To Have a Proper Vision of a Nation We Should Better Learn Its Culture

The people living in the United States of America whether they are immigrant or natural born citizen, all are considering an American. I am an immigrant from India to United States. My life would always go two ways. When I am at work, I felt like an American because I spoke the same language, dressed the same way and behaved like my coworkers. But in home we speak our mother tongue which is Gujarati, and wear Indian cultural clothing. By color of skin and dialogue sometimes people will ask about my culture and traditions. I am happy to answer where I am from and my culture and traditions.

There are more than three million Indian Americans, staying in the US which is around 1 percent of US population. India is the richest, most educated ethnic group and most powerful country in the world. They have high status jobs and people achieve higher degrees. They make twice as high income than the white households in the US, and they attain graduate and professional degree at nearly four times higher rate than whites. Most of the Indian Americans came to US to fulfill their career in the Tech industry. Indian Americans have served as CEOs in big companies, including Microsoft, Google, Master Card and Citibank.

Long time ago India’s education system was Gujarati which means all the subjects in school were taught in that language. The Indian government made changes and had invested English- medium schools. In education they provide science and technology with lab. Science was divided into three parts Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Private schools have English medium which were mostly fed by urban area. People are using resources and technology provided in school to become better in their field. People were getting opportunity to work in US, so they were eager to escape from the country because they couldn’t make enough money.

I came to USA in 1997 when my husband was a student. He had student visa so he couldn’t work outside the campus. He could work 20 hours a week on campus where he gets minimum wage. After a few years I applied for student visa. I was an immigrant from India so I had to pay more fees on education compared to Americans. I was not eligible to get any government benefits either. Americans can work at any places with no restriction on the amount of hours they can work. We had to work hard to meet our needs and build a family.

In India I was grateful that I had received a chance to have an education, and a family that supported all of my decisions. I came to US for better opportunities, education, and to have good life. In India we were considered a rich and wealthy family. It took us ten years to become a US citizen. We need to pass the process from F1 visa to H1 visa than green card and finally got US citizen.

As far as I can remember I never treated badly in the US. I came to US legally, middle class family, never applied financial loan for my family or get government assistance. I am working with the same company for twelve years and have decent job. My husband is a software engineer. Compare to Mexican American who cross the border illegally and they don’t know when they need to go back to their country and stay in fear. Also, they don’t have visa to work in US so they work illegally where they get the lowest paid job. Most of the Mexican Americans also have a relatively low level of education. They have mostly working class jobs. I consider myself much better because I don’t have to stay in stress. I know few of Mexican American who has to leave their family in Mexico. They are living with someone in the US. It is so hard to leave that life where family is not together. I don’t know how it feels to leave family and come to US. I had never fear or for money I need to move alone. I can’t go without my family. We both are immigrant but my life is totally different.

Most of the African American women speak fluent English than in writing. African American women people called name and have image they are poor and bad. They don’t have financial stability. African Americans are arrested more than American Indian. There is a stereotype that the majority of African Americans is involved into various street gangs and drug trafficking. Compare to African American I feel we are not discriminated. We want our kids to be educated and stay away from those crimes. The area where more black, Latino, and Mexican that area school rank lower and crime is high. I also don’t feel safe to stay in those areas. They get all the government benefit and financial assistance compare to us. My daughter has African American friends from college. I told her you can talk to them but don’t go too close to them. She mentioned mom that is racist. I thought she is right I can’t assume all are like that. She had bad experience twice one time her friend borrows the car but when she returned the car the fuel tank was empty. I explained her for good courtesy she needs to pay money or fill out the tank. Next time you are not going to give car to anyone.

I know very few African American families. I had bad experience with 2-3 people that doesn’t mean that all African Americans are bad. I had a good experience with African American families too. They are well educated, wealthy, and decent. In my stand point I assume about other culture by reading, hearing and from society. Without knowing any culture closely, we can’t assume anything about them.

In conclusion, we learned which ethnicity is good by looking past history and the way society treats them. We are learning how each culture and race is different. We need to stop discrimination and give equal opportunity to each individual.