Peruvian | Scottish
I think the lack of a single ‘dominant’ cultural identity (and heavy multicultural upbringing) allowed me to mix with all different cultures, perhaps because I only ever visited Peru as a child, and never felt the burden or identity or the necessity to fit into a culture that was foreign to me (and a language that I couldn't understand at the time). I've had so many challenges and experiences, very rarely though, have these challenges related to my struggle with identity or culture (at least outwardly). I've always struggled with a sense of identity, but never found peace (or answers, yet) by looking inward at my own cultural background. I am who I am, and I feel that my own self-identity takes precedence and is the source of more struggle than the cultural background I have. I'm still open to the idea that I could find more personal answers by looking deeper into my mixed identity though.
Growing up, I never felt mixed; it wasn't something that I actively thought about. Canada is a melting pot of cultures; even my high school was incredibly culturally rich, but it was something that was very rarely mentioned, or only appeared in the fringes (e.g. events, food, church). Only after moving to Europe did I realize how many diverse cultures, people and languages I had the privilege of being around. It always seemed to me that our shared Canadian identity was embraced and placed first.
Embrace the ambiguity. Part of your strength is your uniqueness, in perspective, experience, and adaptability. There will always be a pull to discover your identity, understand your background better. Embrace that, and remind yourself, you are able to self-determine where you fit, how you feel, and what you add into the world.
I am so White presenting that no one really assumes I am mixed-race. Therefore, I keep the 'latino-mustache'. I admire any culture that highly values community and taking care of their own.
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