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Embracing a Niche Identity: Culture Through Games and Community

I come from a small town (a village, really) in the Midwest, USA. My forefathers and mothers were of mixed nationality, but distinctly all white and Germanic. My family followed no specific creed, set of beliefs, or principles beyond personal ones. This is all to say: when I think about where I fit in, it’s not into a big national, ethnic, or traditional group. I don’t strongly identify with being ancestrally Dutch, being from “the country”, or being an American. Instead, I associate myself with others who revel in games – card games like Magic: the Gathering, board games like Codenames, and role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons. We form a community not only passionate about storytelling and strategy, but that also embraces people from all other walks of life. Although we are, in a myopic view, just people who all play the same games, the rituals, vocabulary, and values we share have shaped who I am as a person.

The Gathering

Game nights are the most sacred tradition to tabletop gamers. Ours are every Wednesday night, if possible, with exceptions warned of as far ahead of time as we can. One among the group invites us all into their home and plays the host (and often the Game Master); some may travel far to enjoy this privilege and are celebrated for doing so. Anyone who can’t attend is worried over and consoled, since there must be something truly concerning or important happening to keep them from their favorite night of the week.

Those who can join agree upon the game being played before the night in question comes, to be prepared ahead of time. Myriad types and difficulties of game make appearances in turn. They range from a card game someone just picked up from the local game store that can be learned in five minutes and takes no brain power to play all the way to the latest session in a storytelling, dice-rolling epic that will be built on over years.

Over these games and chatting before, after, and even during them, we show off our intelligence, our creativity, and our understanding of ourselves and each other. The physical paraphernalia of our exploits like dice, tokens, and playmats are shared and shown every week as well. Our fervor often spreads into communities and chatrooms online as well, meant to both perfect and gush over our games.

Once in a while, we’ll pile into someone’s car and drive to a get-together across the state. Nerdy conventions, renaissance festivals, and releases of new Magic sets are all-time favorites. For us, these events are the highlight of the year; the sense of wonder and belonging can’t be matched by just about anything else.

Codenames

Tabletop gamers, as a species of nerd, have their own language. For those of us who have managed to wrangle Elvish, that can be literal. Otherwise, our vocabulary, inside-jokes, and many forms of shorthand we’ve built together can still seem alien to anyone from the outside. Talking about principles of game design, “top-decking”, or “the stack” are complex topics that we’ve all waded into the waters of gradually over time. As are the intricacies of how to role-play well and how to take victories and defeats graciously.

But we don’t want to separate ourselves from newbies. Everyone I play games with wants desperately to include in the fun anyone else who wants to try – teaching moments are common and patient. We often get lost in dissections of rules, strategy and deck-building debates, and obscure intra-cultural references, but there’s always an undercurrent of wanting everyone to feel included and a part of something magical. Perhaps that’s why our community is also predominantly left-leaning, progressive, and queer too.

Dungeons, Dragons, and More

Dig underneath it all – under pizza boxes, battle-maps, and character sheets, and you’ll find a code we share. You can be yourself here, if you want to, and you can also be someone else. So long as no one objects, we’re here to share. We share our dreams, our feelings, our night, our wins and losses. And it works for us. We overcome incredible things, we help each other in and out of games, and we become better people for it.

I’ve genuinely gained so much by growing up a nerd and sticking with my people as an adult. Teamwork feels natural; I’ve seen, up close and on many occasions, how everyone brings something different to the table (pun intended) and comes at problems from a unique perspective. I honed creativity and have gotten more in touch with myself and my friends through building and playing characters to the best of my abilities.

In the end, community to me isn’t where I came from, who my parents are, or what I worship. It’s the friends I’ve chosen and the ways I’ve spent so many nights and years with them. The long sessions, the dumb jokes, the dice, and the way we’ve made space for each other – that’s my culture.

Finding Home Between Cultures by Angie Hatton

When I think about my home culture I feel I don’t belong in just one place or culture.

I exist at the intersection of two different worlds. I am a Korean adoptee raised in a Dutch

American family; raised in a small town in Michigan. My home culture was shaped less by

geography and more by life experience. Midwest values, with strong family roots, and a

subtle (sometimes) but persistent awareness of being different.

