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The Importance Of Assimilation Into First World Country Culture

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Immigration into a First World country other than one’s own creates a border between one and the country they now reside in. Immigrants come into these countries knowing that they will be seen as aliens and foreigners to people already living there. In order to become socially accepted by the community, assimilation becomes the only solution they possess to feel better about themselves. Assimilation into First World country cultures disrupts the flow of cultural knowledge, which causes cultural alienation, resulting in traditional customs to be left in ruins, therefore integration of cultures rather than assimilating to First World country traditions becomes a better way of life. Initially, assimilation can be seen as the process when people of different backgrounds end up resembling a new culture other than their own with hopes to become socially accepted. This process eventually results in people ridding themselves from their own true heritage and cultural identity. For example, Jay Patel, an Indian of the new generation immigrated to the United States with his family when he had 2 years old. Patel describes his experience coming into America at first as changing to his own Indian lifestyle. His family sent him back to India before grade school in order for Jay to build a strong cultural foundation. When returning to America and attending grade school, Patel needed to assimilate to the American culture so he feels more comfortable and not as an outsider. Bhugra and Becker

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