Immigration.docx
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Gideon Lapitan immigrated to the United States from the Philippines in 1990 after marrying his American pen pal, Betty. His story illustrates both the personal challenges of immigration, including adjusting to a new culture and language and experiencing discrimination, as well as the opportunities the US provided for improved economic conditions. While he initially struggled with cultural differences and an accent that hindered his work, over time he learned English, became a citizen, and found professional success through taking advantage of opportunities not available in his home country. He now considers himself both Filipino and American, but recognizes the profound changes that have occurred in the Philippines since he immigrated.
![Here,油I油do油not油know油my油neighbors.油
Dealing油with油Discrimination:油Being油Asian足American油in油a油Primarily油White油Area油
Gideon explained his connection to other Asian immigrants in the Central and Northern油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
parts of Pennsylvania. Two years later I found them [Filipino Community]. I got to know them油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
and started to attend meetings and parties He described the Filipino community as slowly油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
becoming Americanized. We still have parties and eat Filipino food. As a child, I remember油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
my Father attending several parties. I never really went with him, but when I got older, I attended油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
a few parties. Some of the parties were for just Filipino people and I could not understand what油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
the other people were saying, but a few parties held in Elmira, NY included many different Asian油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
groups. They came together to eat and enjoy each others company. They were celebrating their油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
culture,油but油they油also油invited油some油white油families油as油well.油油
Even with the community of Asian immigrants, the area was still almost completely油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
white. He explained the difficulties that he had with his accent. Even though he spoke English油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
well, he explained, I am not a good communicator. I have a heavy accent and when I first came油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
here, some people had a hard time understanding me. I feel I was treated differently by some油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
people and not by others It has affected my work. I believe that I am starting to win friends. At油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
first油they油werent油friendly,油but油when油they油got油to油know油me,油we油have油become油friends.油
Even though he did not discuss this in the interview, I recall when I was younger, my油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
Father coming home from work disappointed and angry that he did not get a position based on油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
his accent. The superiors did not specify the reason for him not receiving the promotion being his油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
accent, but rather that his communication skills hindered his work performance. It really affected油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油
his油self足confidence油and油I油could油tell,油even油at油a油young油age,油that油it油was油not油fair.油油
Lapitan 6油](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/735fcfd9-a100-4fc4-8379-75df2c601257-150516162246-lva1-app6892/85/Immigration-docx-6-320.jpg)
Immigration.docx
- 1. Story油of油Immigration:油Opportunity,油Identity,油and油Finding油Hope油in油a油New油Country油 Esther油Lapitan油 油 An immigrants story is not only about the history surrounding his or her time of油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 immigration, but rather it is a story of personal identity. Throughout the immigration journey,油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 many immigrants need to choose not only how they want to live their lives, but also what油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 direction they want to lead their lives. Their journey not only affects their own lives, but their油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 friends and family in both their home country and their new home. This is the story of Gideon油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Lapitan, but it is not only his story, but the story of his journey to realize what it means to be油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 American. In order to tell his story, it is important to listen to the stories from those closest to油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 himHis wife, Betty Lapitan, and his children. As his daughter, it was important to not only油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 listen to him with an open ear and without being biased, but also to be compassionate about what油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 he wanted to share. This is his story. This is our story. But in the end, he lived it and it has油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 become油his油identity.油油 油 Childhood油 Gideon Lapitan was born on September 1, 1955 in Cebu City, Philippines. He was the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 sixth of seven children born to Felipe and LidaVina Lapitan. Growing up in the Philippines was油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 difficult. The Philippines had just gained independence from the United States in 1946 and had油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 just begun to establish themselves as an independent country.good historical context, more油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 discussion here to relate your dads experience to this colonial legacy Gideons family life was油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 also difficult. At the age of four, his father died, leaving his mother to care for her seven children油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Lapitan 1油
- 2. alone. Gideon spoke of his mother fondly during the interview. He told of how his mother never油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 remarried油and油worked油hard油so油that油all油of油her油children油could油attend油college.油油 He explained the conditions that they lived in during his childhood. Each family had to油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 share a well for the entire neighborhood and they had an outhouse. People did not own individual油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 cars and would rent public vehicles. Some of the more well足off families would take in children油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 from other families. These children would do household chores and the families would feed and油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 shelter them. My Fathers family had help even though they were not rich. My Mother told me油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 that油it油was油hard油for油my油Father油to油adjust油to油having油to油do油a油lot油of油chores油himself.油油 Adulthood油 Gideon graduated from the Colegio de San Jose in Cebu City, Philippines with a degree油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 in Mechanical Engineering. One event that Gideon described was when he joined Intervarsity油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Christian Fellowship and joined the protestant church. Previously, he identified himself with the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Catholic Church, although he was not a practicing Catholic. After college, Gideon worked as a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 college油professor油and油joined油the油Cebu油Christian油Church.