Growing up, “home” was country woods, farmland and a small community with

familiar faces everywhere I went. It also meant standing out, being one of two Asian faces in

school, at church and at all the local events. Two main questions that would always be asked

when I was out with my family, “Are you adopted and where are you from?” My life was

rooted in Michigan, but my identity carried a story that began somewhere else.

I was adopted at the age of two, so my families’ traditions were what I thought were

normal. Influenced by the Midwestern life of Michigan. Holiday were gatherings with Aunts

and Uncles from out of state, typical of what you would see on television. A routine of going

to church on Sunday morning, followed by a family dinner and then back to church for

evening service. It wasn’t just about religion, but more consistency and routine. This

repetition created stability, even when I didn’t fully understand my own cultural background.

At the same time, there was an absence I was unaware of, a tradition that wasn’t part of my

upbringing. Traditions that I wouldn’t even begin to be curious about until later into my adult

years, after having children of my own.

Eating at my house was the typical S.P.O.G (Salt, Pepper, Onion, Garlic) seasoning.

Simple and practical, meals that were homemade but at the same time less about

experimentation and more about recipes passed from generation to generation. Some of my

fondest memories are all the women (young girls too) of the family would gather the week of

the holiday and prepare all the desserts. This might be where my love of sweet derived from

and why I revert to baking when I am feeling sad. I find it emotionally fulfilling to make a

pie, or cake. I feel food is a way of expressing care for those you love.

As I have gotten older, and videos have become more accessible involving Korean

cuisines, I have become more curious about it. It’s me trying to connect to my heritage and

feeling like I’m uncovering a part of myself that I didn’t know grow up with. It’s been both

exciting and a little sad, because there is a part of me that always wondered the “What If.”

My childhood home reflected a typical Dutch American family house. Family

pictures, a yellow school bus frame with each school years picture. Tupperware in the

cupboards and the smell of pledge There weren’t any physical reminders of my Korean

heritage anywhere in site. All my documentation, photos, paperwork and clothes were kept in

a safe at my grandparents’ house. As I grew older, whenever we would go visit, I would ask

if I could look through it. The only identity I knew was the one that I was living daily and

ultimately creating for myself.

The values I was raised with were humility, hard work, kindness and family first.

There was an unspoken rule that you didn’t speak about family problems to anyone outside

the family. You never drew attention to yourself or aired “dirty laundry” for other to hear or

see. At the same time, my experiences as someone who looked different then those around

me including my family, added a layer of curiosity. I became observant early on, paying

attention to how people interact, how differences are received and how belonging was

communicated. This combination has made me value empathy and awareness. I tend to think

about how others experience situations, especially when they might feel like an outsider. That

perspective didn’t come from being taught directly but through experiences I lived.

Language within my household was what I would consider typical for a country,

small town girl. Communication tended to be polite but reserved, feelings were rarely

expressed openly but were conveyed by looks or through actions. Because of my background,

I’ve become very attuned to nonverbal communication and tone. When you feel “different”

you learn to read the room quickly or read between the lines. The slightest pause, hesitation

or subtle cue, are noticed. Because of this, I think I am more thoughtful in how I

communicate. I try to be clear without being condescending, and aware that not everyone

shares the same background or assumptions. I know firsthand what it feels like to not fully

“fit” into the dominant narrative.

My cultural identity has had a significant impact on how I approached my career and

work ethic. From my upbringing I carry a strong sense of independence and responsibility.

Giving your best every day is not an option but a very strong belief for me. If a person is not

going to do their best at something, why do it at all? At the same time my life experiences

being an adopted Korean female has shaped how I engage with people professionally. I value

understanding different perspective and creating safe spaces where people can feel seen and

heard. I’m naturally inclined to ask questions, listen closely and thinking before I speak.

I also bring a level of self -awareness to my work. I recognized that my perspective was

shaped by both what I experienced and what I didn’t. That awareness has helps me approach

challenges with curiosity instead of assumption. My cultural identity has taught me that

connection doesn’t come from similarity it comes from effort, empathy and transparency.

Whether I am working with a team or engaging with suppliers, I carry that mindset with me.

