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Meghin M. HuertaLamar University

L20320511CNDV 5320

C10 AP1

Final ProjectCultural Immersion: Asian American

CNDV 5320 Week 5 Final Project Cultural Immersion Project2

1. Identification and Description of Population:

The cultural that I wish to gain a further understanding of is Indian. The populations I

will be studying are from India, United Arab Emerits, and Dubai. The differences they

have from my own home life is vast, grandparents, children (who are parents) and

grandchildren reside in the same residence, they arrive on a work visa and work for

many years to attain citizenship (which I have witnessed the process), their dress can

be different, but has become Americanized (obviously to fit in more), they system of

religion is Buddhist/ Hindu, and have always been a warm and welcoming which is the

same as our neighborhood presence. My perceptions of this group are that they work

very hard to live here, and in careers that I worry would not be their first choice, but

have expressed the work visa is only given in instances of high need/ lack of qualified

American workers. I have observed them to be very giving in nature, trusting, honest,

caring, loving and down to earth. I have attended several events they have put on for

Americans, as well as several events that they put on for the tightknit group of Indian

friends they have which are more like family. When the word culture is being used,

they come to mind first, they are to me the definition of a culture that is not my own,

but is rich and very alluring, I haven’t taken the time to learn specifically about it and I

want to know more. This will be challenging because I know my neighbor lost her

mother a few years ago, she was a main fixture of the cultural basis for their

household. I want to honor her mother and learn more about what they live for, what

makes them tick. Another thing that interest me about them as a people (is quite

specific but,) I know when a family member is wanting to come to the US, they give all


the money they can, mortgage their house, do whatever it takes to assist them, rent

an apartment, furnish it, so much for someone they may have only met 2-4 times. This

is not something my family could say they do. Growing up I had no knowledge, nor did

I know anyone from this culture. Something I just learned a month or so ago is they

define themselves as black. Not African American, but black, which I found surprising.

This culture of people really do not seem to be difficult to immerse myself into, I don’t

really know of a people that I would find this challenge to daunting. In New Mexico we

really have a few things we do right, and understanding the cultural mixing pot and

being learned of other cultures really seems to be a benefit. We have a large majority

of Hispanic peoples, Native Americans, African Americans, and multigenerational

European Americans. I am directly related to African Americans and feel closely

kindred to all the other cultures I grew up with in New Mexico. The only cultures I feel

I know the least about are Muslim/ Islamic Americans and Asians, which we did not

have many in the community where I grew up. My selection of this population was

based on the fact that I do know some about the culture, but overall I was least

knowledgeable this one in comparison to others. I have immensely enjoyed 2 previous

years where I have had several Islamic American siblings in my class and have learned a

great deal about that culture, leaving the most obvious deficiency in Indian Asians.

2. Reflection on your Immersion Observations:

Observational Activities have been extensive, observing 3 parties thrown exclusively

for Indian family. These parties are where me and mine were the only white in


attendance, mostly holiday related and a birthday party, also life celebration for 1 year

old. Also witness to process, day of US naturalization and after celebration.

Impressions of this culture

This culture is very different that my own, they have a “family” of people which actually is

not only their immediate family in the community, it is friends they have met at work and

church that they share similar culture with. These all enjoy the company of the other in

attendance almost purely because of the same religion and culture. Main difference, I have

witnessed this type of kinship with Christian church groups, however these were many

different sects of Buddhism and Hinduism, it is as if just being in the same race gave them a

kinship. The friends they keep closest to them seem to be of the same culture/ race.

My cultural background influenced what I saw

My understanding of what was happening took several visits to really sink in, that made me

grateful I was able to attend several. My background of being raised in a Anglo American

home, gatherings for holidays were only my immediate family, seldom were any extended

family members in attendance, and I can’t say one holiday/ event where both my mother

and father’s parents attended. Really attending this type of gathering more made me feel

like I lacked culture and was somewhat envious of all the love and kinship that was in the

house. Another interesting thing about this culture that really took several visits to get a

handle on was everyone’s role in raising children. When I visit family of my own, I retain all

responsibility to be primary caretaker and at no moment will one of my family members

volunteer to “parent” or “reprimand” one of my children. Once I walked into one of these

parties, my son Jude was immediately relocated to a room with the children and


grandparents where they conversed while spending time with the grandchildren. Even

more interesting and at first almost hard for me do was the need for everyone to hold my

daughter Lucy. And forget about setting her on the ground to explore, they do not allow

babies under 1 to touch to floor!

