First-Gen Americans Reveal What It Was Like To Visit Their Parents’ Original Country

If you are a first- or second-generation (or earlier) American and grew up connected to your heritage through your family, visiting your country of ethnic origin, for example, can be surprising and challenging. or a combination of them. both.

1.

“My mother is from Guatemala, and in 2018 I returned to Japan with her for the first time in 30 years. It was an eye-opening experience. My family definitely expected me to be a typical American.My aunt bought me “American food.” So it was nice to be able to spend time with cousins ​​I didn’t know before. Eventually, I felt closer to the culture I grew up in, and now feel strongly not to lose it. “

2.

“Both of my parents are Chinese, but neither of them have ever lived in mainland China. English is their only common language and the only language I speak. We met in California, where I live, and fully embraced being American.As teenagers, we traveled to China with family and friends. None of us, including us, had a personal history.My parents used to live there.I just felt like a tourist. I wasn’t “connected” with the place beyond technical things.

3.

“My parents are from Bangladesh, but I was born here and we always spoke Bengali at home. Nonetheless, my mother was against integration, and when she was 12, I went to Bangladesh.I could speak the language. raised me, I was better than them! I was like a Bangladeshi girl in the fifties.”

Four.

“As a second-generation Italian-American, the first time I went to Italy felt strange. I felt a sense of nostalgia and homesickness that I didn’t expect. I realized that the Italian culture was definitely different.It was a great trip, but it definitely left me in a different mood than I expected.”

Five.

“When my grandfather was six years old, we moved to America from a small village on a small island in Croatia. My husband and I went with our kiddo, and I’m the first and only one in my family. Even though I wasn’t able to, I felt very connected to my roots.

6.

“I took my father back to Lebanon earlier this month. We are Palestinian, but he grew up in a refugee camp in Lebanon. It was both miserable and magical. Arab American As I had a lot of anxiety, there are some things I don’t know what to say or do, my Arabic is broken. It took courage for both of us to go.” Seeing my father hugging a brother he hadn’t seen in 28 years was worth it. I came to realize how impossible it was for my father, and I became compassionate.It would have been so easy for me to remain a refugee.” It was well-known. I did something unknown.

7.

“My parents moved from Ukraine to the state on religious refugee visas. I was born three years later. I grew up in a subculture, so all my friends were Slavic. Growing up watching old Soviet films: “I was quite isolated from the culture around me.When I was 18, I took a gap year and moved to Ukraine. I remember it felt like home I can’t explain why but I knew I belonged there As if my body knew it was the place of my heritage It seemed to be there.

8.

“My mother moved from Denmark to the United States when she was 19 to be an au pair. She married my father, who is American, and had a family here. Every few years, We traveled to Denmark as a family of 6. But 3 months ago I stayed for 10 days with my mom alone and it was a different experience.Copenhagen feels like home to me. 400 year old buildings, Viking burial grounds, sea, food, people and streets that have kept Copenhagen together for hundreds of years.Everywhere in Denmark feels like the place for me. There’s also the side: I find it frustrating not to speak Danish, but “The sounds of this language are very familiar to me, having heard it all my life. I only have one, but I say, ‘I’m not really Danish’, even though I grew up in Denmark.”

9.

“Here from Peru! My family and I immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s. Due to citizenship issues, we were unable to return for over 20 years. It was one of the most formative trips in my life. Visiting family homes and taking walks where my parents used to go was really special.I cried on the plane.I felt It was like the trip was too short and there was still so much to see.”

Ten.

“It was amazing, but it was also challenging. My mother moved here from the Philippines when she was 18. My father is from America. There are kids begging when you get off.The traffic is as bad as the peak of traffic in downtown LA.And people were staring at me everywhere I went.I have skin It wasn’t white and I was in a “rich” neighborhood, so people seemed to annoy me that I was dark. But the humidity made my skin glow and the hair products did wonders for my hair. The food and culture were amazing too! There is no Christmas in the Philippines.No American holiday can compare! To be honest, I could have lived in either place.”

11.

“My biggest challenge was the language. I spoke Spanish, but I didn’t quite understand it without a little explanation. I refused to use the toilet at will, which felt strange to me.The second week, I was in the city, and when I went, I realized how unrealistic it was From a certain point on, I felt welcomed to live in Honduras (where my mother grew up) and didn’t want to leave. It should also be taken into consideration that some of the documents may have been sent by a child or spouse in the United States.”

12.

“In 1993, my parents emigrated from Cuba to Miami, where I was born. stayed at my grandparents’ house, who were wealthier than most of the island’s residents.Overall we had a pretty good time, but it’s sad to see my family’s living situation. The homes I visited had no air conditioning, and most of them had no running water. It took. I spoke perfect Spanish, but the other kids I met thought I was American. Personally, I wouldn’t go back.”

13.

“The biggest shock was finding out that I have an American accent when I speak Polish! I didn’t realize I wasn’t the same as other people.I was shocked to see how much I didn’t understand because I was limited to my everyday vocabulary at home.”

14.

“My story is a little complicated. So I grew up in Brazil, but I’m considered a gringa (foreign girl) in both Brazil and America.”

15.

“My grandparents left Ireland a few years before my father was born. I went to study there and ended up living there for 10 years. I felt like I should have been there, I connected with all of my cousins, great aunts and great uncles. I was able to obtain citizenship as a second generation Irish citizen (which is the definition of a non-Irish citizen in Ireland). It’s honestly unfair to my cohort of Irish born citizens). I appreciate the citizenship and connection to Ireland. I am very happy that I did.

16.

“It’s interesting to visit India, where my parents are from. There are definitely many differences. I’m bilingual, but I have an American accent when I speak my mother tongue. I’m not good at it either. So People also always comment on how different you look when they see you. It’s considered very considerate, but I’m American, so I find it disrespectful.”

17.

“My parents are refugees from the Vietnam War, so there were a lot of emotions about our first family trip. All our friends warned us that it would be different for us, we were expected to pay a bribe and the bill was basically doubled for everything. After being treated, I will never go there again.”

18.

“I am Serb and Croat. I was born in Serbia but my family fled during the Yugoslav War. I was two years old at the time and did not visit Serbia until my late teens. It was a culture shock, everyone knew I was ‘ .t local, and I got quite a lot of stares. American and Serbian clothing styles were too different So it was clear that I wasn’t from there.Aside from that, in a lot of little things, America and Serbia are. For example, Americans smile at each other and greet strangers on the street. Absolutely not in Serbia.Another crazy thing: Cars never stop in front of pedestrians.It also really annoyed me how rude and unfriendly people are. never visit. “

19.

“My parents are both from Ghana, West Africa, and have been there several times before I turned 18. Each time, my grandparents expected me to be fluent in the local language, but I was fluent. I couldn’t.” At the age of 25, I joined the Peace Corps and decided to serve in Ghana. I knew, but people were kind about it.