I speak two languages but only one of them well. My Vietnamese is broken, and never mind that I get A-pluses in English, I get made fun of by my relatives for not being able to maintain the language I learned as a kid. It’s not that their teasing words hurt me, no, it’s the fact that when my grandfather hands me a slice of his cake, I can’t articulate the words to say that I am thankful for his affection and his efforts to make me happy.

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