Some people, like me, immigrated to the United States as children and were raised in a family that observed its original culture and language, while also being influenced by the American school and social environments.
We鈥檙e called/labeled/referred to as bicultural 鈥� that word is everywhere - but that鈥檚 incorrect. We grew up experiencing two cultures, but that doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean we have two cultures. Our personalities were formed by assimilating some things from one culture and other things from the other, so we don鈥檛 have two 鈥� we have one, a hybrid. We are third-culture kids, and no two of us are alike.
Why? Because while one person may assimilate 35% from one culture and 65% from the other, others do 60鈥�40 or 29-71, 50-50, and so on. It鈥檚 impossible to quantify, but the numbers help. When we consider the different combinations in all the different ethnicities that immigrate here, we have an endless number of possibilities.
We are unique.
We are also the proverbial square pegs that don鈥檛 fit into the round holes. What holds true for all of us is that in some situations, we identify with our native culture but not so in others, and the same goes for our American culture. Sometimes our sense of humor doesn鈥檛 fit, our ideas don鈥檛 fit, our thoughts don鈥檛 fit. We see things differently, we interpret things differently, and we think differently than what is expected of someone from culture A or from culture B. We are more tolerant. We bring viewpoints and see solutions that others may not. Sadly, however, this may be unwelcomed at times.
It takes a while to get a handle on this. As kids, sometimes we struggle trying to fit in, and we may be hesitant or even afraid to say what we think. It has to do with swimming against the current and all that. Eventually, though, we figure it out and understand our truly special place.
We鈥檝e been given a great gift.