Cultural Inventory

I was born in Moab, Utah, but was brought to California with my adoptive parents at two weeks old. I grew up as an only child. My parents always told me my responsibility was to get an education. I did chores here and there growing up and cooked a little. However, my number one job was always to be my schooling. I am currently finishing up my college degree in education. My father graduated from the University of Southern California. His parents, my grandparents, finished high school, but never attended college. My mother attended a few classes at Fresno City College, but never got a degree. Her father ,my grandfather, dropped out of school after sixth grade in order to be the man of the house and take care of his siblings. Her mother, my grandmother, finished high school, but did not attend college. My mother, her parents, and I only speak English. My father and his parents on the other hand, speak English and some Italian. I am trying to pick up some of the Italian. I think it is a beautiful language.
Being my parents only child they were very protective of me. They both wished I would not date util I was at least sixteen, however, that was not the case. As far as marriage goes, my parents must approve. Which is a rule of mine as well as theirs. My dad and his family are very old fashioned. They don't me living with a man until we are married. I can't bring a man home until we are basically ready to get married. My mom and her side of the family are much more welcoming. They are always inviting whoever I am dating or my cousins are dating to our gatherings.
Christmas is our big family get together. We use to get together more when my cousins and I were young, but now we are all adults. My mom's family has a fairly low key get together with southern food. It has never really been the same since my grandpa passed away. He was an amazing cook. My dad's family has very high class affairs with some amazing homemade Italian food. My favorite food at these gatherings is always my Grammy's gnocchi's, which my aunt now makes.
My mom was born in Oakdale, Louisiana just like her father (my grandpa). Her mom, my grandma was born in a town called Appleton in Colorado. My dad was born in San Jose, California. His parents, my grandparents, were born in Los Banos, California. My great-grandparents immigrated from Italy as teenagers. They found themselves in Los Banos, California and that's where the family has stayed.
My mom, her parents, and I are Irish, Scottish, English, and probably a few other things as well. My dads family is all Italian.