Becoming American Essay

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In Becoming American, the Hang Sou , Herr, and Cha clans underwent tremendous turmoil in leaving Thailand and coming to America. They knew that there was no future for their families in Thailand and escaped the hardship and turmoil to take on the risk of reestablishing their family. They also had to overcome numerous barriers to begin the process of moving to America which lead to many difficult emotions and feelings that the family had to go through. When the family first left to America on the bus, they were essentially leaving behind a way of life that they had known forever, to enter the unknown. Families just wanted to touch and be with the other clan members because they didn’t know when or if they would see them again. I believe the …show more content…

No longer were they living in a cramped house with one room and dirt floors, but now had running water and modern appliances. I couldn’t imagine how a mother would feel trying to cook on a new foreign gas stove versus just using an open flame like back in her native land. Additionally, grocery shopping was new and foreign as was the American currency which made it extremely difficult to cook and provide food for the family. This was a completely new culture and way of life. Not speaking the native language in a country is always an issue because it makes it very difficult to interact with those around you and contribute to society. No employer wants to hire a person who can’t speak English, which made it extremely difficult to find a job even though many of them wanted to work. The families tried to take English as a second language classes, but the documentary stated it would be a few years until they were proficient enough to contribute to society. The difficulty to interact with others must have been frustrating, as it is a key part of fitting in the American culture. In America, they would have to find a new way of life, and get accustomed to Urban America. Each of these factors must have been on the minds of the family, and would have contributed to the sense of fear and wariness these people must have had in their new life in

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