My mother tongue is Tamil, considered the oldest living language in the world. I live across the world from those who speak it. My cousins are in India, Germany and Australia. Yet, I still grew up around a group of Tamilians. My “Aunts” and “Uncles” have known me since I was born, and have been speaking Tamil to me since then. When I go to India, it is the language I speak to my grandparents too, although "Tanglish" (a mix of Tamil and English) is what usually comes out. The necklace around my neck is my name written in Tamil, and it is the only two letters I am familiar with. அதிதி. A-ti-ti. There is no D sound in the Tamil alphabet. One day, I hope I can read all 247 letters. While learning Tamil isn't present in my memories, mastering Spanish is something I have been working towards for the last 4 years of my life. When I walked into Spanish 1 in 8th grade I remember being overwhelmed by the unfamiliar grammar rules and long list of vocabulary. Now, I've become comfortable with the idea that learning language takes patience and and the ability to keep on going. Forgetting to practice one day is losing the progress of one month. Learning Spanish has forced me to stay passionate even when it seems impossible to make any progress at all.