Immigrant Child

TH

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/113557 Copy

Description

Title

Immigrant Child

Author(s)

TH

Issue Date

2020

Keyword(s)

• Immigration
• Enculturation
• Acculturation
• Child
• Culture

Abstract

created the poem Immigrant Child with the intent to show the feelings and emotions that took place when I moved from Bulgaria to America as an 8-year-old girl. I was placed in the 3rd grade without knowing any English – not even a word. Having always been very shy and timid, I was too afraid to speak to anyone in English for a whole year. However, I quickly picked up on the language and would understand everything that was said to me and about me. The kids and teachers thought I was weird and did not like me much since I did not bond with them in any way. I felt like I was othered when I would hear them talk to each other about me in many inconsiderate ways. They never knew the truth about where I came from and who I was before I immigrated. Instead, I would hear everyone around me making assumptions about me, my country, and my culture. I felt as if my ethnicity had become stigmatized at my school, since everyone would just treat me strangely and talk about how I was Bulgarian and unfortunate. This took a toll on me, and after a year of not being able to blend in with my peers, I decided to start making changes.During my second year in America, I went through behavioral acculturation. I began speaking English, became accustomed to American humor, learned how people like being treated and spoken to, and made friends. The more I changed my behavior to fit with the social norms of American culture, the more I became liked by my peers and my teachers. I went from being an unfortunate immigrant child to a bright and friendly young girl. I became one of them and was no longer othered as much as I used to be before my behavioral acculturation. As the years passed, I acculturated psychologically as well. I adopted progressive American ideologies about common controversial topics such as gender norms and standards. I complied with what should be considered ideal and frowned upon behaviors and beliefs – even if they conflicted with Bulgarian views.I visited Bulgaria every summer and stayed with my grandparents up until the end of 7th grade. Every time I went back, I would experience strong enculturation and my connection to my ethnicity would spark up again and grow stronger after having weakened while in America. I became better at speaking, reading, and writing Bulgarian. I would fall in love with Bulgarian music and art all over again. I would want to stay home and felt like I belonged in ways that I could never in America. However, home had now become America as well, so I would return and lose the connection to Bulgarian culture and the feelings of belonging there quickly. I have not returned to my homeland in nearly 10 long years. During those 10 years, I have gradually lost touch with my Bulgarian culture and strengthened my American way of living life. I look forward to going back and going through the enculturation process again.

Publisher

University of Illinois School of Social Work

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113557

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2020 TH

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