Most people don't understand how it is to have illiterate parents, who are unable to handle about anything on their own. It's easy for everyone else to say: "They can take care of themselves. Gee, cut the umbilical cord already.You need to start live your own life." 

 

My parents came to Sweden and started from nil. They live in the outskirt of Swedish society. They don't know the first thing about Swedish culture or customs. They barely speak the language. You might think, "Well, that's their choice if they don't want to acculturise." But have you ever left you homeland and migrated to a completely foreign country, continent even? Imagine not finishing middle school in your own country and then having to change your entire lingual system from Chinese characters to roman alphabet. 

 

Some people are embarrassed by their parents because they act as foreigners. I just know, despite all the cultural differences and the lack of a "normal" childhood, my parents left everything of their known lives in order for us to have a better life. Whether or not it turnt out that way is irrelevant. 

 

People feel sorry for me because I feel the need to support my family. They don't get it. What would you do? Turn your back on yours? No. If you had to, you would too. The difference is that you never had to think in these terms, and you probably never will. That's not a giving. That's a luxury. A privilage. 

 

So don't give me this crap about having my own life. I owe my life to my parents.