Growing up as a 1.5-generation Canadian, having moved from the Philippines to Canada as a young child, has always put me in this strange place in my heart. Since I’ve spent almost my entire life in Vancouver now, I very much feel “Canadian” – whatever that means (a whole other discussion) – but a part of me has still clung on to my Filipino heritage, despite it being almost a stranger to me now.
I guess I should back up, though. What is the “1.5 generation” anyway? Wikipedia’s entry on immigrant generations (is there seriously a Wikipedia entry for everything these days?) describes it as:
The term 1.5 generation or 1.5G refers to people who immigrate to a new country before or during their early teens. They earn the label the “1.5 generation” because they bring with them characteristics from their home country but continue their assimilation and socialization in the new country. Their identity is thus a combination of new and old culture and tradition.