about first language

Whenever people ask me about my first language. 

I was confused.

Growing up, I speak 3 different languages and 2 dialects.

I speak to my mom in Cantonese, my dad in Hakka. 

Learn and speak to my friends in Bahasa, English and Mandarin. 

So which is my first language? 

I still confuse, because i brought up by different languages. 

When I was kid, I went to chinese government primary school. 

In school, we learnt our math and science in Mandarin and English. 

In public examination, there were 2 languages, Bahasa and English on the test paper for certain subjects.

You might think that's so confusing. 

but at that point, i certainly think it was connivence. 

If I dont understand that question in english, i can just look at the other side, to see the bahasa version of it or the other way round.

Totally taking the advantage of it. 

Here's a little fun fact about our family. 

As a chinese, many of you would considered mandarin is my first language and mother tongue. I have no disagreement about it but it did not work for my parents. 

My parents didn't not learn mandarin in school or house when they were young.

They do not know how to read and write. They even will take some time to write their chinese name correctly. 

mandarin. 

My mom learnt how to speak mandarin when both me and little sister went to pre-school. She still barely recognised and read the chinese characters except our names. 

and i never heard my dad speak in mandarin in my life. He spoke other chinese dialects but Mandarin.

Both my parents speak english fluently and grammatically correct.  

So my mom often showed off her english when we were young because we did not do very well in english. 

but what she didnt know was, both me and my little sister tricked her because we know mandarin really well. 

Living in Malaysia, no one will ask about our first language. 

Simply because we live in country with mixed race and mixed language. 

In a very simple sentence, malaysian definitely have the ability to mix more than 1 or 2 languages in it and we still able to understand the sentence perfectly. 

As soon i live abroad or travelling, the question will be there. it just the matter of time.  

So what's my first language? 

you tell me.