Some thoughts are in the perspective of my Mom's Uncle, respectfully.
Family has been the center of everything these past couple of days.
I love the bonding time I get with my mom at the house, being in touch with family members I never get to see, and failing miserably at understanding our native language at get togethers (my family speaks Visayan dialect).
I've been meeting with my titos, titas, and cousins on both sides of the family and in Filipino culture, it's normal for the sons and daughters to stay with their parents at age of 18, after 22, and even for life.
When we visited my mother's uncle at his restaurant nearby an ocean view, their whole talk and catching up left me unnoticed until he asked about me finishing college in the states and my line of work which entails PR, marketing, and writing.
He exchanged a puzzled look to my me and my mom.
He expressed never wanting to come to America, despite others he knew that took the chance and moved away. With what he learned from the unkept promises post Vietnam war, his view on the Western mentality is "what's in it for them" and that the American way is all about money and being financially on your own.
“In America, they kick you out. You will be alone...
... our culture in the Philippines is we are all about hospitality.”
I know I can relate because at the moment I experience both.
I know the pressures of officially being considered an adult when you turn 18, move out, and the need to be financially stable.
At the same time, I embrace the fact that I never feel particularly alone and I always have the support of my family to fall back on.
From that point on I never wanted to forget that.
After all, it's in my blood.
As we walked away to go eat and join the rest of the family he said, "Be a good writer."
I was taking notes the whole time.
Do you know your own culture?