Children of Immigrants and Culture

Growing Up in an Immigrant Family


I can only speak from experience when I say growing up in the United States, I was constantly trying to find a middle ground between my own culture and western culture. If you didn't know, I am a Bangladeshi-American, so those are the two cultures I juggled growing up. I found that as a kid, my parents teaching me my language and constantly trying their best to involve me in Bangladeshi culture helped me learn more about myself and boosted my self-esteem. It is easy to feel left out and lost in the world when things outside your home are so different. Here are some things you can do to enrich your knowledge about your culture and learn more about your roots...

1. Try to Learn the Language

Not everyone has the privilege of knowing our parents' native language, but it is never to late to learn. Nowadays their are various language learning apps that are fun and interactive. You can even find people to help you learn your language through videos online. Learning the language will not only help you fell closer to your culture, but being bilingual has many benefits to your knowledge. 


2. Watch Movies and Dramas in your Language

One of the easiest ways to learn more about your culture is through the entertainment of your country. I know growing up my parents would make me watch classic Bollywood Movies with them as well as Bangla Natoks  which helped me gain a sense of where my parents came from. Not only that, if you have kids you should try to show them representation of people that look like them. Personally, I know me and my friends did not see a lot of South East Asians being represented in the media. This negatively impacted our confidence because women portrayed as beautiful on screen did not look like us.  

3. Play Dress Up

My favorite part of my culture is our clothing. We have beautiful fabrics and embroidery in our desi clothing that makes it stand out. I recall my mother dressing me up as a child in Salwaar Kameez, Sarees, and Lehengas and having little at home photo shoots with me. I didn't notice it back then ,but I really appreciate her for doing so now. Appreciating the beauty of our cultural clothing is where I first found that spark of love for my culture. If you want to feel closer to your culture, definitely buy a saree or borrow your moms' and I promise you'll feel a lot closer to your roots. 

4. Travel 

If all else fails, take a trip. Traveling really will do more for your heart than any other thing on this list. You will be able to experience you culture firsthand. You will be forced to eat the food, talk to people, listen to stories, etc. My most recent trip to Bangladesh is a memory I will forever remember.  All the people I met and memories I made taught me more about my culture. I recommend trying to live like the people their do. Do not arrive at your destination just to order a burger from a restaurant that does American Cuisine. Try your best to engage with the culture as much as you can and absorb it. 
 This is my first blog post, feel free to leave any questions or comments. 

 আপনি যদি এই ব্লগটি বাংলায় পড়তে চান তবে আপনি অনুবাদ ক্লিক করে 'বাংলা' এবং আপনার পছন্দের ভাষাটি চয়ন করতে পারেন

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