, the trend emphasized how these Americans have no culture, orrather, have no right to culture. The argument surrounding this is based on American ancestorsintentionally erasing their culture to force themselves to belong to a society they stole. Now,since America has become known as the melting pot–a country filled with cultural identities ofother regions, religions, and races–we’ve forgotten what our culture started as, and instead adoptthe cultural habits of others, making that identity not our own. This implies that America as awhole does not have a culture. American individuals who have come from outside culturesidentify both with their mixed-American culture and cultural heritage. Because of this, some ofthe trending posts and videos started using the phrase “white culture” instead of Americanculture, as if forgetting that the white color of skin transcends United States soil. When this wascorrected a new trend surfaced under “white American” culture specifically. The argument ofAmerican culture or, specifically, white American culture then transcended social mediaplatforms, with sites that dehumanized American culture and many others that removed whiteAmerican culture altogether. The comment sections of these articles, posts, and videos were littered with white Americansexpressing their feelings of cultural loss and how they longed to be part of a culture, whether thatwas wishing they could change identities entirely or reconnect with their roots. As an individualwho identifies with both her American and white American culture, this is deeply distressing. Irecognize that whiteness in America has brought me privileges that others may not experience,but I will not overlook the culture that comes with my identity. Ironically, the privilege thatcomes with being a white American is also what allows my culture to be overlooked by othersand sometimes even by myself. This paradox is why discussions about culture can feel soexhausting. Culture is defined as a mix of beliefs, customs, and learned traits found in race,religion, or social upbringings. There is culture to be found in America despite my race and no,it’s not colonization, murder, and greed (though it cannot be argued that there are plenty ofnegatives to American culture). At its most basic, the beginnings of American culture were founded on the expression ofindependence and freedom. (That’s why we set off fireworks on July 4th in an explosive displayof American culture). This independence follows us into adulthood, allowing people like myselfto choose which direction I would like my life to go: College or career? Family or singleness?Travel the world or stay in the small town I grew up in? These choices rooted in Americanindependence and the idea that if you work hard you can succeed are a reflection of my cultural

upbringing. However, they can look very different to other Americans depending on race andsocial status within the American culture, which is why the culture within my white Americanidentity is also important for me to reflect on.I am the product of two white, middle-class American parents with college degrees that theywere able to obtain because they were the product of two white, less-fortunate Americans. Myclothes were found at garage sales and Goodwills because my mother had grown up with lessand that was what she was used to. My parents lived the “American dream” by turning aworking-class, uneducated family into one of middle-class stature with a PhD and two bachelor'sdegrees. Despite our status, my parents never forgot their cultural roots, and I grew up eatinghome-cooked meals that always needed more salt because health was important, and eating outwas for special occasions. Their upbringing shaped everything from the way we grocery-shoppedto how we viewed success. It’s funny, isn’t it? I am a white American whose daily life is stillshaped by the generations before me because their habits and beliefs were passed down whetherI recognize them or not, but my cultural identity goes deeper than those two words: whiteAmerican.I grew up in the Midwest. I call soda “pop.” My skin turns a deep shade of purple whenever Ivisit states next to the ocean because of my midwestern stubbornness of refusing to reapplysunscreen in states that have a higher UV ray index. I pray before family meals (but onlyremember when guests are over) because the Bible Belt ran right through our town and I live in acountry that declares “freedom for religion” in its constitution. I take the four seasons for grantedand walk outside when the tornado siren goes off, just to see if the tornado is actually coming. Iam a white, Midwestern American who prays that Jesus is forgiving because a White Claw is mydrink of choice and too many of them will have me belting Journey during Karaoke night rightafter I lose a game of bar trivia because, let’s face it, geography isn’t our strong suit.I live in the Mitten; Michigan is my hometown and I can show you my city on the palm of myhand. I put ranch on everything except my salad and I’ll say “Ope, didn’t see ya’ there,” when Iaccidentally bump into someone. My parents were Yoopers but we live under the bridge now sothat makes us trolls and I know how to pronounce Kitch-iti-kipi Springs but can’t say “bagel”correctly to save my life. I smile at strangers at Meijer and when the cashier asks me how I’mdoing I’ll reply with, “Good, how are you?” even though we both know I don’t care. Because Iam a white, Midwestern Michigan American who will someday take my kids camping in a tentor pop-up trailer “up north” where we can poke a stick through a marshmallow, roast it, cover itin chocolate and graham crackers, and call it a s’more.Culture is not something you earn through centuries of tradition buried in deep, untraceableroots. Your look, experience, language, customs, and way of life will never be too ordinary tocount as culture. Culture is lived. It’s in the way I roll my eyes whenever there’s a snowstorm and people tell me to stay inside. It’s in the way I get excited for the Super Bowl even though Idon’t care about football. It’s in the gifts that are wrapped for me under the Christmas tree everyyear, signed by an imaginary fat white dude in a red suit. It’s in the Starbucks I drink, thecheeseburgers I eat, and the tips I leave for the people who serve them to me. Culture is in me,whether I claim it or not.That’s the beautiful thing about culture, it can be zoomed out to countries, heritages, religions, orglobal experiences and there will still be microcultures, pockets of identity shaped by smallerregions, cities, traditions, or habits. New Yorkers may look at Midwestern cultures as warm andfriendly, and Midwestern people will ask, “Friendly? Have you ever been to the South?”Individuals of different ethnicities, races, and religions in America will experience a differentculture than I have. Yet, as Americans, we will have some semblance of a shared cultural experience because the United States of America, for better or for worse, has a culture.