Living between cultures has shaped how I see myself and the world around me. It has made

me more reflective, observant and purposeful in how I connect with others.

My story doesn’t fit into one category, and that to me is what makes it meaningful.

It’s a reminder that culture isn’t always something that is simple and clear, that sometimes

it’s something that is a person has to navigate, question and grow into overtime. Something I

am still growing into, to this day.

Finding Culture in a Small Northern Michigan Town

When I think about my cultural identity, my first thought used to be… do I even have one? I grew up

in a small town in Northern Michigan where there isn’t much diversity at all, and for a long time I

felt kind of boring compared to other cultures. Like, I don’t have big unique traditions or a strong

religious background, so I assumed I didn’t really have a “culture.” But the more I’ve thought about

it, the more I’ve realized that culture isn’t just big, obvious things. It can also be the small, everyday

habits, values, and experiences that shape who you are as an individual.

So I suppose yes, I do have a culture. If I had to put a name to it I would say it’s small town

American. It’s extremely family oriented, very routine based, and honestly sometimes stereotypical

of the “American” culture. Living in a small town means you see the same people all the time, you

know your surroundings/what everyone is up to, and life feels pretty predictable. There isn’t a lot of exposure to different cultures, which has definitely

shaped how I see the world and also made me more

aware of how different other people’s experiences

can be.

Traditions and Rituals

I wouldn’t say I have a ton of big traditions, but the small ones I do have are important to me. For example, every year I watch the Super Bowl. Do I understand football? Absolutely not. Could I explain what’s happening? Also no. But I will be seated for the halftime show and the snacks like it’s my job. That feels like a very American tradition in itself. I celebrate all the typical American holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, and Memorial Day. These usually revolve around food, family, and just spending quality time together. Nothing super fancy, but they’re meaningful in a simple way. A tradition I refuse to give up (even though I’m about to be 22 years old) is doing Easter egg hunts in my backyard. I know it sounds childish, but honestly it’s fun and I will not be stopping anytime soon. Another thing I still do is every year on Christmas my brother and I (he’s 16 years old) bake cookies and leave out milk for Santa and carrots for his reindeer to eat. This tradition plays as more of a fun tradition for my family, because for a moment they are able to go back to those years when my brother and I still believed in the magical man who snuck into every child’s home to bring them presents (kinda creepy now that I am old and think about it). Or another example, and this one is so random. Every Thanksgiving my family and I sit down and watch a movie called “Turkey Hollow”, ever heard of it? You probably haven't… its about two kids visiting their aunt who decides to hunt for a mysterious forest creature called the “Howling Hoodoo” (because clearly that’s a great idea). While exploring the woods, they run into a bunch of weird little creatures that look like someone mashed random animals together, all in which are slightly creepy, and kind of adorable. The whole adventure turns into a chaotic mix of monster-hunting and dealing with these strange forest gremlins. Anywho, great movie, totally recommend. This all started many years ago when we just decided to watch it, and its stuck every year since. It’s those little traditions that make my culture feel personal and not so “boring” after all.

Food and Everyday Life

If there’s one thing about me, it’s that I will order chicken tenders and french fries at

a restaurant like it’s a personality trait… I even own a sweatshirt that says “Ill take the

chicken strips”. My food choices are definitely very American and very simple. I pretty

much only eat chicken, and I’m completely okay with that. Chicken and waffles is one of

my favorite breakfasts, which feels like a pretty solid American combo.

There’s also just something about grilling food outside that feels normal where I’m from. Rain, Snow, or

Shine we’ll turn on the grill, kick our feet up, and turn on “Summer Time in Northern Michigan” by the

great Kid Rock. Or even throw some wood on the campfire and roast marshmallows while you get

brutally eaten by mosquitoes. It’s just feels like those small town, summertime things that everyone kind

of just does.

And although Fast food is a huge part of the “American” culture, I don't eat out often. But when it comes

to a long road trip you’ll find me doing a quick u-turn into the closest Culver’s. That eases the stress

caused by the greater filled pot holes that run the stretch of I-75, that every time you hit one you feel like

your tire may fall off…a good chicken sandwich and concrete mixer will fix you right up. Now when it

comes to snacks, I love me some potato chips. Any kind will do. Now this might trigger some people, but I can eat

pickles like they are going to expire tomorrow. Absolutely love them! You’ll also catch me drawing my ranch in

everything I eat…and I am not embarrassed by it. When I go out to eat, my family usually will tell the waiter to grab

5 extra ranch to save him a few trips later on.

