Your culture is what makes you unique and who you are. Embrace it.

       In "Fish Cheeks" by Amy Tan, Amy's biggest desire is to assimilate into the culture and to become just like everyone else. But what's special about being the same as everyone else? Where's the uniqueness in that? Those are the questions Amy doesn't ask herself. To impress Robert, trying to be American is the ideal thing to do. She shows her disgust to her own culture's foods and customs. But how can someone respect her if she can't even respect herself and her culture? Balancing the two cultures is very important. Growing up in America, I have learned that finding the perfect balance is necessary to get the "best of both worlds."

       Your culture is your way of life, your beliefs and customs and what makes you who you are. Through culture, you can express yourself and your background. Without learning about and following culture, it is easy to get lost and turn to unacceptable ways of expression. It is also easy to assume a lot about other cultures. For example, someone from a foreign country moving to an America may make several false assumptions about American culture; you know your culture best, so you should embrace it. Your culture gives you a proper identity that you can retain while still assimilating into American culture. To live a fairly normal and progressive life in a new country like America, assimilating is important; but remembering that a perfect balance can be achieved is even more important. The the country will accept you and your culture just like you accepted their culture.