Exploring My Cultural and Linguistic Identity as a First-Generation Mexican American

Who I identify with and based on what has always been a complex topic of discussion for me as a first-generation Mexican American in the 21st century. My parents are from Mexico and came to the United States for a better life, as most immigrants do because it is known as the land of the free and opportunity. They wanted to not only have better lives for themselves but also for their children, to have more chances at fulfilling he dreams we would have, something they were unable to do because of certain circumstances. My parents came to this land knowing nothing, no English, no knowledge of the way people lived here, just with hope. Growing up I always identified as Mexican, because my parents are, meaning I would also be, right? I have always been proud, but my parents would also remind me that I am also American, because I was born here on this land and have lived all my life here, celebrating the American holidays of the 4th of July, learning the National Anthem, getting excited to go to Friday night football games at my high school, and being surrounded by a very diverse community. Being part of these two cultures and wanting to be more like one or the other at certain times, it has always felt like a tug-of war with my identities, and I always felt lost, feeling like I am unable to fit in into any of these identities.

My first language was Spanish since my parents did not know much English at the time, so that was all we spoke, all I heard at home, and spoke with my neighbors, since I lived in a

Hispanic community. Because of this, I went to a HeadStart that mainly consisted of other kids like me, first-gen Latin Americans who needed a little extra help in learning English to be able to officially start pre-school. So now I was learning a second language, English, which at the time I only spoke at school. As years went by, in elementary and middle school I was put in ESL (English as a Second Language or ELL: English Language Learners) class to better my Spanish. Being in this class I felt dumb, I felt belittle just by the fact that I knew I had to take this class because my English basically was bad, so I studied my English hard, and was able to test out of the class. I was excited but I also kind of felt almost sad for my classmates that were still in the class, because even if that class was to better my English, we all talked in Spanish, it felt comfortable that I could relate with my classmates.

Studying English so much during school it then became my favorite subject, but it also meant less Spanish, Spanish only when talking to my parents and other older family members. My siblings and cousins, we all talk to each other in English, so I was slowly losing my native tongue. Being bilingual has its pros and cons. When you tell someone you’re bilingual, they think that’s like amazing and such a talent, but I sometimes think to myself, “am I really bilingual if I don’t know this word in English, or this word in Spanish?” I do feel at home when I speak both languages, it feels like a superpower, but when criticized or corrected when I say something wrong or don’t know a word in one language or the other, that’s when I feel embarrassed to say that I speak fluent in a language. It has always made me feel as if I am not enough in either language, but I have realized that I am not the only one experiencing these thoughts, but so many Latin-American people have also been in my shoes. I could also say I am blessed to know enough Spanish to be considered fluent as a first-gen Mexican American since it

has been known that many first and second gen Latin-Americans can probably understand some but can’t speak it.