Cultural Artifacts

At first I had no idea what counted as a cultural artifact, but then I realized it can be everyday things. For me, that

includes stuff like watching big TV events (like the Super Bowl), backyard spaces where we do things like Easter

egg hunts, and even something as simple as a grill/ or campfire.

Even driving around my small town, going to the same restaurants, and spending nights at home with

family are part of my cultural experience. It might not seem exciting, but it represents the environment I

grew up in and what shaped me.

Values and Beliefs

I think my values are one of the strongest parts of my cultural identity. I am not religious, which I know

is a big part of life for many Americans, but it’s just not something I grew up with. Instead, my values

come more from my family and my environment.

Family is 100% the most important thing to me. A lot of my decisions revolve around staying close to

them and maintaining those relationships. I also strongly value hard work. I was raised to believe that if

you work hard, you’ll be successful, and that nothing is handed to you ever.

Growing up in American culture, independence has always been something that was encouraged,

even in small ways. I was taught to figure things out on my own, take responsibility for my choices,

and work toward my own goals instead of relying on others. I think this comes from the bigger idea

in American culture that success is something you earn through your own effort. Because of that, I’ve

learned to value being self sufficient and making my own decisions, even when it’s hard. At the same

time, I think independence doesn’t mean doing everything alone, but more about having the confidence to take

control of your life and create your own path. Other values that are important to me are trustworthiness, kindness,

freedom, and just overall happiness. I think a lot of my personality, especially being empathetic and caring, comes

from these values.

Language and Communication

I speak English, but I definitely have some Midwestern habits in how I talk. For example, I say “ope” anytime I

accidentally bump into someone or get in their way. It just comes out automatically at this point. I also sometimes add

“eh” to the end of sentences without even thinking about it. My communication style is friendly but a little reserved at first. I think growing up in a small town made me more comfortable with people I know, but a little quieter in new

situations. I also try to be polite and avoid conflict when I can, but will absolutely put someone in their place when

they deserve it.

How My Culture Shapes My Work and Future

Growing up in this kind of environment has really shaped how I approach work and my future. Having a strong work ethic was always expected, so I try to do what I’m supposed to do and do it well. I take my responsibilities seriously, whether it’s school or my job. At the same time, growing up in a place with not much diversity has made me more aware of how important it is to learn about other cultures. I’ve had experiences (especially in relationships and meeting new people) that pushed me outside of my comfort zone, and those moments helped me grow a lot.

Overall, I’ve realized that my culture might seem simple, but it’s still meaningful. It’s made up of my family, my habits, my values, and even the little things like saying “ope” or eating chicken tenders way too often. I used to think I didn’t have much of a culture, but now I see that it’s been shaping me this whole time. I just didn’t notice it.

My Cultural Identity: Midwestern Roots, Hard Work, and Learning to Connect by Michelle Lintjer

When asked to describe my culture, I at once thought of West Michigan. I think of Midwestern

attitudes that place high value on working hard, being humble, loyal, and showing up for others.

My culture is not defined by one label. It’s shaped by growing up in a hardworking community

that tips their caps to those who help family, keep grinding when life gets busy, and show you

they care through actions more than words. It’s shaped by being a wife, mother, manager,

student, and a woman who worked in facilities services for years while completing her college

education. My culture is very down-to-earth, family-oriented, and realistic. It’s the type of

culture that takes pride in doing your job well. It’s a culture where being reliable is important,

and where you learn at an early age to give respect through your attitude and work ethics.

Traditions and Rituals

Some of my favorite traditions are small. Life traditions. Morning routines. Holiday meals.

Game day hangouts. Celebrating the small stuff in big ways. Growing up, our traditions were

less about being extravagant and more about showing up. Showing up matters. Helping when

you can matter. Making time for others matters.

