Mohamed Mohamed
As an immigrant, much of what was said in the readings is very relatable. People first migrated to the New World for political, economic, and even religious reasons. The same reasons continue to drive thousands of immigrants into the United States. My grandfather first moved to the United States seeking economic stability. He managed to bring my father over a couple years later. After spending more than a decade in the States my father thought that it was time to bring the family. The initial intent was that this was just a vacation, then its back to life in Yemen. However, the educational opportunities made it clear that we settle in.
Like the readings mentioned, settling in in New York City was not difficult for us. We were quickly welcomed by Arab immigrants and were directed to apartments where we can find our communities. . We then lived in a small community that shared the same culture and religion. Our neighbors were from the same country and some were even from the same village. Our friends were of the same faith and spoke the same language. We all even had the same goal: to become important people of society and not just taxi drivers and store clerks.
One dilemma that the readings barely went over is the identity crisis that young immigrants go through. For example, the readings extensively speak about the adult immigrants and the second-generation immigrants. How the US-born immigrants are more willing to embrace an American culture while their parents still dream of going back to their mother country. However, the immigrants that came to the states at a very young age were not much represented in the texts. I first arrived to New York when I was seven years of age. Since then I never went back to where I was born. I lived most of my life in America but I still have childhood memories that make Yemen dear to me. Furthermore, I find myself trapped between being either too “Americanized” or not “American enough”. For example, when I entered the Grocery store the other day the guy on the register had a really difficult time noticing that we were from the same country. I eventually had to break the ice and said something in Arabic. His facial expression was that of disappointment. He and many other Yemenis I met think that I have lost my “true” culture and tradition and that I am too “Americanized” based on the way I dress or talk. On the other hand when people notice me praying in the park or when I have a hard time pronouncing a four syllable word I suddenly become un-American.
Nonetheless everything else said about immigrants and New York City being the most diverse place on earth was very well written. Truly as a New Yorker one must embrace and accept this diversity. It is this diversity that makes New York so great and it is this diversity that keeps attracting more immigrants.
