Dear Alicia and Emilie:
Thank you so very much for sharing your experiences and insights 
regarding cultural identity.
Your remininiscences remind me of one of the first "rules" of 
genealogy - to always start with what you know best, yourself. For 
myself, it is advice I have NOT followed, though I am always quick to 
remind others. Perhaps one day ;)
I grew up in the 40's & 50's in southern California. Although I am 
sure I heard a lot of Spanish at home before starting school, and 
probably spoke with those family members who spoke no English, once I 
started school, English was all I spoke, and English was all my 
parents spoke to me, probably recalling punishments, etc, for 
speaking Spanish in school when they were growing up. So I am not 
bilingual, and I married a gringo (Anglo mongrel, with possibly some 
Cherokee). We have 5  children - three with a Spanish middle name, 
and two with first names, Laura and Elena. (The other middle names 
are Maria Silveria, Joaquin, and Miguel). They were all born in VA, 
at a time when there were very few Mexicanos, Latinos, or Hispanics. 
It has been a strange ride trying to transmit the culture. As I have 
mentioned in previous messages, I trying to help the next generation -
 my grandchildren - they like to help me set up the ofrenda for Dia 
de los Muertos (on the porch). Ooops - have gone on too long.
Thanks again Alicia and Emilie. 

Natalie in VA