Observed types of social roles

Social Roles were vast, all interactions began with greeting elders, and being unaware of

this social ritual, I was always told to bid them hello upon arrival. Mostly single young

people were able to speak to anyone, but the interactions were much more open

between the youth, only interactions with married women such as me were stringent at

first. Once they realized that I was open to speaking without my husband present, did

they become warm to the idea. Children were allowed to be children, and embraced for

their actions and much more embraced for their behavior in any form.

Surprises about this person/people group and about yourself

The experience really was enjoyable; it made me excited to raise my children with these

people. They are so giving and caring. The group was so ready to invite us in, the experience

made me feel warm. I learned that I desired to have more family and friends; I really want a

tightknit group of people like this in my life.

3. Reflection on your Immersion Dialogue:

How did you feel during the dialogue (nervous, comfortable, etc.)?

During the questioning dialogue I mostly felt comfortable, but some questions my first


inclination was to skip or not ask it, but then I forced myself to, to confront the issue, and

she answered very honestly and appropriately.

How did the preconceived notions you identified in your proposal impact your interactions

with this person?

It was surprising how she responded to several of the questions, she has not felt

discriminated against at all, but she wondered if it was because she was so Americanized.

Other things that were shocking were the issues her culture not had with bi-racial

marriages, but with Muslim and Hindu intermarriage. She said for that to be accepted you

must really make the family understand that it will be a priority to always work on that as

an issue. It was something that she thought would be really challenging, even though she is

a somewhat practicing Hindu and her husband is a Christian. Many of my conceptions of

the culture were accurate, all except I viewed her child to be like a prince and she more

viewed her prioritization of his education and it less as though he was treated specially.

How did this dialogue impact or influence your future interactions with people from this

group?

I will be very prepared for dealing with this culture both through this project and my

constant immersion of myself and my family into their culture. We both enjoy what the

other brings culturally to our interactions and find it important for mine to experience

hers and vice versa.


How did this experience change or contribute to your growth?

Understanding this culture more completely in completing this exercise contributed to the

growth my making me ask questions that it would have taken years to outright ask and/ or

understand. It changed my understanding of how hard it is for a person in a 3rd world country

to get ahead, how they work very hard to pay for educations for their children, and how their

children feel a responsibility to care for their elders, but also to make them proud. IT is

something they strive to do, and as an American I feel like when my father is proud it is a

happy by product, but I did not intentionally set out for something to make him proud. It is

not a motivator for me, but it is apparently one of the only motivators for her.

How were you similar or different from this person?

We have many similarities, we both are educators, mothers, wives, and care for our parents.

Her father lives with her, whereas my sick mother only stayed with me for several months for

a couple of periods. She lives to make her father proud and feels it is very important to put

her father ahead of all things, even her marriage, second in priority to her is her child, then

her marriage. Whereas I do not feel I will be responsible to care for my parents ultimately, I

live to please myself and make my own choices, my parents pride is only a byproduct, and I

put my marriage above my parents and my children. The first priority in my life is my

relationship with my husband and ensuring he is happy, then my children, then my family.


How was what you observed different from what you experienced during your dialogue

with the person from the population you are studying?

She views herself as Americanized, where all I see is her driving and achieving a career.

Most other traits she displays are culturally she surrounds herself with others from the

Indian culture, her father lives with her and she cares for him, her son is very important

and his education is a high priority to her, she puts these above her marriage with I think

is cultural, she just may not be admitting it. She also confirmed as the text did that they

never like to be in the spotlight, attention and being doted on is not their preference,

however she says there is much drama in the tight families and the culture has a love/

hate relationship with the idea of family drama. Everyone is always over, family and

neighbors, inquiring into the privacy of all. People visit and frequent each other’s homes

and she thinks this leads to Americans being lonely, however she did admit to having

fallen into this and thus feels lonelier often. She thinks the way keeping it all in the family

and counseling each other may work for Indians, but welcomes the idea of counseling and

mental health maintenance. Confirmed that there is a stigma that talking about one’s

issues with a counselor in her culture would be viewed as airing laundry and not

preferential to the families’ image, priority would be to deal with it in the family.

