Waiter: The food of your people. Can I get you anything else?

Parent: Actually, um, we’re just trying to teach our daughter about your country. And as I’m saying that, I’m hoping you’re from Vietnam.

Waiter: I was born there. So was Lily.

Parent: Oh, it’s a beautiful country. Uh, my family still lives there.

Lily: I hate Vietnam.

Parent: Lily, honey, we don’t hate—

Lily: I hate Vietnam, okay?

Parent: Oh, we need just a second, Lily. That was rude.

Lily: I want to go home.

Parent: No. It’s important that you celebrate the culture of your ancestors. You are Vietnamese.

Lily: No, I’m not. I’m gay.

Parent: I’m gay, honey. No, you’re not gay. You are just confused.

Parent: Oh my God, what is wrong with me? It’s like I—

Parent: Please. We have tons of lesbian friends.

Parent: God, that you would reference our friends and not us.

Parent: It’s okay. We should just go.

Parent: No. Nobody’s going anywhere until she finishes the whole soup.

Parent: No, Gloria, it’s—

Gloria: Fine. That’s the problem with this country. Nobody cares where they come from. They just want cheeseburgers and prep school, and they have forgotten about Colombia.

Parent: Okay, I can’t help but feel that maybe you’re bringing something to the table that’s possibly, uh, not at all—

Parent: About Lily.

Parent: I think you’re right. It’s just that I feel like I’m losing my children to America. They’re just going to grow up and become boring old white people.

Parent: Most of our friends are white, actually.

Parent: Okay, can everybody just calm down and go back to their own conversations? Just—thank you.

Parent: Hey, hey. What’s going on with you?

Parent: Manny has forgotten most of his Spanish.

Parent: And I’m sure he’s not even going to learn it.

Parent: I know this is silly, but I just don’t like feeling like I’m so different from the rest of my family.

Parent: Oh, honey. It feels so lonely.

Parent: Wait just a second. Lily, is that why you want to be gay? To be more like your daddy?

Parent: Oh, honey, no. The three of us are a family even though we come from different places.

Parent: You know, you were born in Vietnam, and I grew up in a city. And even though he never talks about it, your daddy grew up on a farm.

Parent: Yeah. The point is, is that we’re a family because we love each other.

Parent: Okay, and you know what? You just caused a scene in a restaurant, and you can’t get any more like your daddies than that.

Lily: Maybe I’ll just take Manny and Joe to Colombia this summer.

Parent: I think that’s a great idea.

Parent: I really think that keeping in touch with your heritage only enriches our culture.

Parent: Absolutely. I think we would all be better off if people would go back to where they came from.

Parent: I’ll pull the car around.

📚 2. Vocabulary

🔎 Important vocabulary

heritage
Herança cultural, familiar ou histórica.

It’s important to celebrate your cultural heritage.

ancestor
Pessoa da sua família que viveu muitas gerações antes de você.

She wants to learn more about her ancestors.

grow up
Crescer, tornar-se adulto.

Children grow up very quickly.

enrich
Enriquecer, tornar algo mais rico ou significativo.

Travel can enrich your understanding of other cultures.

cause a scene
Criar uma situação constrangedora ou chamar muita atenção em público.

He caused a scene at the restaurant.

🗣️ 3. Useful Expressions

“I can’t help but…”

Usado quando você não consegue evitar uma determinada sensação ou pensamento.

I can’t help but feel that something is wrong.

= Não consigo deixar de sentir que algo está errado.

“I’m sure…”

Usado para demonstrar certeza ou forte convicção.

I’m sure he’s going to learn Spanish.

= Tenho certeza de que ele vai aprender espanhol.

“I don’t like feeling like…”

Uma maneira natural de expressar desconforto com determinada situação.

I don’t like feeling like I’m different.

= Eu não gosto de me sentir diferente.

“It’s important that…”

Usado para falar sobre algo considerado importante ou necessário.

It’s important that you learn about your culture.

“What’s going on with you?”

Pergunta informal que significa:

“O que está acontecendo com você?”

Dependendo do contexto, também pode significar:

“O que há de errado com você?”

“The point is…”

Usado para apresentar a ideia principal de uma explicação.

The point is that we’re a family.

= O ponto é que somos uma família.

“I think you’re right.”

“Acho que você está certo(a).”

Uma expressão extremamente comum em conversas reais.

🧠 4. Comprehension

A. Choose the correct answer

1. Why are they talking about Vietnam?

A) They are planning a trip there.
B) They are trying to teach their daughter about her country of origin.
C) They are looking for a restaurant.
D) They are talking about school.

2. Where was Lily born?

A) Colombia
B) The United States
C) Vietnam
D) Spain

3. What does Lily initially say about Vietnam?

A) She loves it.
B) She wants to visit it.
C) She doesn’t know anything about it.
D) She hates it.

4. What does the parent say is important?

A) Learning Spanish
B) Going to prep school
C) Celebrating the culture of one’s ancestors
D) Moving to another country

5. Why does one of the parents feel lonely?

A) Because the family doesn’t love them.
B) Because they feel different from the rest of their family.
C) Because they don’t have any friends.
D) Because they live alone.

6. Where did Lily’s daddy grow up?

A) In Vietnam
B) In Colombia
C) In a city
D) On a farm

B. True or False

7. Lily wants to go home.
8. Manny remembers all of his Spanish.
9. The family members come from different places.
10. One character believes that maintaining contact with one’s heritage can enrich culture.

C. Answer in English

11. Why does Lily’s family want her to learn about her heritage?

12. Why does one of the characters feel different from the rest of the family?

13. What does the family say makes them a family?

14. What suggestion is made at the end of the conversation?

15. What do you think the main message of the conversation is?

✍️ 5. Writing Practice

My Cultural Background

Write 100–150 words about your cultural and family background.

Try to answer these questions:

• Where were you born?
• Where did your parents or grandparents grow up?
• What traditions are important in your family?
• Is there a country or culture you would like to learn more about?
• Do you think it’s important to maintain your cultural heritage? Why?

Try to use at least 5 expressions from the lesson:

heritage · ancestors · grow up · I can’t help but… · I don’t like feeling like… · The point is… · It’s important that… · enrich

Challenge: Write your answer in English without translating sentence by sentence from Portuguese.