Stealing Buddha's Dinner #1

                                        Americanization

      I really enjoyed this book, Ive got a better understanding of life as a refuge, and some knew knowledge on the history and culture of the Vietnamese. Reading the story of Bich brings to the surface a refuge's struggle coming to America. It amazed me that with such a war, people left behind their identity in their pursuit to American freedom, safety. With that came the opportunity to change names. When this subject was brought up as Rosa had stepped in, I immediately thought of her chance at a better connection to the American life, seeming more American with a new name. After going back on that thought, I realize that Bich was to young to make a decision like that. She might have felt that it would give her a stronger identity as an American, but changing her name will not keep her from being and outcast, to her classmates and friends. Bich will always look different, and follow a different lifestyle from her peers. With three different cultures and languages in one home, I couldn't imagine the confusion as a young child; the difficulty to cope with self identity. 

"Anh and I divided out time among toys, television, and our uncles' songs. We learned English this way, matching sound with word with meaning." P.22

       I am amazed at this way of learning a new language. How difficult to use your visuals, in order to match meaning to words. Singing along with songs in order to practice their speech, is so difficult for me to fathom. I admire the persistence and patience it had to take for them to learn English. When coming to America as a foreigner, with very little, to no way of communicating, everyday tasks would be frustrating. Life in a world where you struggle to communicate would be scary, intimidating. It's interesting to know that Bich had a difficult time speaking Vietnamese after so long, how English became her first and only really spoken language. 

"In the pursuit of gold stars I became an insufferably good student, with perfect Palmer cursive and one hundred percents in every subject. I had something to prove- to myself, to Mrs. Anderson, to everyone in class." P.73

"Can you believe it?" she was saying. "A foreigner winner our spelling bee!" P.82

      Even with 100% in her class subjects, and a spelling bee award, she did not receive the stuffed lion she hoped for. Although Bich was influenced to excel in school, she was still referred to the "foreigner winning the spelling bee. How sad. Was there something holding the teacher back from giving Bich the praised lion? I thought she deserved the stuffed animal, and had to question if Bich's differences kept Mrs. Anderson from presenting the prize to her instead. 

        This book brought to light the concept of Americanization. What does it meant to be Americanized?Bich's story about self identity helped me to consider the impact our American culture has on people around the world. Promising freedom, a new life. What are we doing to help foreigners into this new life? Procedures may be different nowadays, but the struggle to be accepted into society as a foreigner for Bich and her family was scary. What did the mentors do to help these families? I would think it would be the mentors who would help teach our costumes, our language. I have learned from Bich's experience that being Americanized is a difficult process, effecting foreigners mentally, spiritually. Bich felt she had to keep her lives separate. Between Vietnamese, Mexican American, and American culture, it is only understandable that Bich was confused with these mixed lifestyles. I wish it was easier for communities and individuals to be accepting of other cultures and costumes; it could make for a more peaceful world.