What is my culture?

What is my culture? I used to think of culture as something very specific to a country. So I said things like Vietnamese culture or Japanese culture. However, in Vietnam, there are many ethnic groups who believe in very different cultural values an practice very different cultural traditions. Therefore these terms like Vietnamese culture  and their associated ideology may not necessarily be the reflection of all cultures in a country or not even the common values of those cultures. The terms like this often describe the popular commonality of culture of one or a few major ethnic groups in a country. An example is how Chinese couples organize and celebrate their wedding day. Some celebrate in old traditional way with all those beautiful Chinese costumes and truly value those traditions.  Some may choose to celebrate their wedding day in a Catholic church with a  limousine, a beautiful white dress, and champagne probably because they believe in something else. This example just shows how different we are culturally, in terms of both things that are visible and things that can't be seen, even though are defined as from the same culture. 

Having said all this, I believe culture is something very personal and specific to a person if I have to define my own. I grew up in Vietnam and absorbed lots of Vietnamese cultural values, but not all. I also picked up a few thoughts here and there (mostly through reading and watching Chinese and American movies) that are not typical in Vietnam at all. After I came to Canada, there was so much to absorb but I didn't absorb all. Like someone told me, our brain is a really good filter for things we see and experience. Every day I pick up something but not other to put into my own set of cultural values that is like no one else. 

My culture is all the things I have believed in and have acted accordingly.