Monday- Tell us about your different cultures, languages, and customs.

How do you deal with each other having different cultures, languages, and customs? (If you have the same background explain how it affects the relationship)

Do you learn more about how the other person thinks when you learn about their culture?

What are some funny, frustrating, or surprising moments you have shared because of these differences?

Cat: Whoa, these are some good questions! Okay, so, I was born in Lima, Peru. My mom is Peruvian and my dad was American. So, I was kind of brought up as a hybrid of the two cultures. So, even though I’m Peruvian, I definitely identify with certain parts of American culture because I have lived here my whole life (essentially) and because my dad was American.

I can’t speak for Richard, but I really like having a different culture, language and customs from him. I feel like I have learned a lot about both British and Welsh cultures, and I have loved it, truly. I mean, Welsh is a really cool-sounding language. I can speak for Richard when I say he will totally disagree with me on that, haha! Overall we really enjoy learning about each other’s cultures from each other. It’s been a really fun learning experience for us and our families!

I definitely have learned more about Richard’s mindset since I have learned about his culture. He really does embody the phrase, “Keep calm and carry on,” even though that phrase totally annoys him, haha! And that’s one of the many things I love about him. And it’s completely opposite to my family: We’re passionate about everything we do – It’s the Latin in our blood, haha! I love the balance he puts in my life. 🙂

From what he has told me and from what I perceive, sometimes it does bother him when my family and I lose ourselves and start talking in Spanish in front of him. Oops… Our bad… But he wants to learn more Spanish, and since I’m definitely teaching our children Spanish in the future, he either needs to hop on board or our children and I are going to have secret conversations, haha! (You all heard it here first!)

To end on a happy note:The fun moments we’ve had in regards to our different cultures has been cooking for each other. Richard loved my lomo saltado, and his mom and he loved my chile relleno. And my family can’t stop raving about Richard’s homemade focaccia and Bakewell Tart. Food ftw.

Richard: For me I enjoy us sharing different backgrounds as it means we open our minds to new ways of thinking, and collectively we make better decisions. I studied Spanish at GCSE level (14-16) but I have forgotten a lot unfortunately… Apart from enough to say silly things haha In terms of culture, we do compliment each other, as Cat gets me to dream more and be more hopeful and I keep her calm.

Yes, some times the Spanish speaking does bother me 😛 From my own background of growing up in a two lanaguage country, the social rule was essentially that if everyone speaks a shared lanaguage, then that’s the one you use apart from if you’re stuck on a word to use etc. I do feel bad getting annoyed with it but sometimes when I can’t take part in conversations that are happening by me, it does get to me. But, I do want to learn Spanish to have better conversations, teach our future children Spanish, and for business use in the states 🙂

As Cat says, food has played a very big part with our families connecting 🙂 I also made a Christmas dinner for Cat’s mum and Aunt when they were here for Christmas which went down really well! There will be competition in the future, but we actually cook our Christmas dinners on separate days (24th and 25th) so it’s all good!

Overall, any quirks have been growing pains when two cultures come together but 99% has been great and we’re in it for the long haul 🙂 She’s definitely improved my life and my outlook and I’m very thankful for having her in my life 🙂