My brother and I grew up in a multi-cultural household. Our father is hundred percent Japanese and our mother is half-Filipino, half-Chinese. It was pretty interesting growing up in that kind of household. Japanese, Filipino and Chinese culture are not that different from each other but it is the small differences that make it interesting, especially when both sides of our families gather together.
One thing that is common among all the cultures mentioned is the love for good eating. It shows well in our family because we usually get together when there are celebrations and of course when there is food. Family members bond when seated in the dining table. This is how we keep each other updated about our own lives. So we also make it a point that we always have meals together, no matter how busy one can get.
An enjoyable thing when we were kids (and actually even now) was all the holidays and festivals that we got to experience. We got to experience two New Year celebrations each year. Christmas gives precedence to the Filipino tradition because we were raised Roman Catholic. We felt lucky that we were able to know about special festivals that no other kids in our neighborhood would be able to experience. Exposing children to these celebrations is a good way to teach them about their culture, as I can attest to that through all my experiences.
All in all, our parents didn’t warp my brother and me when they raised us. They were able to maintain a healthy balance among all cultures and were able to agree to almost everything. Of course, when in a situation like this, it is best to be open-minded to suggestions and compromise.
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