Coming from India when your 17 to a totally new country with no family close by can be a scary thing. It has been 8.5 years since I came to America and I have settled well. I do miss my family and friends at times. I always get one question when I meet new people, "How come you speak such good English?" What they mean to say, "How come you don't have an accent?" I usually tell them that I learned English as my first language in school. The truth is that I embraced the culture and I still try hard to learn certain things. eg. right way to pronounce the V's and W's. This doesn't mean that I have forgotten my Indian culture and that I want to be all American. I just think that if we live in someone else's country then we should learn a few things about that country and the people. We don't have to adopt their culture or be 'all american'. At the same time, you can't be 'all Indian' when interacting with Americans. Is there a solution? I really don't know.
I have been told before that when I am speaking to an American I have a totally different accent than when I speak to an Indian. It is a very subconscious thing. I like a lot of american things: food, football, movies, etc. But I also like indian food, cricket and bollywood movies. Someone once told me that we should not forget our culture, thinking that I was turning American. The truth is that I am proud to be an Indian and I could never consider myself American. I can never lose my culture, my identity. I only think that When you are in Rome, you should do like the Romans.
Bottom Line: How far can one go without losing your identity to fit in?
3 comments:
Maybe you don't have to go that far at all to "fit in". Perhaps one can embrace two cultures, learn the language of both, the customs of both and equally respect both.... become bicultural. I think it can be difficult to keep your own cultural autonomy while engaging fully in another culture, but it can be done. Interesting when you wrote that some of your friends would say you were becoming "all American" or trying to become "more American"...I have seen that very thing happen in Deaf culture, where a Deaf person is ostracized by their community or culture for engaging with another culture easily (hearing culture)..."trying to become hearing". Sometimes being involved with two cultures can feel like an uneasy alliance, sometimes it can be rewarding and enriching. To strive for balance and equanimity between two cultures is always a worthwhile endeavor.
I completely agree with this statement " When in Rome, do like the Romans" . I think you have an excellent point here.
I have lived in America for five years and I learnt the hard way that it is easy to get lost in this country if you do not adapt yourself. It is not difficult to understand and live "American" and also live your own culture. There is always a way to find balance between the two cultures.
Also, living two cultures adds mystery to your own identity and I find it fun and exciting every single day.
Funny, I thought the saying was "When in Rome 'DO' the Romans" . Cause that's what I have been doing.
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