Most of us can trace our family history back at least several generations. Interview as many family members, friends, neighbors as you deem necessary in order to describe your personal and family background. You can use photos, mementos, documents and family stories to initiate the interviews or probe for more input when necessary. C. If you are only able to trace your birth or adoptive family history as far back as your grandparents: 1. Describe where your grandparents grew up and where and how they lived and worked as adults. 2.Did they move around, from or to different states or countries? 3. Describe the challenges your grandparents faced growing up, and how they dealt with their problems. 4. Identify the person(s) who has had the strongest influence on your family’s development. What made this individual influential? Part Two: Everyone should respond to each of the questions in this section. In this section, 'family' can refer to your childhood family to present (your parents or guardians, siblings, other relatives), and/or your own family (your spouse/partner, your own children) if applicable. 1. Describe your own ethnic and racial makeup. 2. Has your family’s development in the United States incorporated ‘new’ cultural elements (language, family members from other ethnic or racial backgrounds, religious practice and the like)? 3. How have you and your family dealt with such change, if at all? 4. How do you see yourself as being similar and/or different from your immigrating ancestors or other family members? 5. How culturally diverse are you and your family today? How important do you feel it is to be culturally diverse in the United States, if at all? Why? 6. Was this assignment easy or difficult for you? Under what circumstances might an exercise like this be difficult for a student to complete? In which ways could you modify it under special circumstances? .