My parents in their infinite wisdom thought that we children would have a better life if we could speak English fluently. So they spoke English at home, with the result that we children became very fluent in English, and not so fluent in Tamil, my mother tongue.
This would prove to be bad in the end. Throughout my life, I felt that I was neither here nor there. I am Indian but not quite because I don't watch Tamil movies or listen to Tamil songs. I tried talking in Tamil and keeping up with Tamil movies but it's just not me. I grew up listening to English songs, watching English cartoons, programs and movies, and reading English books. But I am not English, I am Indian. Try fitting in!
I never had many Indian friends. We just didn't think alike. I had more Malay and Chinese friends in school, but somehow I never really fit in with them, either. This will continue to be a theme throughout my life - neither here nor there. Can, but not quite. Maybe, but maybe not.
This would prove to be bad in the end. Throughout my life, I felt that I was neither here nor there. I am Indian but not quite because I don't watch Tamil movies or listen to Tamil songs. I tried talking in Tamil and keeping up with Tamil movies but it's just not me. I grew up listening to English songs, watching English cartoons, programs and movies, and reading English books. But I am not English, I am Indian. Try fitting in!
I never had many Indian friends. We just didn't think alike. I had more Malay and Chinese friends in school, but somehow I never really fit in with them, either. This will continue to be a theme throughout my life - neither here nor there. Can, but not quite. Maybe, but maybe not.
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