油油 He did not discuss his childhood in detail. To Gideon, his childhood is not significant as油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 the future.nice statement Growing up, my Father would tell me that the United States was great油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 and nothing about his home country. I know very little about my family in the Philippines or油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 about油my油Fathers油childhood.油油 View油of油America油 The Philippine people primarily have a positive view of the United States according to油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 both Gideon and Betty Lapitan. Gideon described the United States as a rich country where油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 most people live in luxury. As a child, I often heard my Mother tell me about how when she油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Lapitan 2油
- 3. travelled to the Philippines, everyone wanted to practice their English with her and often油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 complemented her pale complexion. Gideon speaks about how U.S. citizens would tell them as油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 children about the many freedoms and opportunities in the United States. U.S.足Philippine油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 relations are important regarding Filipinos views of the United States. The United States won油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 the Philippines as part of the Spanish足American war and held it as a territory until 1946. During油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 this time, the United States helped to build up the countrys economy and implemented a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 U.S.足style democracy, and education system.Through the new education system, most Filipino油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 people were taught to speak English. Even after 1946, the United States still had significant油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 influence over the Philippines. Its impact on the country has been debated, but it did affect the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 way that Gideon viewed the United States. The impact on the education system allowed Gideon油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 to油learn油English油at油a油young油age足足even油if油it油was油academic/formal油English.油 Marriage:油Opening油the油Door油to油Immigration油 In the United States, his future wife donated money to the Cebu Christian Ministry油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Mission at her church, Grover Church of Christ. After receiving the donation, the Pastors wife油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 wrote to Betty and they became pen pals. She later introduced the two and they became pen pals.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 They communicated both by mail and by phone and in 1989, Betty travelled to the Philippines油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 and they were married. After her visit, Betty traveled back to the United States and petitioned for油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Gideon to be able to immigrate to the United States. She recalled the process with frustration.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 She explained how even to ask a question, she had to fill out a questionnaire, pay a small fee, and油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 they responded to her saying that she filled out the wrong form. While I interviewed her, she was油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 still油upset油about油the油entire油process.油油 油 Lapitan 3油
- 4. 油 Immigration油to油the油United油States油 On February 14, 1990, at 34 years old, Gideon Lapitan was able to immigrate to the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 United States under one minor stipulationhe had to have a U.S. doctor sponsor and treat him油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 due to a spot on his lungs. Gideon explains that his initial reaction to the United States was油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 positive. He had nothing to say, but good things about his immigration and how people treated油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 him. Betty discussed with me the first night that Gideon came to the United States. My home油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 church rented us a hotel room near the airport so that he could rest after the flight. Then we油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 finally油reached油our油new油home,油in油Canton,油PA.油油 American油the油Beautiful:油Living油Up油to油the油Expectations油 When asked about the United States, he had nothing, but positive words. He did also油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 discuss some of the cultural differences. He discussed with me the differences between the two油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 cultures. He explained, I cant believe how much toys children have in the U.S. When I was a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 child, I only had one toy. All of these culture shocks, were less shocking, but rather油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 reaffirmed his belief that the United States was a rich country. Even in his employment, he does油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 not take anything for granted. He views the United States as being the land of opportunity. As油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 a child, I recall my Father studying for numerous tests and work opportunities. He has油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 accomplished a lot in his life and has definitely taken advantage of the opportunities that he has油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 in the United States. Even in a small town, he has gained a lot of friends and established himself油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 as a strong Christian and singer. All through my life, he was often asked to sing at funerals,油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 church油services,油parties,油and油weddings.油油 油 Lapitan 4油