Being a part of two cultures also comes with having this role of being able to do for your family and community, my Mexican values coming to play, but also wanting to create my own path, my own role, my American individualistic values, without feeling guilty on either side. Having to translate English documents and going with them to all types of appointments for my Hispanic parents, helping them navigate this world at such a young age and being this bridge between both cultures was something that came with this dual identity. Having to balance these identities to not stress my family and myself. But I have come to recognize my strengths and struggles in recognizing my cultural poisoning. I have learned how to communicate and interact with each culture and know when to switch to my “Americanized” self and my “Hispanic” self. Like when I attended a family event, I know I know I have to prepare myself to shake and/or hug everyone at that event and not miss a single person because then that would be considered rude and would be frowned upon in my family as well but when I go to my college friends house, I do greet everyone but I just greet them by waving my hand hi when I enter the house. It did feel awkward at first going to my friend’s house and not going towards each person and shaking everyone’s hand, but I have learned that’s how some Americans prefer it.

There are also many times when both cultures collide. I feel like I’m malfunctioning, which I honestly find funny and special when they happen, like when I am talking to my American friend and were just so deep into conversation. I sometimes get a mind/speech glitch, and I say a word in Spanish, but I meant to say it in English. Or when I attend the Anglo church service because I missed the Spanish church service, I have learned the prayers in both languages, but I just say them in Spanish, and it makes me feel amazing. Being aware of these

moments, of my cultural positioning makes me feel less lost and more special and unique. It has taught me the importance of adapting without compromising who I am.

Becoming more self-aware of my language and cultural identity has been an important step in improving my communication skills. It’s about accepting every aspect of who I am and using it to create deeper, more meaningful relationships with other people and not fighting one culture or language between the other. When I meet someone with a similar cultural background, I feel instantly comfortable and understood. But the good thing about cultural awareness is that it is not limited to that. I believe I have grown more sensitive to other people’s identities as I’ve grown more aware of my own, because I can relate.

It’s been a journey of self-discovery for me to understand my cultural and linguistic identities fully, and I still have a long way to go. The more I think about my experiences as a first-generation Mexican American, the more I realize that my identity is not fixed, it’s not steady, but it’s a dynamic, always changing process. Being aware of how my cultural background affect the way I communicate has helped me to accept my identity’s strengths and struggles. Our cultural identities are not just something we carry on or wear as a label, they serve as viewpoints through which we communicate, understand, and can connect with others. So, in short, I have come to realization that my identity, and all our own in deities are not something that needs to be “fixed” or “chosen” between, it’s a powerful too that can create empathy and understanding in this complicated world.

