Dear Amy: Both of my parents are Irish immigrants, so I’ve been raised saying things like “me coat” and calling my mother “Mum.”
I also spell words with the Irish spelling rather than the American way.I am 15 years old, and my friends have started catching on, spelling things the same way and using the same phrases and language as me.At first, I didn’t really mind, but now it’s becoming annoying.I feel as if they are trying to take away my culture, especially now that one of my friends, “Janet,” is using random Gaelic phrases. I know these phrases because my parents are fluent in Gaelic.I don’t know how to get my friends to stop attempting to take over my culture. What’s your advice? — Ireland ForeverDear Forever: Using the Irish vernacular doesn’t mean your friends are taking your parents’ native culture any more than dancing to the soundtrack of “Slumdog Millionaire” makes any of us a Bollywood star — but we’re all allowed our cross-cultural fantasies, right?Ideally, you’d be flattered by this sort of appropriation, but I can understand how listening to your friends say “me Mum” would get old.I admit to being one of those individuals who instantly appropriates the language and accent of the person I’m speaking with, until a friend warned that my flat Eastern accent didn’t lend itself well to “kvelling” and “kvetching.” So I stopped.Your friends are fascinated by your culture. We Americans tend to believe that our own culture is boring and flavorless.But — as we are fond of reminding anyone still listening — it’s a free country, and your friends have the right to be annoying.Your best defense is to laugh when your friend Janet gets your Irish up.“What’s so funny, pal-o-mine?” she’ll ask.“You’re as Irish as Jennifer Lopez, but hey — good try!”Dear Amy: I am really struggling with a breakup.We dated for three years and, like all couples, had our issues, but nothing major. Everything seemed to be going well, and then all of a sudden he started to do things that were completely out of character.I confronted him about his actions and he said, “If I think you’re miserable, I will break up with you because I don’t think you would be able to handle it,” and then he broke up with me. Now I think about him constantly.Should I reach out to him or wait to see if he tries to contact me? He knows where I stand. — Bummed Over BreakDear Bummed: Your ex knows where you stand, and he knows you’re motivated to work things out. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to share your goals.The coward’s way out of a relationship is to behave badly and basically dare the other person to object to the infraction. Throwing down the gauntlet was part of his exit strategy. He has dared you to tolerate this breakup, so rise to his challenge and do well.Don’t call him — he owes you an apology.V Send questions to askamy@tribune. com or Ask Amy, Chicago Tribune, TT500, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.