Even daily rituals can become cultural. Work is like a dance to me. There’s pride in just doing

the work. Doing what needs to be done? Making sure others can do their job. It’s influenced by

how I view life. I learned at a youthful age that if there’s something that needs to be done, you do

it. You don’t sit around waiting for someone else to do it for you. Simple concept, but it’s made

me who I am.

Foods

Food also heavily represents culture because it brings people feelings of comfort, family, and

memories. For me, food brings up holidays, family reunions, and feelings of home. Food isn't

necessarily one type of ethnic food to me but more so meals that my family would gather around.

Holidays foods, comfort foods, and quick meals during busy weeks are some foods that represent

the type of culture I was raised around. A lot of times food can be associated with care. Making

food for others, bringing something to share, or sitting down for a meal with someone is one way

of showing love and making a connection.

On another note, I think food can also show how culture can expand. The more I have aged,

traveled, and interacted with people of different backgrounds the more I understand that food can

also be used to learn about other cultures. Trying new foods and learning what they mean to

other people has allowed me to be more open and adventurous.

Cultural Artifacts

Items of culture that are significant to me include items that symbolize family, work ethics,

tradition, and memory. Many of these items aren’t even necessarily tangible for museum

artifacts. They can be objects of day-to-day life that I surround myself with. My favorite bag,

gifts from family, my football equipment, work belongings, photographs I cherish, or objects

associated with special occasions all speak to things I value. Although these are quite simple

items, they represent some of my values such as loyalty, sentimentality, pride, and

connectedness.

Physical places play a role in my culture as well. From campus locations to workplaces to family

residences, the places I spend a lot of time in have greatly influenced my perspective on

responsibility and belonging. Since my major and career path is facilities management, I analyze

how space and the physical world impact others. This has carried over into how I run at work

and in relationships. I pay attention to the details. I think about others’ needs. I care about

whether a space feel loved, inviting, and ready for others.

Values and Beliefs

I think the values I’d say most define my cultural identity are challenging work, being

responsible, respectful, and helping others. I grew up where people were expected to “pull their

own weight” and be proud of what they did. I also grew up where people were expected to be

dependable. If you said you were going to do something, you would do it. If someone needs

help, you help.

However, I’ve also learned that some of those values can be blind spots too. For instance,

working hard is wonderful but it’s also easy to overwork yourself and put others before you too

often. It’s also easy to feel guilty when you need to slow down. That’s something I’ve learned

that falls under my own personal self-awareness. My cultural identity has given me many

strengths, but it has also played a part in some of the weaknesses I work on.

Lastly, I believe people deserve respect, even when they have had different life experiences,

communication styles, or ways of thinking than me. Working with all kinds of people has taught

me that culture can affect how people speak, how they respond, how they lead, and how they

connect. Learning that has made me more conscientious of not thinking that just because

something is how I would do it, that it’s the only or best way to do something.

Language and Communication

Growing up, my culture heavily influenced how and what I communicated. I tend to speak

politely, carefully, and respectfully. I value professionalism, clarity, and being kind. I was taught

to say please and thank you, to watch my tone, and to try not to be disrespectful or too blunt.

That manner has served me well as a leader, but it has also made me realize that not everyone

has the same communication standards.

I know that many people in my culture show their care through action. Showing up, helping, and

being reliable means more than dramatic language. I also realize that I apologize too easily, I

smooth over conflicts, and I pay too much attention to how something will sound to another

person. In a professional setting, some of these traits can allow me to keep others professional

and empathetic. What I have learned is that people and cultures will communicate in separate

ways. Something that may be too direct to me can be normal to someone else. Something that

may be polite to me can be too indirect to someone from a different culture. Learning has

allowed me to grow my cultural intelligence and adapt to my communication skills.

How My Cultural Identity Shapes My Work

My cultural identity has changed me greatly when it comes to my work ethics and attitude

towards my career. I take my work very seriously and care about doing a good job. I value

leading by example and being there for my team. I want to help others and create spaces that

allow people to feel respected and ready to conquer whatever they set their minds to. I also think

that no job is “too low” for anybody and that all jobs should be met with respect. This belief

stems directly from my upbringing and the values that I uphold.

Coming from such a hard-working Midwestern background has made me persistent and reliable.

