Culture, Background, and The Origin of Fava

     This week we talked a lot about backgrounds and culture.  From Amy Tan to Maya Angelou, we discussed how big of an impact culture can have on one's life. This got me thinking of how little I know about my background. I'm Italian (that's where the "Fava" comes from), Polish, and German, but a few generations removed. So, I'm usually seen as the stereotypical "white girl." I've spent my entire life in America and that's all I really have come to know. I often wonder how my life would be different if I knew more of my distant relatives or visited the places of my nationality.
     Could experiencing things that my ancestors did dramatically change who I am? But who am I supposed to be?  What is each individual's culture supposed to be-genetic nationality (how you're expected to act) or environmental influences (how you really act)?  I think that like most things, there is a gray area; culture is a mixture of everything that influences someone.
    Going off of this, I think that there is a balance between staying true to yourself and changing into the person you're destined to become.  Background influences may be an extremely important aspect in your life, but they are not the only aspect. Although I'm super-Americanized, my background is still extremely important to me without playing an active role in my everyday life.