Naming Traditions by Tun Kham

The naming traditions in Zomi/Tedim culture are vastly different from those in the United States. In the U.S., your last name is your family name, and your first and middle names are your given names. My family and I arrived in the United States when I was around 11 years old. They enrolled me in a 4th-grade class at elementary school, but I should have been a 5th-grader by age. However, back in Myanmar, I didn’t go to school. I would spend my days playing with my neighbor friends while my parents and other adults tended our farm and animals. The community was small, and we all knew one another. We didn’t have formal school, but we did attend Sunday School. We would learn the Burmese and English alphabets (as the British missionaries influenced our literacy culture) and basic math. Additionally, they influenced our religious culture by converting us to Christianity and Catholicism. Because of that, I didn't have a difficult time picking up the English language and spelling, but it was still challenging. One of the cultural shocks I experienced was the naming system in the U.S. My teachers and peers had difficulty pronouncing my name and often called me by my first name. Initially, I was confused and upset, thinking they were teasing me. However, I quickly learned from my peers that this is how people address each other in America, and I accepted it. This was very different from my culture, where the naming system is quite distinct. In my culture, calling someone by their first name is considered an insult or rude unless you are close friends, family members, or in a position of higher authority, as it is the most important and honored name. Naming children is a cultural tradition passed down through generations. In Zomi/Tedim culture, the firstborn and secondborn child must be named after the father's parents. If it’s a boy, he must be named after his grandfather; if it’s a girl, she must be named after the grandmother. If there are no male offspring, after a few children, the father's father is honored by naming a girl after him, and vice versa. The thirdborn is named after an aunt or uncle on the father's side, and the fourthborn is named after the mother's side. After that, if you have more children, you would name them after someone you respect, such as a mentor, friend, or even a stranger who helped you in a time of need. For example, my grandfather's name is Aa Dam Za Tun, and as the firstborn, I was named after him, Tun Muan Kham. In our culture, names are often "nicknames" combined with our last name with different words. My name is Tun Muan Kham, but I am called Kham Bawi or KhamBawi. “Bawi” in my name means darling, but it has many different meanings because our language is not very developed, and most words are homonyms. Because of this, my brother calls me “U Kham Bawi.” “U” means eldest or oldest brother, followed by the person's name. I would call my little brothers by Nau (insert their last name) or their nicknames. “Nau” means little or younger brother. In my case, a cousin older than me could call me “Nau Kham” or “Nau Kham Bawi”; if they choose to they can just call me by my full name or nickname. The use of nicknames also reflects the close-knit nature of our community. In our culture, everyone knows each other, and the use of nicknames creates a sense of familiarity and intimacy. It is a way of showing affection and respect for one another. This is quite different from the United States, where nicknames are less common and are usually only used by close family and friends. The process of naming a child in our culture is a significant event. It involves the entire family and sometimes even the community, primarily our church community members. The elders in the family play a crucial role in this process. They are the ones who decide on the names based on the family’s traditions and history. The naming ceremony is often accompanied by a celebration, where family members and friends gather to welcome the new member of the family and to honor the ancestors whose names are being passed on. Additionally, it is a cultural tradition for our children to be born at home rather than in a hospital, ensuring a familiar and intimate environment for these significant moments. The ceremony begins with welcoming guests into the family home, which is adorned with decorations and filled with music. Religious and spiritual rituals often initiate the event, led by a priest or elder, who offers prayers and blessings for the child. The highlight of the ceremony is the formal announcement of the chosen name by an elder, accompanied by an explanation of its significance and history. Following the announcement, the celebration continues with a feast featuring traditional foods and music. Guests bring gifts for the child and the family, symbolizing their support and well wishes. As part of the celebration, family and church community members often share testimonies and stories about the significance of the names being passed down, highlighting the legacy and history of the family. The event concludes with praying led by the priest and the guests offering their blessings and hopes for the child's future, creating a warm and memorable occasion. In contrast, the naming process in the United States is more individualistic. Parents have the freedom to choose any name they like for their child, without any cultural or familial obligations. This allows for a wide variety of names and the possibility for parents to be creative in their choices. However, it also means that the names may not carry the same cultural or familial significance as they do in our culture. Due to the vast freedom in naming children, Americans often get quite creative. For instance, the name "Ashley" can be spelled in various ways, such as "Ashleigh," "Ashelee," "Ashlea," and more. A prime example of this creativity is Elon Musk, the businessman behind SpaceX and owner of X (formerly known as Twitter), who is also one of the wealthiest individuals in the world. He and his partner, Grimes, named their son X Æ A-12 Musk, pronounced "X Ash A Twelve," as explained by Elon himself. Another example of this creativity is when Kanye West (also known as Ye, an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer) and Kimberly Noel Kardashian (best known as Kim K. or Kim Kardashian, an American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman) named their four children: North West, Saint West, Chicago West, and Psalm West. These unique names reflect their personal style and cultural influences, making a statement about their family's identity. One evolution in our cultural naming is that people now give their children English names. This is often because Americans find it hard to pronounce our names and often mispronounce them. Another reason is religion. My cousins are Catholic, and because of confirmation, they all have saints names that they mostly go by. Now, I have cousins named John, David, and Mary. However, in my case, the reason why I decided to give myself the English name Peter was because a lot of people mispronounced my name and I liked the name “Peter”. I got the name from watching Peter Pan (1953 film), I just loved the way it sounded, and because the character was wearing my favorite color: Green. It also happens to be the name of one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, adding a layer of religious significance. As more and more people from our community move to the United States and other countries, there is a need to adapt to the new cultural environment. Giving children English names makes it easier for them to integrate into the new society and to avoid the difficulties associated with having a name that is hard to pronounce or remember. However, this does not mean that we are abandoning our cultural traditions. Even though we may give our children English names, we still follow the traditional naming process and ensure that the names carry the same cultural and familial significance. For example, my cousins who have English names also have traditional Zomi/Tedim names that are used within the family and community. Religion also plays a significant role in our naming tradition. These names are given during the confirmation ceremony and are used alongside their given names. This practice reflects the importance of religion in our culture and the influence it has on our traditions. In conclusion, the naming tradition in Zomi/Tedim culture is a rich and complex process that reflects our cultural heritage, family history, and the changing times. It is a way of honoring our ancestors, maintaining our cultural identity, and adapting to the new cultural environment. The use of nicknames and the inclusion of English names are examples of how our tradition has evolved while still preserving its core values and significance. This tradition is an integral part of our identity and will continue to be passed down through generations, ensuring that our cultural heritage remains alive and vibrant

