Journal Entry 29: Your Family Traditions

            In the story Everyday Use, there is a conflict between two visions of what heritage is and purpose it serves. Just like the story, I think there is also a conflict in my own family regarding the heritage and tradition. And the conflict is between American traditions or Taiwanese traditions. Since I am in PAS, which is an international school, I am expected to act and be an American. Because I am going to the US for university and maybe for jobs. But on the same time, I also have to keep my own traditions, which is Taiwanese traditions, and I can't forget them. I believe both culture is in my life now and they take up half half proportions. I want to be American and learn and get what is good for being an American and American education. But on the same time I can't forget my traditions and heritages and get what is good from it and take away what is bad about my culture. My family gathers at Chinese New Years, Mother's Day, or birthdays. Or sometimes just when everyone is in Taiwan because many of my aunts and uncles are in USA. My family also gather on christmas because that is when my cousins from USA come back to Taiwan. The foods are mostly chinese, Taiwanese, or Japanese. Every adult or older teenager talk when we gather. All of the younger members act in an American way, wear American clothes and sometimes speak English because we have American education.