- 5. Assimilation:油Necessity油or油Voluntary?油Nice油title油 I first worked as a janitor and then I worked as a draftsman. It was easy to find a job, as油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 long as I was not picky. In 1995, Gideon became a U.S. citizen. Some family friends presented油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 him with a U.S. flag commemorating his achievement. He would often tell others when they油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 asked why he chose to be a U.S. citizen that his family lives in the United States, that is where he油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 wants to be. For him, becoming American was important. He always reads newspapers and油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 looks up words he does not know. He tries to keep involved with American news, but also油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 American油pop油culture.油油 At first, I offended several people because I was not the things that are okay in the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Philippines are not okay in the United States. In order to Americanize, Gideon relied on his油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 family to better understand American culture. When asked about how he tried to fit in with油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 American culture, he explained that he tries to keep up with sports and news, to better facilitate油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 conversation. He often practices his English and when he first came to the United States, he often油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 came home with questions about slang words and phrases. Betty recalls Gideon returning from油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 work and asking what specific gestures. He often came home and asked me what some words or油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 phrases meant. He thought the middle finger gesture was a greeting. Gideon explained how he油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 misused the word nigger. He stated, The slang words I didnt understand. Like for example油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 the word nigger, I didnt know it was a bad word, especially for black people. He also learned油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 about some topics that were not appropriate to talk about. For example, he learned not to ask油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 people how much they are making, or asking women how old they are. But the community油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 feeling was something he found to be drastically different. He said that he missed getting to油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 know the neighbors. In the Philippines, even if theyre a mile away, I get to know my neighbors.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Lapitan 5油
- 6. Here,油I油do油not油know油my油neighbors.油 Dealing油with油Discrimination:油Being油Asian足American油in油a油Primarily油White油Area油 Gideon explained his connection to other Asian immigrants in the Central and Northern油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 parts of Pennsylvania. Two years later I found them [Filipino Community]. I got to know them油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 and started to attend meetings and parties He described the Filipino community as slowly油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 becoming Americanized. We still have parties and eat Filipino food. As a child, I remember油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 my Father attending several parties. I never really went with him, but when I got older, I attended油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 a few parties. Some of the parties were for just Filipino people and I could not understand what油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 the other people were saying, but a few parties held in Elmira, NY included many different Asian油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 groups. They came together to eat and enjoy each others company. They were celebrating their油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 culture,油but油they油also油invited油some油white油families油as油well.油油 Even with the community of Asian immigrants, the area was still almost completely油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 white. He explained the difficulties that he had with his accent. Even though he spoke English油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 well, he explained, I am not a good communicator. I have a heavy accent and when I first came油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 here, some people had a hard time understanding me. I feel I was treated differently by some油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 people and not by others It has affected my work. I believe that I am starting to win friends. At油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 first油they油werent油friendly,油but油when油they油got油to油know油me,油we油have油become油friends.油 Even though he did not discuss this in the interview, I recall when I was younger, my油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Father coming home from work disappointed and angry that he did not get a position based on油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 his accent. The superiors did not specify the reason for him not receiving the promotion being his油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 accent, but rather that his communication skills hindered his work performance. It really affected油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 his油self足confidence油and油I油could油tell,油even油at油a油young油age,油that油it油was油not油fair.油油 Lapitan 6油
- 7. 油 What油does油it油mean油to油be油American:油Finding油his油identity油 When I was growing up, I did not hear or learn my Fathers native language, Cebuano. I油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 never ate Filipino food or learned about the Philippines. My Father encouraged me to do油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 American activities and get good grades. He often told me to take advantage of my油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 opportunities油because油he油did油not油have油the油same油opportunities油growing油up.油 油 When he first arrived, he was not able to find Filipino food, but Gideon slowly learned to油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 integrate his culture into his daily life. I try to cook my own food. Sometimes I miss Filipino油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 food I have to make it myself, but what made it difficult was finding the ingredients. Gideon油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 explained that, the ingredients can be found, but they are far away. They are about 60 miles油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 away油油 After his cousin, Ruth Dejano, immigrated to the United States, I was first introduced to油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 my Filipino family. This was my first real experience with Filipino culture. After meeting Ruth油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 and her family, my Dad started to integrate his home culture into his daily life. I started to hear油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 my油Dad油speak油his油native油language油and油saw油my油Father油cook油food油from油the油Philippines.油油 He reflected on his experience on becoming American. In some way its hardμ 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 especially油the油language,油but油he油considers油himself油to油be油American.油He油became油a油citizen油in油1995.油油 Because油I油married油a油citizen油of油the油U.S.油and油now油I油live油here,油so油that油is油why油I油became油a油citizen.油 油 油 The油Philippines:油Then油and油Now油 I visited twice. The country has changed a lot. The houses, when I left, were so far油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Lapitan 7油
