"What constitutes culture?" is a controversial question that many anthropologists must answer. Culture, as defined by Clyde Kluckhohn, is human nature, the way of life of a people. Each culture differs from others because it concerns a different people in a different social environment. Each is defined by generations of ancestors who set the boundaries of social customs. I agree with Kluckhohn's view that culture is the result of an individual's upbringing, as I have had the experience of being exposed to two very different cultures. When I immigrated to the United States from Vietnam in 1975, I was caught in the middle of two very different worlds: the strict, rigid social ideals of my Eastern background and the carefree, relaxed American lifestyle. Somehow I have to try to achieve a balance between these two worlds. American culture was initially an enigma to me. I was just an observer on the edge, looking inward. I was intimidated by these Americans who were so direct and frank, so uninhibited in their speech and their actions. This contrasts with my strict upbringing, which placed great emphasis on the “virtues” of gentleness and tranquility. I was dismayed by the relationship between American children and adults, who converse and interact with each other as friends and equals; I have always been expected to respect my elders, listen to them and obey them. These differences between American and Vietnamese cultures were not predestined by God, nor do they arise from biological or environmental differences. They result from different ideas and values, from different social legacies that each group has inherited from its people. The last twelve years in the United States have radically changed my life, as time has redefined the way I think, feel, and behave. I am no longer on the brink, because I am now an American who has adapted the American customs and way of life. However, I still retain the oriental customs and values ​​that were instilled in me from early childhood. These two cultures have definitely become a part of me. I am a product of American and Vietnamese cultures, as I was raised by both peoples. COMMENTS: This attempt initially fails. In explaining Kluckhohn's ideas about the causes of similarities and differences among the world's people, this essay misrepresents Kluckhohn by saying that he defines culture as "human nature" – the exact opposite of what Kluckhohn says..