That’s part of why I have been able to continue growing in my field while going to school. It’s

made me into a person who will own things and notice when something needs to be done.

Additionally, being in this class has taught me that my cultural identity influences how I

communicate with others, how I understand others, and how I present myself in professional

settings. The more I learn about my own culture, the more aware I become of my strengths and

my biases. I think this knowledge is critical, as we are constantly communicating with people

from diverse cultures, backgrounds, and who have different expectations.

My cultural identity continues to grow, but family, hard work, respect, and continuing to learn

are at the foundation. These values influence how I perceive myself, how I interact with others,

and how I work.

Born and Raised by Taylor Toman

Born under a fleeting “situationship” between my two parents who never married resulted in me

having a stark contrast between my sets of families. With a 17 year old mother who dropped out

to later receive her GED, and a 21 year old father who was soon to set off to Iraq as a Marine,

they never lived together or had similar traits.

I grew up in Sheridan, MI, which is legally classified as a village with around 600 residents by

the time I was born in 2003. I lived with my mother and my stepfather, who married when she

was 18 and he was 36. I visited my dad every other weekend, to which I stayed in a student

apartment at Western Michigan University, where my dad got his engineering degree as he

served. My dad didn’t marry my stepmother until I was around 8. I never familiarized myself

much with my stepmother’s family unlike my stepfather’s. My stepmother and I never got close

either, unlike my stepdad and I, of which I just consider him a regular dad.

My Mother and Stepfather

I grew up in a unique environment. My mother was rebellious and liked to party (while being a

loving mother), and my stepfather was a willing participant in her “shenanigans,” while also

being more responsible. Sheridan, along with Montcalm County, homes a lot of drug abuse and

poverty. My mother’s family was no exception– her parents were working class, and her and her

brothers participated in drug and alcohol abuse. My stepfather also worked a “side-gig” of

growing and selling marijuana before it became legal, further introducing me to drug-permeated

environments.

In addition to drug abuse, Montcalm County also has high poverty rates of 14%, going

hand-in-hand with drug usage. Commonly associated with drug use and poverty amongst

primarily white areas, it also holds a strong Republican community. Growing up, my family was

no different.

We lived blocks away from my mother’s parents, who I lovingly could see as being described as

“white trash” (while I disagree with the “trash” label). They fit the mold of what people think of

blue-collar white rurals, down to the NASCAR on the TV and the bigoted beliefs previously held

by my grandmother. My grandmother, before catching mono that fortunately came with a

changed personality, was infamous for being one of the most bigoted people you came across. I

remember the casual usage of slurs and her wishes of death upon certain groups from my

young age.

The drug use, the bigotry, the working class conditions, and the political beliefs all cumulated

into a unique childhood and culture growing up. Not many kids can say their mother was a drug

addict, and that their stepfather grew marijuana, and that their parents watched Alex Jones and

believed chemtrails were a thing and vaccines would give me autism. I remember vaguely of

being unvaccinated and mysteriously sick with a high fever as a child, and my parents using an

alternative of honey and garlic to replace a doctor.

My Father and Stepmother

My father being in Iraq when I was young and not being the primary custody holder yielded in a

culture I less relate to than my mother’s, but still relate to heavily. I was introduced at a young

age to his family’s strong Christian beliefs stemming from his family’s ancestors, coming from

Dutch and Frisian Calvinists who moved from East Frisia and Groningen to the Midwest.

My father’s side was unfamiliar with the behind-the-scenes of my mother’s side, which was for

the better. They upheld more typical middle class standards, such as their behaviors, careers,

and beliefs that have slowly been moving left as the generations passed. My dad’s Grand

Rapids suburban home purchased after the 2008 crash contrasted my mother’s fallen apart

trailer, down to the foods in his home which contained organic and healthier alternatives.

Personal Identity

My identity is an interesting mix of both of my parents’ cultures. My mother, who comes from old

stock English and German, along with Detroit Polish Jews, doesn’t necessarily uphold a lot of

traditions or cultures from her heritage. Instead, she has adopted a rural white Midwest

American culture that strictly holds to its own.

