Exploring my culture has healed a part of me i didn't know existed

So I'm from Moçambique, but my grandparents immigrated from there and died without passing on the language and culture.

I've always had a curiosity about it, especially considering learning languages has been the earliest special interest I can ever remember having. However, every time I talked to my family they would dismiss it about being a distant connection (despite it actually not really being distant).  This only developed my curiosity though, and after realizing the impact my grandmother's death had on our family I vowed to preserve her language and culture one way or another.

It was only recently, within the past year or two I've met Brasilians that make me really get more curious about my language and culture. It's not exactly the same, but from what I've seen and heard Brasil has a bit of a cultural influence in Moçambique. So it was the best way to start!

I started learning from a very specific online friend of mine (shoutout to Lola!) and embraced immersion learning as it was really the only way I'd be able to pursue the language and not lose interest. I've really caught up fast thanks to spanish, and I can't wait until I'm at a level where I can have basic conversation in portuguese! 

I think the biggest thing that has ached my heart though, is seeing people who look like me or looked like my grandmother, and being totally unable to understand life for them or being unable to speak with them in portuguese. But then when I see the rich culture that has grown in Moçambique post independence I feel so happy that I have access to learn more and eventually speak well enough to visit someday.

Just a fun little chat :>

also, if you want to help me practice brasilian portuguese (current focus) please feel free to PM me!!