Communities Societies and Nations

Sociology

Cultural Assimilation and Differentiation in the Experience of Alfred Cruz, Filipino immigrant

American society is best known for its unique characteristic of being a "melting pot" of various cultures in the world, be these cultures Eastern or Western in their orientation. Its role as an economic and political superpower throughout history, especially in the 20th century, wherein immigrants during the First and Second World Wars have been "adopted" by the United States and given a chance to live the American life, popularly termed as the "American dream."

Apart from the world wars, the seemingly prosperous image of American society to countries all over the world that are experiencing either socio-political or economic strife is an enticement for people to aspire to live in the U.S., and be able to realize their dreams as individuals. That is why immigrating in the U.S. has become a common occurrence, and at present, the country is home to a mixture of cultures of immigrants, ranging from white and black Americans to the already increasing number of Asian and European immigrants.

Take as an example the experience of Filipino immigrant Alfred Cruz, who has been a friend for years already. Arriving in America during the 1970s as a member of the U.S. Navy, Alfred had arrived with the same expectations as many immigrants have: to succeed in America and be able to live a more prosperous and comfortable life in the country, compared to his life of poverty in the Philippines.

Initially, Alfred had experienced challenges in living his life as a new member of American society; although he can speak and is knowledgeable of the English language, he still felt inferior to the new life he was now starting to live. Back in the Philippines, American products seemed to be a luxury for him and his family, but now that he is in the U.S., he cannot believe that these 'luxuries' are just part of the everyday lives of Americans.

As he gradually adjusted to life in the U.S., Alfred had begun forming relationships with other Filipinos country, which, he said, is a common practice, since Filipinos tend to feel comfortable in a foreign place or country by looking for someone familiar, a "kababayan" whom he can converse with even though they do not know each other. A stable job had also allowed him to save money to have his own home and car for the succeeding years. Since he was already financially stable, Alfred decided that it was already the right time to settle down and marry, preferably a fellow Filipino (for a wife) as well. In the 1980s, he married his wife Joanne, who works as a medical technician in a local hospital and who, like Alfred, is also an immigrant from the Philippines.

At present, Alfred lives life as any other American does, and lives comfortably in an upper middle-class neighborhood, with his three children, who have all finished their college degrees in prestigious universities in the country. Just three months ago, Alfred shares, he returned to the Philippines to visit his relatives. Unfortunately, the current political and economic situation in the country has further led to the deterioration of majority of his countrymen, who still lives in poverty. Thus, his arrival meant that he is to impart what "luck" and "grace" he had received in the U.S.; in effect, his vacation also means extending his hand to help out his relatives to improve their lot in life by providing them with financial help.

Reflecting on his latest visit in the Philippines, Alfred muses that although he has very much assimilated to American culture, he still believes that a part of him remained Filipino. His being "kuripot" or a saver or thrifty person is a characteristic he knows stemmed from his being a poor Filipino immigrant in the U.S. What makes him Filipino also is his regard not only for his family, but also for the Filipino community he constantly gets in touch with in the U.S. His love for salty and sweet and sour foods, love for food, in fact, reflects his true Filipino spirit wherever he goes. Perhaps what makes American life better than his life in the Philippines is the more prosperous state of the country's (U.S.) economy. For him, Americans and Filipinos equally work hard everyday, yet the salaries and the social services received by the Americans and Filipinos radically differ, with the former experiencing a relatively higher income and better social service than the Filipinos.