I was born and raised in the United States but still deeply rooted in my Mexican culture. My
             parents did everything they knew to help my brothers and I learn and respect our Mexican
             culture. Born into American culture but raised by immigrant parents, often was difficult
             for me to balance two very different cultures. There were many times while growing up that I
             encountered complex situations in regards to language, whether to speak Spanish or English and
             when it was appropriate. I felt a lot of pressure having to act as an interpreter for my parents when
             we were out in public and definitely the most difficult was learning to fit into American culture. I
             was now expected to retain the tradition and values of the Mexican culture and embrace and become
             At home I was told to speak Spanish so I would not forget. When friends came to visit, I was
             expected to only speak in Spanish, so as to not offend anyone. When we visited family in Mexico I
             was expected to act in a manner that would not disrespect my family's name. In these situations it
             was even more important to make a good impression on our extended family. Speaking English in
             front of family members who only spoke Spanish was a big sign of disrespect. Many family
             members felt that I was trying to show off by speaking English or that I thought that I was better
             than them because of it. They also made the assumption that because I lived in the United States
             that I lived a privileged life style and that life for me was easy. My family in Mexico had no idea of
             the pressure I felt to fit in American society and how I had to work harder than my American
             friends to do so. It was inconsiderate for my family to assume that, as a child, I should recognize
             when and where it was appropriate to act Mexican or American.
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