Empowering Immigrant to American Culture What should you do if you just came to the United States the first time as an immigrant? What should you begin to learn about American diverse culture? There are many people who say that in order to empower oneself in American culture, this person needs to learn American language immediately, to find a job, or to get a car. It seems truly right and very important because these things above are the requirements for everyone in this country. However, how can an immigrant get these things if he or she has a fear of the unfamiliar culture? I believe that only when an immigrant feels “possible” and confident about his or her basic routine or custom in this country, such as food, family value, and religion, he or she can get involved into the new culture. Therefore, the most significant thing an immigrant needs to learn after coming to America is overcoming the “culture shock” to empower to American culture by understanding how especially immigrants have parts in making the American become multicultural.
One obvious part that helps immigrants empower to American culture is the cuisine, which is the result of cultural fusion from many different nations and regions. When the first settlers came to America, they brought with them plants and animals from their homeland to produce and supply food. The menu of the United States is varied because of every region. For example, the Southern cooking style is strongly influenced by the immigrants from Africa, France, Mexico and many other places. Some food which is considered as typical dishes of Americans originally comes from many other areas, and American cooks and chefs have substantially modified them over many years. As we know now, these foods integrate in the culinary world as the American particular dishes. Hot dogs and hamburgers are two good examples for the integration. They were brought to America by immigrants from Germany, and certainly in our modern life today, these two dishes themselves are known as the American typical food. In addition, Asian food also plays an important role in the style of American cuisine. Asia has lots of immigrants coming to America, and they have brought many cultural features of each region of each country. Asian food has no small influence on the culinary life of the American people. Asia has a wide variety of food, and each country has its national dish reserved for immigrants of its country, and of course also for the United States or any people who feel interested in Asian food. There are many types of well-known food from different countries in the U.S. such as Thailand (Curry), South Korea (Korean noodle), Japan (Sushi, Tempura), China (Egg Foo Young, Egg Rolls), Vietnam (Spring Roll, Vietnamese noodle soup with beef). Now food has becomes an especially cultural element in the U.S, so immigrants can slowly accustom themselves from their food to another.
Another part that helps immigrants empower to American culture is family values that American people have learned from immigrants. Unlike America where family, community, religion, or organization is minor to the rights of individuals, some other cultures, especially Asian cultures believe family is the best place where children can be supported and loved by their very profound parents ‘hearts. Of course, children also love and help their parents with all their best when their parents are old. The interactions between each member occur permanently. The nuclear family structure (parents and children) have become so familiar in society. For Americans, on the other hand, personal freedom of thinking takes place in every corner of life, and it is also a strongly dominant concept about family. An American family's main purpose is to bring happiness to each family member. The traditional values of a family are respect for parents as well as respect for any family member, and parents also have to respect their children. Liberal ideas