family

it's often said that you can't change your family, and i agree with that, yet i'm not very sure what i consider to be "family". 

let's consider a person who has been adopted at a very young age: on one hand there's his biological family, the basis of his genetical existence, their ethnic background. but on the other, there's his foster family: everything he has learned as a kid, mainly ethical understanding and distinct personal traits. when that kid grows up, he won't be able to change all the ethical rules he learned, just as much as he won't be able to change his biological background.

so when i say that you can't change your family, i say that regardless of your blood relation.