- 8. apartnow the houses are close together which is a sign of population growth. There are big油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 buildings. Commercial Buildings and the language has, some of the accent in the Filipino油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 language has changed. The culture has changed a little bit. Electricity is available in the day and油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 in the night. Telephones are everywhere. And I noticed more families have their own personal油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 vehicle. I see the improvement. I also noticed that we also used to have an artesian well and so油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 many油changes.油油 I have never visited the Philippines. My Mother tells me about when she visited the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Philippines and I have always been curious about the culture. My Father has always been油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 paranoid about me visiting the Philippines. I am fair in complexion, and my Father is convinced油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 that I will be mugged and shot. There is a little bit of truth in his paranoia, he is from the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Southern area of the Philippines where there is a large Muslim population that often holds油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 protests. There are also a large number of poorer residents who often target Americans because油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 of the stereotype of Americans being rich. When I told my Father that I was considering油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 traveling to the Philippines, he was upset. I felt as if he believed I was choosing to not be油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 American油and油that油I油am油not油happy油with油what油he油sees油to油be油the油best油country油in油the油world.油 When he returned from abroad, my Father told me about how his family joked about him油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 being American and how strong his American accent was. He showed me a picture from their油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 family gathering and he was significantly lighter than the rest of his family. Although he did油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 enjoy visiting his family once again, he came home and told us that he missed the United States.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 The油United油States油was油his油home.油 油The油Asian足American油Identity:油Being油Asian足American油in油2012good油 When I asked him what he considered himself, he first answered that he was Asian and a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Lapitan 8油
- 9. Pacific Islander, but when I asked him in the context of being American or not he said, I call油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 myself an Asian American. Even though he has adapted in the 22 years that he has been in the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 United States, he said, I miss the Filipino food, I could buy fresh meat and fresh fish. More油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Filipinos are fishermen. I miss the Filipino gatheringsfiesta celebrations. He has adjusted to油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 the United States. He enjoys American television, food, and culture. My eating habit has油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 changed. I gained more weight, I ate too much. I do some exercise, but not a lot. I dont do油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 much walking like in the Philippines. Here, I have a personal vehicle and I use my car even for油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 shorter油distances.油 Even after 22 years of living in the United States, my Father often feels like he is still a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 foreigner. There are often cultural references or phrases that he has not heard. He comes home油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 or even asks his family about what these mean. My Mom often has to explain to him different油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 cultural油information油and油he油often油does油not油even油understand油after油she油explains.油油 In the community, Gideon has found his place. He has made many new friends and油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 become active in his new church. He joined the Grover Church of Christ and now serves as a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 deacon as well as performs special music during services and participates in the church choir.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Betty explained that Gideon has found his place within the church family. He has gained the油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 respect of the members by actively participating in events and helping out the community. He油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 has often volunteered to help mow peoples lawns and help build different house fixtures.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Gideon has also found comfort within his place of employment. Even though there are still some油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 employees that discriminate against him because of his accent, he works hard to prove them油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 wrong. He spends his free time making sure that all of the work is completed and done well.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Much of my childhood memories are of my Father working at home, trying to prove that he is油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Lapitan 9油
- 10. capable油of油his油position.油油 Even though he has found himself to be more Americanized, he still finds pride油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 watching Manny Pacquiao box or rooting for the Filipino足American on American Idol. He finds油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 enjoyment out of talking to Filipinos even when he just met them in a gas station. He is油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 American.油He油is油Filipino.油My油Father油has油slowly油learned油to油be油proud油of油all油he油has油accomplished.油油 油 Conclusion油 In conclusion, for my Father, it was not a matter of assimilating into American culture,油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 but rather finding a balance between life in America and the culture that he grew up in.excellent油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Throughout his years in America, he has found an identity through close friends and finding a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 balance between life fitting in with Americans and learning to accept what cannot be changed.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Although some elements of Americanization have been difficult, such as culture, slang, and油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 language, Gideon has adjusted to life in the United States well. He views the United States as a油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 positive country and feels privileged to live here. As an American by birth, I often do not view油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 America in a positive light, but my Father is able to look through all the negative aspects and see油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 America in the same way that he viewed it as a child. Finding a balance between identifying油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 himself as American, but also Filipino was important. Although he knows that he is sometimes油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 discriminated against or stereotyped, he works hard to earn the respect of others around him.油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 Even though he is not American by birth, he has claimed the right to be American. For him,油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 being American is not a privilege or a right, but rather something that he takes pride in. He油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 concluded the interview by saying, I love living in America. I have so many more opportunities油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 油 and油even油though油I油do油not油understand油the油culture,油I油have油made油a油life油for油myself油here.油 Lapitan 10油