My father’s heritage plays a heavier role in both my family and myself, as we can trace back

generations. I notice a stronger connection with the Dutch and Frisian influence in my life as I

can see the Calvinistic ideals upheld by my family, trickling down to each family member,

perhaps including myself, despite being an atheist.

In contrast with the conservative values held in both of my families, I find myself identifying with

a different type of culture. One that is more tolerant and lenient, unintentionally leaning towards

a liberal or leftist culture. Being disabled, a lesbian, and a cisgender woman, I of course

naturally gravitate towards these spaces, which I might call them liberal modern Midwest

American.

I find great meaning in straying away from the strict upheld values of my family and ancestors,

celebrating multiculturalism, queerness, and the general rejection of forced social traditionalism

in Midwest America. I take from my own culture bestowed on me, and I take from the cultures

I’ve embraced.

This can look like looking through my late grandmother’s ancestry documents of her ancestors

in Frisia, embracing local Holland Michigan culture, and acknowledging my ancestors. This can

also look like lingo from queer spaces, pride and/or multicultural festivals, or celebrating

non-traditional aspects of culture.

Work Ethic

I believe that these blend of cultures enable me to understand a wide variety of backgrounds,

which can be utilized in a nonprofit marketing field, both in how I work with other people and

how I understand the topics at hand.

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 was corrected a new trend surfaced under “white American” culture specifically. The argument of American culture or, specifically, white American culture then transcended social mediaplatforms, with sites that dehumanized American culture and many others that removed white American culture altogether. The comment sections of these articles, posts, and videos were littered with white Americans expressing their feelings of cultural loss and how they longed to be part of a culture, whether that was wishing they could change identities entirely or reconnect with their roots. As an individual who identifies with both her American and white American culture, this is deeply distressing.

I recognize 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 that comes with being a white American is also what allows my culture to be overlooked by others and sometimes even by myself. This paradox is why discussions about culture can feel so exhausting. 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 of negatives to American culture). At its most basic, the beginnings of American culture were founded on the expression of independence 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 myself to 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 American independence 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 eating home-cooked meals that always needed more salt because health was important, and eating out was for special occasions. Their upbringing shaped everything from the way we grocery-shopped to how we viewed success. It’s funny, isn’t it? I am a white American whose daily life is still shaped by the generations before me because their habits and beliefs were passed down whether I recognize them or not, but my cultural identity goes deeper than those two words: white American.

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 only remember when guests are over) because the Bible Belt ran right through our town and I live in a country that declares “freedom for religion” in its constitution. I take the four seasons for granted and walk outside when the tornado siren goes off, just to see if the tornado is actually coming. I am a white, Midwestern American who prays that Jesus is forgiving because a White Claw is my drink of choice and too many of them will have me belting Journey during Karaoke night right after 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 so that 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’m doing I’ll reply with, “Good, how are you?” even though we both know I don’t care. Because I am a white, Midwestern Michigan American who will someday take my kids camping in a tent or pop-up trailer “up north” where we can poke a stick through a marshmallow, roast it, cover it in chocolate and graham crackers, and call it a s’more.

Culture is not something you earn through centuries of tradition buried in deep, untraceable roots. Your look, experience, language, customs, and way of life will never be too ordinary to count 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 I don’t care about football. It’s in the gifts that are wrapped for me under the Christmas tree every year, signed by an imaginary fat white dude in a red suit. It’s in the Starbucks I drink, the cheeseburgers 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, or global experiences and there will still be microcultures, pockets of identity shaped by smaller regions, cities, traditions, or habits. New Yorkers may look at Midwestern cultures as warm and friendly, 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 different culture 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 to food, 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 my every 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 is also deeply personal to every individual’s experience. Family-orientation is something that I believe to be an American cultural value, but I also feel as though it has strong roots in the Midwest specifically. For me, family-orientation is the largest 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, my family 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 Catholic school until high school. However, neither of my parents wanted to raise their children within an organized religion. So, growing up I did not attend church or learn religious teachings, although I still believe that some Catholic values have been instilled into my own culture through my parents’ 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 with American 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 picky when 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 are many 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. Outdoorsiness is 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 time outside has always been a very high priority for me and my family, and I also believe that this stems 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.