Finding Connection Beyond Roots by Claire Sackett

Cultural identity is often tied to ethnicity, language, and food. In this sense, I was adetached island floating somewhere in the middle of everything. Growing up, my parents spoke abit of many languages—French, Italian, and Spanish, to name a few—but only because they hadtaught themselves, never as part of a handed-down culture. Both of my parents were such a mixof European ethnicities that to identify with any one culture, I’d have to break it down to tinypercentages. The closest my family ever came to celebrating heritage was making German potatopancakes for Oktoberfest—mostly an excuse for my dad to drink pricey beer. When it comes tofood, my family is vegetarian, and most of our meals come from a mix of global cuisines. Someof our most common dishes are plantains and black beans inspired by the Caribbean, Thai stir-frywith crushed peanuts and tofu, and Indian vegetable curries. Because of this eclectic mix oflanguages, cuisines and ethnicities I never formed strong roots in any culture.Interestingly, I never felt a sense of loss about this lack of cultural connection. I alwaysfelt indifferent to it. Which made me wonder: can cultural identity be about something deeperthan these traditional markers? My family's lack of traditional roots could have easily allowed usto drift apart, but the interpersonal traditions we created instead brought us closer than mostfamilies I knew. The cornerstone of this connection was eating dinner together every night. Itseems like such a small, mundane thing, but I’m the only person I know whose family did thisconsistently. In America, it has become increasingly rare for families to have built-in bondingtime, yet in my family, dinner was non-negotiable. I was required to show up at the dinner table,eat with my family, and stay off my phone. There were no exceptions.This daily ritual continues to have a profound impact on me in my adult life. I amsomeone who needs quality time to feel close to others, and family dinners gave me that sense ofconnection. It also taught me the value of social interaction and the art of conversation. Therewas an unspoken understanding: you ask me how my day is going, I ask you the same, and we

listen to each other and share stories. Even during times when my family was angry at each otheror exhausted after a long day, we still came together for dinner and conversation.This experiencemay not fit the traditional definition of “culture,” but it played a significant role in shaping who Iam today.Even as I’ve grown older, I’ve never felt the need to connect with my cultural roots. Thecloseness I shared with my family made it so I never missed having a clear cultural identity. Ididn’t care whether my ancient ancestors came from England, Ireland, or Germany, or whatlanguage we spoke at home. I could seek out ethnic dishes, learn about my heritage, or embracetraditional customs, but it would feel meaningless. Culture, to me, is about family—where youcome from and learning to appreciate those unique dynamics. For me, family dinner was morethan just a meal; it was a daily tradition that shaped my sense of self and my understanding ofwhat it means to belong.

My Blurred European-American Heritage by Tigerlily VanAcker

My personal culture is something that I never put much thought into before. BeingEuropean-American, I feel as though I have so many little pieces of ethnic heritage that when itall comes together as a whole, I don't have one single ethnicity strong enough to claim as mine.However, culture comes from more than just an ethnic background. Dominantly, where I havegrown up and still live has played the largest part in my cultural identity. I have lived in WestMichigan my whole life and I have sparsely experienced cultures that differ drastically from myown. Being from West Michigan my values and customs have developed from not onlyAmerican culture, but from Midwest and Grand Rapids culture as well. Culture influences myevery way of life, but due to my lack of ethnic culture, I believe that my everyday actions,beliefs, and experiences directly reflect my cultural identity. Culture is a taught way of life, yet isalso deeply personal to every individual’s experience.Family-orientation is something that I believe to be an American cultural value, but I alsofeel as though it has strong roots in the Midwest specifically. For me, family-orientation is thelargest part of my culture. My values, beliefs, and behaviors are all extremely family-focused,which has to do largely with American culture. My parents both grew up in large families andmade it a priority in my childhood to consistently spend quality time with my immediate andextended family. Some general examples of family-orientation in my personal life include eatingmeals together, spending important holidays and celebrations together, spending free time with

