-A common experience shared amongst those raised in a household, where two native languages are spoken by both parents, but the children are only fluent in the third language that both parents speak at home; in my case, Dad speaks Chamorro (Guam) and Mom speaks Japanese (Japan); my sister and I only speak English fluently and consider that our "native tongue". (I learned to speak Japanese later on in life, when I moved to Japan in my early 20's, wanting to know the language of the country of my birth.)
-This also happened to me in particular; I would be spoken to in one language, but could only reply back in English. To this day, I understand more Chamorro and Japanese (yes!) than I can comfortably speak. It's an on-going process for life!
-Daily meals prepared by Mom growing up were always interesting and seemed normal to us. Fried chicken could be served along with tempura; we might have steak, baked potato, salad and miso soup for dinner; breakfast could be fried eggs with hot rice & soysauce or with titiyas (corn tortillas) and fried SPAM or Portugese sausage. And don't forget my NATTO! (fermented sticky soy beans) To start a BBQ feast, we might have somen (chilled dip & eat thin wheat noodles) to tide us over until the meat was off the grill........and the menu goes on.
-Talk about being confused; I was raised in the Catholic faith on Guam, but frequented temples and shrines in Japan that represent Buddhist and Shinto beliefs, during our visits to see the relatives when I was a kid. Speaking of relatives; in Japan, I can be judged by the animal that represents the year I was born (12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac); in my case, the Dragon (tatsu doshi) or even my blood type (type A). Both are viewed quite seriously by some people(my elderly aunt in Kyoto, who's in her eighties, comes to mind) in many social circles, in determining your character and personality. As if it wasn't already hard just trying to maintain good grades in school; I had all this in my mind as well- such a learning experience it has been!
-This also happened to me in particular; I would be spoken to in one language, but could only reply back in English. To this day, I understand more Chamorro and Japanese (yes!) than I can comfortably speak. It's an on-going process for life!
-Daily meals prepared by Mom growing up were always interesting and seemed normal to us. Fried chicken could be served along with tempura; we might have steak, baked potato, salad and miso soup for dinner; breakfast could be fried eggs with hot rice & soysauce or with titiyas (corn tortillas) and fried SPAM or Portugese sausage. And don't forget my NATTO! (fermented sticky soy beans) To start a BBQ feast, we might have somen (chilled dip & eat thin wheat noodles) to tide us over until the meat was off the grill........and the menu goes on.
-Talk about being confused; I was raised in the Catholic faith on Guam, but frequented temples and shrines in Japan that represent Buddhist and Shinto beliefs, during our visits to see the relatives when I was a kid. Speaking of relatives; in Japan, I can be judged by the animal that represents the year I was born (12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac); in my case, the Dragon (tatsu doshi) or even my blood type (type A). Both are viewed quite seriously by some people(my elderly aunt in Kyoto, who's in her eighties, comes to mind) in many social circles, in determining your character and personality. As if it wasn't already hard just trying to maintain good grades in school; I had all this in my mind as well- such a learning experience it has been!
