I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take part in such an extremely insightful and powerful project. This digital story has allowed me to dig deep into what it means to be American. Not only have I discovered that there is no "right answer" to this question, but I've also become much more comfortable with the idea that there's nothing wrong with celebrating more than one culture in your life. This was very moving for me. I will not longer be discouraged in participating on culture day! :) With that being said, I would love to take part in the class E-Book. Thank you for the opportunity Dr. Zamora!
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Digital Story
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to take part in such an extremely insightful and powerful project. This digital story has allowed me to dig deep into what it means to be American. Not only have I discovered that there is no "right answer" to this question, but I've also become much more comfortable with the idea that there's nothing wrong with celebrating more than one culture in your life. This was very moving for me. I will not longer be discouraged in participating on culture day! :) With that being said, I would love to take part in the class E-Book. Thank you for the opportunity Dr. Zamora!
What Does It Mean To Be An American?
What does it mean to be an American? This can mean many different things to a person. I know that I am proud to be an American, but I ask myself why? Thinking about this loaded question has made me question myself as a person. I find myself wondering - Who am I?
I’ve asked my parents this question many times growing up. What I really wanted to know was what nationalities I could associate myself with. Their response was always the same: You’re a mutt - You’re German, Swedish, Polish, Dutch, French, Irish & English. I always thought this was cool that I was such a mix of different backgrounds - but unfortunately, there is an emptiness that comes with it.
My family & I have never embraced any culture other than the traditional “American” lifestyle. I guess coming from a family of so many different backgrounds, it’s hard to embrace just one.
Not having a country or culture that I can say I’m proud to be a part of always made me feel left out. This was ESPECIALLY true on culture day at school. Everyone bringing awesome food and music from their native countries. This was always such a wonderful time for my classmates because it was their time to share their culture with the rest of us. As for me, I remember thinking - what the hell can I bring in to show off to the class? burgers with AMERICAN cheese? hotdogs? maybe some apple pie? This was always so awkward for me because my family doesn’t embrace any of our heritage.
I remember one year, maybe 5th grade? I had told my mom that I NEEDED to bring in something for culture day - I could not go another year without having something to be proud of to share with the class. I remember to this day, my mom had given me these creepy wooden shoes. “They’re Dutch” she said. And now, these weren’t shoes passed down from generation to generation by my Dutch ancestors; these were shoes bought at a department store. No emotional ties what-so-ever.
Another year, we were asked to draw & color a flag from a country that was part of our heritage - At the time I was attending the same school my mother was teaching at - My mother, eager to see what flag I have chosen to represent me, walks into my classroom & finds my work of art up on the wall. “You’re not Italian!!” she exclaimed as she looked at my beautifully colored flag of Italy. We cracked up about it at the time, but I always remembered how silly I felt. So ignorant of my own background.
I’ve tried to embrace my heritage in my own way. I bought rosetta stone a couple of months ago, hoping to learn German. This was a complete fail. It just didn’t feel right to me. Was I not meant to be a part of any culture?
Last year, I had decided to dye my hair a VERY dark brown. I remember coming home and my father being FURIOUS with me. “You’re German! how could you dye your hair dark like that?!” I thought this was so bizarre. Just because I have blonde hair and blue eyes - does that make me German?
Then this got me thinking — Just because I eat corn beef and cabbage and celebrate St. Patrick's’ day, does that make me Irish? Just because we eat Swedish meatballs and our last name is Swedish, does that justify our Swedish heritage? Does my obsession with the Beatles and Led Zeppelin have anything to do with my English heritage? Probably not. But it does make up who I am.
My family and I have our own traditions. We love going to baseball games, having BBQs, listening to music, and getting together for every holiday imaginable. Even if these are just “American” traditions - I’m okay with that.
We can embrace our heritage anyway we chose, THAT’S WHAT LIVING IN AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT. America is about freedom - its about accepting people from all different cultures. That is what this country thrives on.
So to answer my original question - “Who Am I?” I am a German-Irish-Polish-Dutch-French-Swedish-English-AMERICAN and I’m proud of that. It’s okay that my family does not embrace any one culture over another. That’s what makes us unique. I guess you can say our family is our own melting pot.
I’ve asked my parents this question many times growing up. What I really wanted to know was what nationalities I could associate myself with. Their response was always the same: You’re a mutt - You’re German, Swedish, Polish, Dutch, French, Irish & English. I always thought this was cool that I was such a mix of different backgrounds - but unfortunately, there is an emptiness that comes with it.
My family & I have never embraced any culture other than the traditional “American” lifestyle. I guess coming from a family of so many different backgrounds, it’s hard to embrace just one.
Not having a country or culture that I can say I’m proud to be a part of always made me feel left out. This was ESPECIALLY true on culture day at school. Everyone bringing awesome food and music from their native countries. This was always such a wonderful time for my classmates because it was their time to share their culture with the rest of us. As for me, I remember thinking - what the hell can I bring in to show off to the class? burgers with AMERICAN cheese? hotdogs? maybe some apple pie? This was always so awkward for me because my family doesn’t embrace any of our heritage.
I remember one year, maybe 5th grade? I had told my mom that I NEEDED to bring in something for culture day - I could not go another year without having something to be proud of to share with the class. I remember to this day, my mom had given me these creepy wooden shoes. “They’re Dutch” she said. And now, these weren’t shoes passed down from generation to generation by my Dutch ancestors; these were shoes bought at a department store. No emotional ties what-so-ever.
Another year, we were asked to draw & color a flag from a country that was part of our heritage - At the time I was attending the same school my mother was teaching at - My mother, eager to see what flag I have chosen to represent me, walks into my classroom & finds my work of art up on the wall. “You’re not Italian!!” she exclaimed as she looked at my beautifully colored flag of Italy. We cracked up about it at the time, but I always remembered how silly I felt. So ignorant of my own background.
I’ve tried to embrace my heritage in my own way. I bought rosetta stone a couple of months ago, hoping to learn German. This was a complete fail. It just didn’t feel right to me. Was I not meant to be a part of any culture?
Last year, I had decided to dye my hair a VERY dark brown. I remember coming home and my father being FURIOUS with me. “You’re German! how could you dye your hair dark like that?!” I thought this was so bizarre. Just because I have blonde hair and blue eyes - does that make me German?
Then this got me thinking — Just because I eat corn beef and cabbage and celebrate St. Patrick's’ day, does that make me Irish? Just because we eat Swedish meatballs and our last name is Swedish, does that justify our Swedish heritage? Does my obsession with the Beatles and Led Zeppelin have anything to do with my English heritage? Probably not. But it does make up who I am.
My family and I have our own traditions. We love going to baseball games, having BBQs, listening to music, and getting together for every holiday imaginable. Even if these are just “American” traditions - I’m okay with that.
We can embrace our heritage anyway we chose, THAT’S WHAT LIVING IN AMERICA IS ALL ABOUT. America is about freedom - its about accepting people from all different cultures. That is what this country thrives on.
So to answer my original question - “Who Am I?” I am a German-Irish-Polish-Dutch-French-Swedish-English-AMERICAN and I’m proud of that. It’s okay that my family does not embrace any one culture over another. That’s what makes us unique. I guess you can say our family is our own melting pot.
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