customs

[Sveta & Ron 23]

I know many russian and ukrainain here in the usa and seem everyone of them has gave up there life long customs from their country as for me I tell sveta many times her customs is part of why I feel love for her as it is what made her who she is and i expect her to honor them as long as we are together my questions is why would someone give up their customs so easy

[X Factor 1,112]

It's part of the adjustment process. Folks usually don't like to be different. There is a saying "when you are in Rome do as the Romans"

[Kathryn41 3,205]

One of the focus of the United States is for people to begin to identify themselves as Americans. Many times this means learning new customs and gaining new perspectives. Sometimes people feel that in order to truly become American they need to let go of their past and start a new life here. It is one of the reasons why the US is known as a 'melting pot'. - everything gets thrown into the mix and homogenized.

While there is some truth to this belief, it isn't a necessity. There is a phrase used in anthropology 'unseen baggage'. This refers to the beliefs and customs - the non-physical baggage- brought by many immigrants when they move to a new home. Surviving in a new environment often does entail making changes, so such customs seem to undergo one of two metamorphosis: they get lost in the need to assimilate, to lose the 'difference' from those who are already here; or they become idealized, and celebrated even more strongly than they were back 'home'.

For many people, letting go of these customs is a way that they can embrace their new life. It is a clean demarcation point : before America/after America. It is a mark of their 'new identity' so to speak, that they let go fo the life they had before they moved to the US.

There isn't anything wrong with this, of course, but I too agree that it isn't always necessary. Immigrants can find a way to save and cherish their 'unseen' baggage and still become a part of the American landscape.. Sometimes it means having to deal with strange looks or suspicions from others because such traditions are not the norm, although as we grow and evolve technologically, our world is shrinking in many ways and we are all being exposed to new ideas and concepts in a way that has never been possible before.

Personally, I think a healthier approach is the cultural mosaic rather than the cultural melting pot. In the mosaic structure, the cultural customs, traditions and 'unseen baggage' are welcomed as means by which a society can evolve its diversity and find strength and opportunities in the 'differences'. That can be a very challenging perspective, though, for those who have not made the long journey from one cultural perspective to another, and adaptations can sometimes be harder on those where the immigrant is moving to, than on the immigrant themselves, who have already shown a degree of flexibility by being able to leave their culture behind and relocate.

So, I hope Svetlana is able to find that perfect marriage between the cultural traditions of her homeland and creating a new identity for herself in her new home in the US.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Kathryn41

[luckytxn 2,265]

A lot of these crazy insane customs has to go. Some can stay but the rest go away.

[X Factor 1,112]

A lot of these crazy insane customs has to go. Some can stay but the rest go away.

Yes some customs are insane and can endanger others - these must go. And by and large immigrants have a lot to contribute to the US culture.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Yes some customs are insane and can endanger others - these must go. And by and large immigrants have a lot to contribute to the US culture.

It's part of the adjustment process. Folks usually don't like to be different. There is a saying "when you are in Rome do as the Romans"

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

One of the focus of the United States is for people to begin to identify themselves as Americans. Many times this means learning new customs and gaining new perspectives. Sometimes people feel that in order to truly become American they need to let go of their past and start a new life here. It is one of the reasons why the US is known as a 'melting pot'. - everything gets thrown into the mix and homogenized.

While there is some truth to this belief, it isn't a necessity. There is a phrase used in anthropology 'unseen baggage'. This refers to the beliefs and customs - the non-physical baggage- brought by many immigrants when they move to a new home. Surviving in a new environment often does entail making changes, so such customs seem to undergo one of two metamorphosis: they get lost in the need to assimilate, to lose the 'difference' from those who are already here; or they become idealized, and celebrated even more strongly than they were back 'home'.

For many people, letting go of these customs is a way that they can embrace their new life. It is a clean demarcation point : before America/after America. It is a mark of their 'new identity' so to speak, that they let go fo the life they had before they moved to the US.

There isn't anything wrong with this, of course, but I too agree that it isn't always necessary. Immigrants can find a way to save and cherish their 'unseen' baggage and still become a part of the American landscape.. Sometimes it means having to deal with strange looks or suspicions from others because such traditions are not the norm, although as we grow and evolve technologically, our world is shrinking in many ways and we are all being exposed to new ideas and concepts in a way that has never been possible before.

Personally, I think a healthier approach is the cultural mosaic rather than the cultural melting pot. In the mosaic structure, the cultural customs, traditions and 'unseen baggage' are welcomed as means by which a society can evolve its diversity and find strength and opportunities in the 'differences'. That can be a very challenging perspective, though, for those who have not made the long journey from one cultural perspective to another, and adaptations can sometimes be harder on those where the immigrant is moving to, than on the immigrant themselves, who have already shown a degree of flexibility by being able to leave their culture behind and relocate.

So, I hope Svetlana is able to find that perfect marriage between the cultural traditions of her homeland and creating a new identity for herself in her new home in the US.

Kathryn, this begs the question of whether or not Multiculturalism is just a vehicle for marginalization. That is an extreme case but the melting pot concept, rather than the mosaic concept has both advantages and disadvantages. In the case at bar, Svetlana thinks American is some ideal, it is and it isn't. Assimilation isn't and neither is accommodation, what would work better is a chimera of sort sort, the juxtaposition of the two: new and old.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

A lot of these crazy insane customs has to go. Some can stay but the rest go away.

I'm not going to stop cheering for the Leafs.

[웃 910]

Kathryn, this begs the question of whether or not Multiculturalism is just a vehicle for marginalization. That is an extreme case but the melting pot concept, rather than the mosaic concept has both advantages and disadvantages. In the case at bar, Svetlana thinks American is some ideal, it is and it isn't. Assimilation isn't and neither is accommodation, what would work better is a chimera of sort sort, the juxtaposition of the two: new and old.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

[luckytxn 2,265]

I'm not going to stop cheering for the Leafs.

Well you are just nuts then.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Well you are just nuts then.

Maybe next year.

Edited February 26, 2012 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[luckytxn 2,265]

Maybe next year.

Like I said about my Texans. Always next year.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Like I said about my Texans. Always next year.

Been saying that since 1968, Leafs are reverting to form and losing game after game. What was I thinking?

[luckytxn 2,265]

Been saying that since 1968, Leafs are reverting to form and losing game after game. What was I thinking?

I'm sorry. Were you saying something.

Been saying that since 1968, Leafs are reverting to form and losing game after game. What was I thinking?

I just noticed something. This babe looks a lot like the Babe in OP's avatar.