SDLC 105 Journal #8

[Byambaa Khurelbaatar]

To reflect on culture shock, I will talk about my experience of coming to America in November 2001 right after the devastating 9/11 event occurred. As you all know, I am from Mongolia and I came to the U.S when I was 11. Before this, I have never been out of the country or been exposed to anyone of a different race. Coming to America and transitioning was definitely a challenge. I did not speak the language so I could not communicate with anyone other than my parents. I remember one specific thing that everybody I walked past kept either waving at me or greeting me. I thought this was the weirdest thing because we all know to not talk to a stranger. I thought to myself, I do not know these people so why are they saying hello to me? Also, people holding the door open for others was also a shock to me. I guess in Mongolia, everybody minded their own and went about their business without having a care for the people surrounding them. This took a lot of getting used to but it was very manageable. Once I started school here in the 4th grade, it was an even bigger culture shock because everybody looked different and dressed differently. Teachers were very trustworthy, kind, and caring. Schooling in Mongolia was not like that so this caught me really off guard. In the end, I came to appreciate everything this country had to offer me. My life would have been very different if I had not immigrated here.