Changing Cultures

On average, 3.6% of people move from country to country. These 3.6% of people change every aspect of their lives, and this can be extremely difficult. They learn a new language and a new way of life, in some circumstances. Imagine moving to a different country with completely different laws, customs, traditions, language, and even food. Everything that you have been raised and taught is entirely different. Another thing to consider is how to carry on the traditions and customs that were practiced in your home country when you were growing up.  

According to Hayley Morris, the mother of a student here at JMS, moving from one country to another can be challenging, mainly because of learning American culture and how things are done. Hailey moved here with her husband at the age of 21 from Amanzimtoti, Durban, on the coast of South Africa. 

Traditions that are celebrated in South Africa are not celebrated in Florida. American traditions and holidays like Thanksgiving, the 4th of July, and our specific way of celebrating Halloween are not celebrated in other countries because they are specifically American. Hayley Morris never celebrated Halloween in South Africa like in the U.S., but after her family came to the U.S. and saw how Halloween is celebrated, they now participate in the holiday. However, there are still American holidays that Hailey and her family do not celebrate because they were not raised with them. 

Moving countries is a huge culture shock. Food, laws, and traditions are completely different. In South Africa, you can’t get a driver’s license until you are 18, unlike in the U.S., where you have to be 16. Another difference is that you are not considered an adult until you are 21 in South Africa, while in the U.S., you are an adult at 18. 

Hayley wants to share the traditions and customs that she practiced when she was growing up in her home country with her children. She wants to bring her children to South Africa and expose them to the country. Hayley plans to show them South African sports like cricket and rugby, and she wants to show them traditional foods like Mieliepap, Biltong, and meat pies. 

Moving to a new country or changing cultures can be challenging, especially when adapting to new ways of living. Not only do you have to adjust to cultural changes, but you also have to learn new laws and communication styles. Laws can differ when moving countries, like what age you can drive or when you are old enough to be an adult. Food styles and social etiquette can change completely depending on which country you are in. 

Language barriers can be a huge issue when it comes to moving between countries. You may have to learn a completely different language, which is extremely difficult. Being in a new country means that you will probably use different money, pay different taxes, and deal with money differently. Time zones will change, and it will be hard to adjust to the change. It will also be difficult to communicate with family and friends in your home country.  When people move countries, they have to adapt to things like the way of thinking, customs, beliefs, cultural shifts, and geographical changes. 

We then interviewed 7th Grade student, Penelope Real, who is a mix of both Italian and Mexican. Her family has a mix of traditions from both cultures. For example, Penelope celebrates La Befana with her grandparents, an Italian holiday where a witch brings gifts.  She said that this is a tradition she would like to pass to her family when she is older. Penelope told us that if she were in Italy, where her main culture is from, there would be many different events and styles. 

Imagine one side of your family is Chinese and celebrates New Year’s in February or March. However, on the other hand, they are American and celebrate New Year’s in January. Maybe they have two different food preferences, maybe your mother was raised with spicy foods, while your father was raised with milder-tasting foods. It can depend on where each parent is from and how they were raised. 

If you’re a mix of two cultures, then you might celebrate aspects of both sides of your family, or you could only have beliefs from one side. You may enjoy how holidays are celebrated on one side, but maybe not the other.  Cultural amalgamation is the proper term for this, meaning taking two cultures and combining them to make a new, unique culture. For some, it might be hard to choose between cultures. It can put a lot of stress on someone, especially a child, to feel like they have to choose between cultures. They can also begin to have uncertainty about where they belong. 

Have your parents or grandparents ever told you a story and said “Back in my day” or “When I was your age”? Have you ever listened to those stories and learned about what used to happen in your culture? Maybe you just read about your culture or just heard about it on TV. Cultures back then were different than how they are today. Laws, traditions, foods, and much more used to be different. 

You are a mix of different cultures, ideas, and beliefs. You can always showcase where you are from and what makes you, you. Your traditions and celebrations are things that you can carry on and share with others and the next generation. You get to carry on your culture, no matter where you are.