Asian cultures, in general, are more steeped in tradition than American culture. Even though the word "American" refers broadly to all persons of various ethnic backgrounds who live in the United States, there are some general but significant differences between Asian and American culture. A lot of these differences are sociological, like the role of family. I find it interesting how different family values are in America from my native Korea. Korean culture is also more unified than American culture, because there is less diversity there. For the most part, Korean families are tightly knit and parents tend to be quite strict. Many American families are also arranged this way, but it seems that most American families I know are more disjointed and children are not disciplined as much as in Korea. Even though I now live in America, my role within my family has not changed; I am still my parents' child. I retain a Korean set of family values and therefore my native culture continues to dominate my sense of self.
In most Asian countries, tradition and modernization coexist. I am caught between two cultures in the same way my native Korea is caught between the old ways and the new. Just as traditions endure in Korea, traditional Korean customs continue to influence me. I think of myself as being first Korean...
I was raised by a traditional Korean family and was close with my grandparents. Even after exposure to and
assimilation in American culture, I still feel predominantly Korean. My role in peer groups is the same: I feel Korean whether I am with Asian,
Caucasian, or mixed crowds.
Perhaps if I were born in the United States I would perceive myself differently. I know many Asian-Americans who feel primarily American. They simply happened to be born into an Asian family, but were not raised with much tradition or customs. Language also
plays a significant role in my self-identity. My first language is Korean, and that has a
significant impact on my roles and sense of self. Even as my English improves, I still believe that I will always feel Korean first.
Because I am close with many of my family members, I am constantly reminded of my heritage and family background. Most of my relatives do not want to neglect our customs. We celebrate Korean festivals and holidays and have big family dinners. These serve as frequent reminders of my nationality because when our family gets together we could easily be back in Korea. The conversations we have and the foods we eat reinforce this feeling of solidarity within the Korean community. Also, our family attends community functions that help us bond with other Korean and pan-Asian families and this reminds us…
