How To Write A Cultural Experience Essay

Being born fully Thai, I was expected to be able to read, write, and speak the language. I was enrolled in a supplementary school to do just that. I went to this school during the weekends and I never took anything seriously. It was during a weekend and as a kid all I wanted to do was run around and play games. I ended up not paying attention and not doing any of the work there. I brushed it off, neglecting my Thai culture. Ultimately, I failed my entire family. I was illiterate in my parent’s native tongue. During a point in my life, I realized that all my parents wanted from me was to be a part of the culture they grew up with. I regret not being able to appreciate what my parents wanted from me. If I had cared, I could be talking …show more content…
This was my first time seeing my cousins, aunts, and uncles. Of course they were speaking the language I neglected. I can understand them, but it is very hard for me to speak. It takes me a long time to think of what to say and how to say it. Thai was my second language so it was a challenge for me to speak it. Dinner time came and we all sat together. My relatives having seen me for the first time just kept asking me question after question. I could barely respond. I can say some simple words but I can’t hold a conversation. Anytime I did say something, I would usually pronounce it wrong and my relatives would ask what did I say. I just felt so out of place. Anytime someone said something, I just laughed or nodded at them. Not being able to communicate with my relatives at all made me feel isolated. They just assumed I was very shy and introverted which wasn’t the case. I just wanted to go back home already. It was barely the first day of my month long trip …show more content…
I was dragged around like a mute the whole time there. I was too afraid to say anything because people wouldn’t understand me or would make fun of me for having an “American” accent. I just tried to avoid as many social situations as possible. I dreaded the one on one talks with any of my relatives about my life or theirs. I would usually spend most of my time locked away in my room coming out only for food and when my family wanted to go somewhere. Most of my days were spent being bored. My “vacation” wasn’t so fun. I then started wishing I was able to speak Thai. I wasn’t able to do so due to my negligence when learning it. If I had a chance to go back to learn it, I would’ve taken it much more seriously. The long month was finally coming to a close. There was not much for me to say and not much for my relatives to say either when I was leaving for the airport. The feeling was quite dead between me and my relatives. We didn’t talk much and didn’t get to know each other that well. There was this feeling of emptiness as I was