Growing Up in the Third World: The Challenges of Breaking into American Society

Memories of visits to New York and Florida during the summer months still dance in my mind. It was a real treat to be able to come and see the malls, movies, and even the blue water in the concrete pool impressed me. You see, growing up in Guyana, my life was surrounded by British culture, mom and pop shops, canals, dirt roads and even a movie theater in the greater part of the city.

At the age of fifteen, the political situation in my country had escalated out of control. Children were being kidnapped, gun violence and innocent people were getting killed. It was an awful time for families of Indian decent, they were the ones being targeted. My relatives, who lived in Florida offered to have me stay at their home for the purpose of attending high school. My parents decided, that because of my US citizenship, it was a good idea. Thus began my journey into this new world and a society that blew my mind.

Coming to America
What a culture shock! My biggest fear was going to be attending school. The way the kids spoke was different. My Caribbean accent was still very fresh and I was afraid that I would be made fun of. In Guyana, we did not have hot water or air conditioning.

The feeling of the air conditioning against my skin, was so unfamiliar. Looking around my room in disbelief, not being able to accept this new world, it felt paradise. My relatives took me to buy clothes and school supplies. Back home, hand me downs and government school supplies were what was provided.

Obsessed with Lisa Frank at the age of fifteen! Who ever heard of such a thing? Little things made me smile. Walking through Walmart for the first time, I knew that this was heaven. Yes, the variety of shampoo was one like I had never seen before. Surely, you would have laughed at the amazement that I had for microwaveable meals.

The Curiosity Dies
As I walked through the halls at high school, I made friends easily. Soon, my old feelings began to sink into a shallow pond. I was now an American! Who cares about cereal boxes and toys at McDonald's? It was about makeup, fashion, jewelry and boys. Yes, it was a new phase of my life. Sixteen years old and ready to turn twenty one. Kids were smoking right outside the school gates, people making out in the halls and the unmentionable that would happen in the locker rooms and gyms. Don't get me wrong, there were some key learnings during all of this. I learned that I was able to distinguish the good crowd from the bad crowd.

Gaining Back my Heritage
Slowly the realization started setting in that my heritage was not American . Born in the US but raised in Guyana. I came from walking miles to get to school. Wearing a school uniform. I came from eating toast with tea. Long nights with no electricity, hoping that it would come back on in time for Three's Company. I came from fetching buckets of water to flush toilets. I came from schools where you could be punished by beatings. I came from mango trees laden with fruit. I came from a solid family and good upbringing. I came from an ancestry that probably dates back to slavery. I came from riding my bike until dusk, and getting home in time to eat dinner. I came from a backyard filled with mosquitoes. I am so proud of where I came from.

Life in America is great. It is a unique system that we live in. It's sort of based on the individual. I find, that you can seek out opportunities here, that in other countries would be impossible. It's all about how far you are willing to go to reap the rewards.

For Younger Kids Growing Up Like Me
My article is meant for the reader to discern the differences in society. Many children, come to America from different countries. The peer pressure is so intense, that sometimes they lose their culture in order to fit in with other Americans. Parents should help their child to embrace their culture. This includes cooking traditional foods, singing songs from home, or just plain talking about it. When youths see that their parents are holding fast to their origin, it is easier for them to accept the reality that they are different.

It's a beautiful thing, when cultures combine and create the melting pot that we now live in. Please do not forsake your ancestry, no matter where you are from. Diversity is a beautiful circle that keeps on spinning around.