4. Reaction and Critical Analysis of your experience:

While counseling this particular group, with the understandings I have realized through my

research are as follows. As far as stigmas the culture has that I read about and can confirm

with the majority of my Asian American students, and also confirmed in the interview is


“parents who are unwilling to accept contemporary Western viewpoints,” (Baruth &

Manning, P. 179) not only on child’s family roles, but also largely on western career paths and

career role in family life. The cultural group of people define themselves as successful first

and foremost in “having a job,” (S. Sritherean, Interview, 2/9/2014). Other observations that

have been confirmed in interview and professional educator role are: students moving

toward peer centered reality and away from parent centered one, academic and socialization

is lowered or non-existent because of communication issues, inability to please both Asian

and majority culture in United States, lastly the perception that the group excel at

mathematics, are highly intellectual or superior, and the theory that they are all “hardworking

and academically successful,” (Baruth & Manning, P. 179) can really hinder their education.

Description of the group

The group as a whole varies so much, they have such a mixed heritage. A very interesting and

sad thing I learned about Indian Asian Americans is they come from all over the world, when

the British conquered their country they distributed them as slaves to all the British colonies,

which spanned the whole world. The group has so many characteristics it can vary

dramatically; my interviewee informed me that just as it is a stigma to have a “bi-racial”

marriage in the United States, it is also heavily frowned upon for Hindu, Buddhist, or Muslim

to marry outside of their faith, as well as Muslim sub-sects such as Sunni and Shite to marry

outside of their sub-sect. To me that is the equivalent of a Baptist marrying an Episcopal. She

described a lot of things about those who come from India to the United states and how the

culture shock alone is very large because as she put it “it is a third world county,” and other


than adjusting to life here, in addition to maintain tight familial bond family must visit and that

is very difficult. When the family visits they attempt to recreate what life is like in India,

where the family lives together 100% of the time, so family says for extended periods (2-6

months) at a time, where the visiting family is unable to do much with out the host family

transporting them. In India there are so many modes of transportation and much of the city is

consolidated, transportation is so much more of an issue here.

Values/Belief Orientations

Culturally they are one of the largest concentrations of Muslims (in the top 5), the other

majority is Hinduism as well as Buddhism, and Christianity is a minority faith. Main beliefs is

family is first and very close second is career, it is the means you provide for your family.

Other general beliefs are that children take care of their parents, in addition to being

responsible for all their pride. When an Indian does something, the first goal is to make his/

her parent proud with actions and choices.

Roles and Expectations

The role of children is probably the most important. The first thing, even before your husband

and wife is to ensure your parents are cared for as well as proud. Education is a huge priority;

any quality education in India is paid for, and private. Other expectations are to always

embody fidelity to you family and stand by them, supporting them through anything and

everything.


How this culture is similar and/or dissimilar to your own

This culture is superficially similar to my own through core value that family is first. I also define

my career and education as a priority, but not to the extent the Asian Indian culture does. Their

culture and family unit has a strong basis in religion, but their religious ceremonies are much

different. They are more of a public affair and are more loosely tied to the religion, has almost

become more ritual/ tradition, with a foundation in the religion. Whether you take stock in the

core beliefs of the religion or not, all are welcome to these affairs, and this is not completely

different with Christian occasions, I find they are more “preachy” I guess with the reason for the

event.

What you learned about yourself through this process

Interestingly enough, I have learned that I have a similar desire to care for my parents which is

more abnormal for an American. Other things that I never considered were based on the fact

that I have no interest in achieving things for my parents to be proud, and apparently that is the

only reason Indians want and strive, is to make their parents proud. Overall I learned a great

deal about motivators and why various cultures achieve and work differently.

5. Glogster Poster

Glogster project link: http://mhuerta1.edu.glogster.com/indian-culture

Creating the Glogster poster was fun but hard. The desire to get everything I had learned in

was so strong, but I had to prioritize and include what elements were most important to the

understanding of the culture and the counseling of that culture. Once I find my career in school

http://mhuerta1.edu.glogster.com/indian-culture


counseling I will drive to ensure each year I immerse myself in a new culture, especially

underrepresented or misunderstood ones. I really enjoyed this as a final project.


References

Stoll, J. (Director) M. Hasse, S. Sisterhen, T. Barrientes, R. Burwell, A. Kennell, K. Walkmom, S. Douglas (2014, February 4). Cultural Proficiency: Discussing the Undiscussables. Leander ISD February Conference. Lecture conducted from Leander ISD, Cedar Park.

Baruth, L. G. & Manning, M. L. T. (2012). Multicultural counseling and psychotherapy (5th ed). Boston, MA: Pearson.

http://www.bibme.org/



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