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Its totally amazing to me how important heritage is to us adoptees. Ana...I too, am a whole lot older then you. At your age I really wanted to know exactly what my heritage was and how much it plays a part in who we are. But I felt that I cared to much and mabe it was not as important as I was making it out to be, after all I was brought up in a good family, had a typical middle class life so I almost felt it was silly of me to care so much. As I have become older I have realized that it is a huge issue in our lives. I too, was brought up in a italian american family but my non id info said I was irish and english.....I took in my parents and grandparents stories ,family history and learned the itallain culture and let me tell you...I think its really cool....I loved learning about it. BUT...I know it really did not pertain to me! When I was a child in Boston...there was a lot of lingering resements born of the immigrant days and I heard stories how italians were discrimated againt and the awful names they were called I had freinds that were irish and heard the same stories but reversed....that was a little confusing. AS I became older I went to the local irish pub and sang irish songs...dang that was fun and I did connect(coulda been the beer though..lol...drinking age was 18 then ..I was legal).
The fact that you are first generation makes it all the more imporant..especially here in America where heritage is huge. Did you google Columbia adoptees...I bet there may be loads of inf for you. AS far as hurting your parents...well...I also understand not wanting to hurt them...but this is something that only and totally pertainns to you...it is important and you should not minimize it.
Good luck
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