Becoming an American

...

instances that make me feel like while I am adapting more and more to the American culture, I am losing my native culture in the process. Although people might not recognize me as American, I feel that today, I am more American than Nepali. But while I am losing some things from my native culture, I am gaining some things from this socialization as well. When I was Nepal, I was taught not to talk to strangers if they ask for help. People don’t trust each other in my hometown. However in America, people help each other. If you get lost, you can ask for help and you will find plenty of people willing to help you. Earlier, I wasn’t used to talking to people who aren’t close to me. But when I came here, I did many groups assignments in class and also helped my classmates outside of class. Through these experiences, I have now become an outgoing and more friendly person. I simply became what I felt the society here wants me to become.

When I moved to America, I wanted to look, feel and speak like an American. I wanted people to treat me like they would treat anybody else. Maybe I have been distancing myself from my native culture, but I think anybody in my place would have done the same thing. Everybody wants to do what the society around them is doing. Nobody wants to be the odd one out. At first, the change is overwhelming but slowly you starting changing things about yourself, without even doing it on purpose. I hope that one day, I can achieve a balance in my personality. I want to remain in contact with my culture but at the same time become confident, honest, independent and hard working just like is taught in American society.