My integration into American culture began when I fell madly in love with American music at the age of 12. It quickly became clear that I would never be the same as other kids again. American music introduced me to an alluring new world, and I plunged myself right into it. At times, it was disappointing that I didn’t have as much in common with my peers, but I secretly loved the idea of enjoying something no one else knew …show more content…
Because we feel that we have all been assigned to a specific cultural “box”, we sacrifice our desire to be uniquely integrated to other cultures. We then begin to feel as if our existence relies on staying within the “box”. For a long time, my goal was assimilation rather than acculturation. I was blindly trying to fit into a box which I deemed “desirable” at the time, without truly recognizing the beauty of complexity and fluidity in people. I am beyond grateful to have reached a point where I wholeheartedly embrace both sides of my cultural identity. The freedom to transition between the two cultures and the ability to incorporate them equally have shown me a multitude of cultural possibilities that were not previously attainable. So now, whenever people ask me where I am from, I proudly reply “China” and proceed with a