I was born in a town called Blackburn, in the northwest of England, and lived there till I left home the age of eighteen. My parents had moved to England from India during 1970s.
As a child, I went to my local school and, of course (speak) English with a local accent. But home was very different: we lived in a kind of "little India"， with a huge extended family of uncles and aunts. I remember (feel) part of this big thing called "family"， and an even (big) thing called "India". I suppose my family (real) influenced me while I was growing up. They used to talk about India as "home" — even at that time I had never been there!
To me, it doesn't seem at all strange to grow up as part of two cultures. I am always thinking that growing up with two cultures is a gift, not a (advantage). Now as a mother, I want my child (get) in contact (接触) with her Indian roots too, so we are planning to visit there later this year. All her Indian (cousin) are expecting to meet her!