each other, participating in hobbies together, and having family be my priority. Overall, myfamily is a major part of my personal identity, which I believe makes it a major part of mycultural identity as well.Additionally, the way that both of my parents were raised has impacted my culturalidentity. My Mom and Dad were both raised in Catholic households and they attended Catholicschool until high school. However, neither of my parents wanted to raise their children within anorganized religion. So, growing up I did not attend church or learn religious teachings, although Istill believe that some Catholic values have been instilled into my own culture through myparents upbringing. Values such as honesty, compassion, respect, and forgiveness are essential toCatholicism, yet they are also prominent values in American culture. Despite the divide that hasbeen apparent recently in America due to opposing political beliefs, American children aretaught from a young age the “golden rule,” which highlights the previously listed values in a fewshort words, to “treat others the way you want to be treated.” However, I do see these valueslosing importance in American culture because of who we let hold power in our country. Evenstill, I try to uphold these values in order to stay true to my cultural upbringing through myinteractions with the people around me, whether that be at work, school, or home.A vital part of cultural identity for many people is food, but again because of my blurredEuropean-American heritage, I feel as though I do not have a food that resonates deeply with mycultural identity. Yes, there are typical American dishes that seem to go hand-in-hand withAmerican culture, but a majority of these dishes originate from a country outside of the UnitedStates. Dishes such as hamburgers, hot dogs, barbeque, and other “bar foods” seem to be themost American types of food, yet they still all have roots within other countries. The southernstates in America have established their own cuisine, known as soul food, that includes

cornbread, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, yams, and fried chicken which is unique to thatregion, but the history of the food still has roots in Africa. The lack of one essential cuisine in theUnited States makes it one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world when it comes tofood. Since I didn't grow up eating one specific type of food, I have been able to enjoy cuisinefrom all different cultures around the world. I believe that my enjoyment of cuisine from manydifferent cultures has led me to have a very broad palette, which has made me far less pickywhen it comes to food. I don't believe that this same experience is true for all Americans,however. There are Americans that come from only one ethnic background and only eat foodsfrom that ethnicity, so despite not having a strong ethnic culture when it comes to food, I feel asthough American culture has given me the resources to enjoy a diverse range of culturallydifferent foods.There are some parts of my cultural identity that I attribute directly to growing up in theMidwestern United States. Despite not being able to hear it myself, I am often told that I have a“Midwestern accent.” I do know that I say the word “ope” on a regular basis, but other than that Ihave always thought that I talk “normally,” at least by my standard. As it turns out, there aremany words that I say differently than other English speakers because I grew up in the Midwest.These words are not different to me exclusively, but they are words that most people in theMidwest pronounce differently than the rest of the world's English speakers. It is difficult for meto pin down specific words that I say differently because I have been so immersed in theMidwest my entire life, but I am aware that I sometimes put a different emphasis on vowels thanother English speakers. I have a good friend that is from New Jersey, whose natives have acompletely different type of accent than those from the Midwest, which has a strong influence

from Italian language. There are times that we find we say the same word very differently, whichis fascinating to me considering New Jersey is only a few states away from Michigan.Another part of my cultural identity that I attribute to being from the Midwest is my lovefor outdoor activities. Growing up I would spend the majority of my time outside, during thesummer my family would camp or go to the beach and in the winter we would ski. Outdoorsinessis not a cultural phenomenon that I would credit to only the Midwest, but it is a large part ofMidwestern culture. I view my adoration for the outdoors as a way of learning about nature andthe circle of life by being able to enjoy what has naturally been given to me. Spending timeoutside has always been a very high priority for me and my family, and I also believe that thisstems from the beautiful natural resources that are unique to Michigan specifically.When reflecting on my culture, it is easy for me to feel deprived of cultural experiencesbecause I didn’t grow up within a specific ethnicity. I have felt the lack of unique identity, rituals,holidays, food, traditions, and customs because of my fragmented European heritage. For me,America has been able to bridge that gap of cultural identity. Not belonging to one ethnic culturehas led me to experience pieces of many different cultures, and immerse myself in them throughAmerican culture. It is hard to say that I am proud of my nationality due to the nuanced historyof the United States, but this country has allowed me to find a cultural identity personal to myupbringing and surroundings.